The editors of Gang-gang may wish to use this as the post-event report.
7 members turned up at Hume to do as much of the usual loop as the building frenzy in the area permitted. The first patch of woodland appeared to be blocked off so we went back towards Tralee st. As we did so a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles were seen soaring
over the land between Hue and the Tip while a flock of white birds were even higher over the Tip. They were probably Australian White Ibis but too far away to (a) identify with certainty or (b) include in the area covered by the hotspot).
The first pond produced an Australasian Grebe, 2 Pacific Black Ducks, and a nice family of Australian Wood Ducks, including 5 ducklings, skulking at the base of some reeds. Very surprisingly no Australian Reed-Warblers were calling.
At the large patch of woodland were found quite a lot of action in the tree hollows. A Striated Pardalote passed food into a hollow from which a female emerged. We believe this to have been an occupied nest. A pair of Galahs were checking out real estate
as were at least three pairs of Red‑rumped Parrots. Other potential users of the many hollows in the old trees included Eastern Rosellas, Crimson Rosellas, Common Starlings and Common Mynahs. However none of them were seen to be actually inspecting the
hollows.
Moving up the creek line added little to our list. Moving along the former railway line was more productive with White-naped and White-eared Honeyeater, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Nankeen Kestrel and three species (Brown, Buff-rumped and Yellow rumped) of Thornbill
being logged.
The final leg through the horse paddocks added sightings of 4 Dusky Woodswallows and a Yellow-faced Honeyeater . 2 large pure white domestic geese were also seen on a small dam (or large puddle) in one of the paddocks. The final two species added were Mistletoebird
heard) and finally an Australian Pipit perching on a land sale sign.
The venue for next month's outing has not yet been decided but will be announced on the COG Website
and on the chatline. It will be on 16 October
