Hello everyone,
Barbara Allan and myself carried out the June survey this morning between7.30
and 11.00 am. It was a lovely morning, after some fog mostly sunny with little
wind. and relatively warm (thanks to thermal under layers). The first site was
a little foggy, but the rest were clear. No too many birds about though, with
only 23 species observed in or near the sites, with only four species seen in
between sites: a mob of 30 or so choughs, a Willy Wagtail and an Australian
Pipit, and a couple of Welcome Swallows. Nothing remarkable. Some hollow
inspection by a pair of Galahs, a couple of Pacific Black Ducks and Grey Teal
on Mick’s Dam with a lone Australasian Grebe at the other end. Very few small
birds, and the species heard most frequently, but generally at a distance, was
the White-eared Honeyeater.
Not so many kangaroos were seen, but the grass was well shorn. A couple of
Red-Necked Wallabies, but unusually no Swamp Wallabies.
The scrub at quite a number of sites appears to be deteriorating. This
includes large eucalypts dying at the Grenade Range (Site 2), but also smaller
trees and bushes at a number of sites. Many of the sites appear to be much
clearer than in the past, with fewer lower story species to provide habitat for
smaller birds.
One brighter note was the almost total lack of air traffic, probably due both
to reduced flights, but also the fog. For the whole morning there were only two
flights. However, the new Majura highway provides a new and close source of
traffic noise.
All in all, not a day to remember. I think the most interesting and welcome
bird we saw was a Kookaburra.
Cheers to all
Paul Fennell
Editor, COG Annual Bird Report
0407105460
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