The spring survey in the southern half of Goorooyarroo was done by myself, Prue Buckley, and David and Kathy Cook this morning. It was cool
to start but clear, and warmed up fairly quickly. As has been the case on most recent surveys the reserve was looking dry and overgrazed with
very little in the way of spring wildflowers.
We recorded 47 species during the morning.
The highlight was
a Tawny Frogmouth found by Dave at site 4 which also hosted 2 Grey Currawongs. Raptors were
represented by one, maybe two, Brown Falcons and a Nankeen Kestrel. Speckled Warblers were present in
a couple of places, as were
Mistletoebirds. Summer migrants included Pallid and Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoos, Western and White-throated
Gerygones, and a Noisy Friarbird.
The only indication of honeyeater migration was a group of 10 White-naped flying over.
Surprisingly absent
were such species as Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Olive-backed Oriole,
Rufous Whistler and Dusky Woodswallow. Breeding records included a Magpie on a nest, Sulphur-crested
Cockatoos, Superb Parrots and Eastern Rosellas visiting hollows, and Crimson Rosellas copulating.
Mammals included a couple of Swamp Wallabies; reptiles seen were
a Shingleback and an Eastern Bearded Dragon.
Steve
