Outing to Glendale Depot

[Martin Butterfield <>]

22 Members (I don't think there were any guests) arrived at Glendale Depot after car pooling at the Namadgi Visitors Centre.  It was fortunate that some of those present had recently visited Glendale and were aware that the gate is often closed: a change in policy.

Our route was essentially a figure 8 starting by walking towards the Mighty Gudgenby River and then up towards the Depot itself.  An early Good Bird was the pair of resident Sacred Kingfishers.  They were soon followed by 3 Southern Whiteface which obligingly perched on various fences, wires and Verbascum stalks allowing most of us good looks.   A family of Fuscous Honeyeaters (2 adults and 3 chicks) were observed in some eucalypts, which was quite exciting for some.

Proceeding towards the Depot a Lathams Snipe was flushed from a small watercourse.  This landed in, and was flushed again, accompanied by two others, from a damp, reedy area below the dam.  The dam contained two Australasian Grebes and a Pacific Duck.  The woodland around the dam contained 2 Diamond Firetails and at least 15 more Fuscous Honeyeaters and 5 Common Bronzewings.  As we left the area 19 Australian Wood Duck flew in.

We then travelled across country, logging up to 5 Rufous Songlarks and considering estimates of the number of Little Ravens in a dominant eucalypt.  The best estimate - a tree nearly full - was rejected and 50 was adopted.  More Fuscous Honeyeaters were seen and the final agreed tally was 40.

Overall we recorded 48 species (and a mixed record of Fairy/Tree Martins as the main observer couldn't be sure which they were).  A full list is at this eBird checklist.  

Next months walk will be Yerrabi Pond with a possible extension to a pond further downstream on Ginninderra Creek.  Meet at 8:30 on 21 February at Yerrabi Pond District Park off Wunderlich St.

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Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/