Re: March WW

[Martin Butterfield <>]

I realised I had omitted one interesting sighting so have added the following to the website entry:

We saw a few honeyeater species.  With regard to the usual species of interest at this time of year - Yellow-faced Honeyeater - we saw one flock of 5 birds flying with purpose.  Surprisingly they were heading West, rather than East!  

Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

On Wed, 18 Mar 2020 at 15:32, Martin Butterfield <> wrote:

The editors of Gang-gang may like to use the following as the report.

24 members and guests gathered, at social distances, on Urriara Rd on a fine and mild morning.

 

Thank you to Jean Casburn for leading this walk through a very interesting patch of bush.  Those with long memories will recall it being threatened with conversion to a motocross track but saved by lobbying from COG and other groups concerned with conserving what remained of the Bush Capital.  The list of species seen on this walk justifies the conservation effort.

 

The highlights were Speckled Warbler (2) and Red-capped Robin (2).  In both cases these were heard within the first kilometre of the walk and then sighted very well in the last kilometre.  We also saw at least 9 Scarlet Robins: either the fire has pushed them out of Namadgi or reports of their demise are a little premature.  2 Eastern Yellow Robins completed the expected trio.

 

The most common bird was Grey Fantail with 19 birds marked off.  This was a very conservative estimate as they were everywhere.  Possibly ‘X’ would have been the more accurate report measure as they were present in highly mobile little groups.  Also surprisingly common were Golden Whistlers with at least 7 birds seen.

 

A Grey Currawong provided a lifer for some visitors.

 

All up 41 species were recorded.

The editors of Gang gang may wish to note under Forthcoming Trips 

The April walk will be to Mulligans Flat.  Meet at 9am on 15 April.  Details of the Meeting site will be advised on the COG website in the next few days.

Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/