Woodland survey Mt Ainslie - 7 Dec 2018

[Michael Lenz <>]

Robin Hide and Michael Lenz carried out the survey of the 9 sites on the eastern lower slopes of Mt Ainslie on 7 Dec, under fine, almost still, warm conditions. The area is heavily overgrazed by kangaroos and many areas of soil are disturbed where the animals rest. With the warm, sunny weather, most kangaroos had moved from the grassland into the reserve. The foliage of many of the older eucalypts has thinned out considerably.

We recorded 34 species at sites and another 13 while moving between sites. The most widespread species was the Noisy Friarbird (7 sites), followed by Crimson Rosella, Noisy Miner, Striated Pardalote, and Leaden Flycatcher, each at 6 sites.

Of note, Brown Goshawk, a total of 9 White-winged Trillers (8 males, 1 female, the latter on a nest) (but only 1 Triller at a site), Varied Sittella and Brown-headed Honeyeater (off site), and 3 pairs of White-browed Woodswallows (also off site, but 2 nests with young). Also on nests Magpie-lark, Dusky Woodswallow and Willie Wagtail, and Rufous Whistler nest-building). A Wedge-tailed Eagle, circling quite high,  was harassed repeatedly by a single Dusky Woodswallow.