The Brindabellas turned on all their moody majesty on Sunday. We had the choice of wind and cloud on the ridge-tops, or mist and drizzle in the valleys. It wasn’t until lunchtime that the sun broke through with any force, by which time
we were at Bull’s Head carpark assembling our notes on the morning’s bird lists. It was 13 C there, and only half an hour later in Canberra was a sunny 25 C.
The birding was best described as … atmospheric. Lots of bird calls, especially early, but little movement, and much of each bird list was based on identifying calls. Grey Fantails and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were everywhere, but few specialities
showed themselves, and we had to make do with a single short burst of an Eastern Whipbird call, not even answered by a mate, and a quick flash of a Rufous Fantail. Scarlet Robins were good to see at Bulls Head, and both Rufous and Golden Whistlers were around.
Any difficulties in the birding were easily remedied by looking up at the forest – there are some quite magnificent stands along Warks Road, especially in the mist…
Steve
From: Barbara Allan [
Sent: Monday, 30 October 2017 11:24 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] after the blitz
Many thanks to all enthusiastic blitzers who have already submitted their records. A great response thus far and some really interesting observations, including at least one new bird for the blitz, the Scarlet Honeyeaters at the ANBG. I
shall work my way steadily through the records and give periodic updates to the chat line and through the newsletter. Again many thanks to all participants and a plea to those who haven’t yet submitted their records to do so asap. And to share any interesting
back-stories with the chatline. I really enjoyed my weekend even though I didn’t see anything particularly new or different. Highlights were Fuscous Honeyeaters, Dusky Woodswallows and a pair of Flame Robins feeding on ??? on the road (Smokers Trail); a handsome
male Satin Flycatcher (also Smokers); Speckled Warblers feeding young (Pinnacle NR); a pair of kestrels vocalising (Pinnacle NR); a Great Egret and a pair of Crested Shrike-tits (Lake Ginninderra); and two poor Brown Thornbills feeding a great lump of a Fan-tailed
Cuckoo chick (Tidbinbilla). b
