The summer survey in the southern half of Goorooyarroo was done by myself, Prue Buckley, and David and Kathy Cook this morning. It was a mild morning temperature-wise but with a thick blanket of smoke. Like
just about everywhere else the reserve looks like it has been roasted. Some Yellow Box were in flower but we saw nothing but a few Noisy Miners in them. 45 species were recorded for the morning with 40 of these being during point counts. Not too bad given
the conditions, although we recorded 56 species on the equivalent survey last year.
The highlight was an incidental Diamond Firetail seen twice, a species that has never been particularly common in the reserve but was recorded more regularly in the past. A Dollarbird at site 1 was another
species we don’t get often these days. David saw a passing flock of Varied Sittellas, also at site 1. There was a smattering of thornbills, gerygones and other small birds, but no Speckled Warblers. Both pardalotes were recorded but in lower numbers than usual.
Other migrants recorded besides gerygones included Noisy Friarbirds, Olive-backed Oriole, Rufous Whistler, White-winged Triller and Leaden Flycatcher. Superb Parrots were active in site 3 and may still have had young in the nest. White-browed/Masked Woodswallows
were heard at one point but were invisible in the murky sky. Breeding records were of nest building Grey Fantail and Rufous Whistler.
Other fauna included a large Bearded Dragon and a Swamp Wallaby or two. Few butterflies were seen.
Steve
