Callum Brae spring surveys

[sandra henderson <>]

Callum Brae is extremely dry, and two of the six dams remain completely dry. There is very little flowering. Despite recent ripping of some of the large warrens, rabbits are still around in large numbers. I suspect the bird species count (38) is the poorest for a spring survey in all the years I've been doing them. Many of the usual suspects were absent or in very small numbers. 

Many of the parrot species were exploring hollows. A highlight was seeing a pair of Gang-gangs in the same area as when I was last there, with the female peering into a hollow. A series of very odd calls led me to an Olive-backed Oriole going through its repertoire - not great mimicry but a wide range of calls. The Nankeen Kestrels are probably nesting, given their agitated behaviour when I approached one group of trees. While many of the small birds were hard to find, Striated Pardalotes were heard in all areas of the reserve, although only two Spotted Pardalotes were heard.

https://ebird.org/australia/view/checklist/S48711477 for a consolidated list with a few photos.

Sandra Henderson