Wednesday Walk to Prior Arboretum

[Con <>]

Martin

I notice that Rufous Whistler was not on your rather comprehensive list. The last two comprehensive eBird lists for Mulligan's Flat don't have a Rufous Whistler. I am now either generally not recording them at all, or recording just one or two, during two-three hour long surveys in the following localities: Black Mountain NR, Bruce Ridge NR, O'Connor NR, Lyneham Ridge, Gossan Hill NR, the Arboretum (inclusive of the Cork Oak Forest), the ANBG, and the Southern Annexe of the ANBG.

A quick check of some of other observors' recent eBird lists, where these number 20-30 species, seems to show a similar pattern. Rufous Whistlers are either absent or, if present, are present in single or doubles.

Much of the Rufous Whistler range was either trashed by years of drought and/or very extensive wildfires.

Some species such as Superb Fairy-wren and Buff-rumped Thornbills have had a massive breeding year and their numbers Jan 2020 to Jan 2021, have exploded.

This does not seem to have happened with Rufous Whistler.

I wonder whether others have noticed either normal numbers or very low numbers in Rufous Whistler?

kind regards

Con

On 1/20/2021 3:39 PM, Martin Butterfield via Canberrabirds wrote:

Approximately 23 members gathered at the National Rock Garden for a stroll around the Lindsay Prior Arboretum.  Sandra gave some remarks explaining the career of Lindsay Prior which clearly justified him having an Arboretum named after him.  For some reason the nearest eBird Hotspot is called Barrenjoey Point.

As we headed off a number of brown ground-loving birds were seen and originally identified as Australasian Pipits. On looking closely several of them we soon renamed as female White‑winged Trillers  Personally, I always find them a difficult species to identify, usually arriving at that species as the bird fails to meet the characteristics of all other brown ground favouring species. 

Other species added to list before we got into the trees included an overflying Australian Darter, Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Crested Pigeon, Dusky Woodswallow, Australian Magpie and Magpie Lark.  We followed the edge of the Lake, hearing many, and seeing a surprising proportion of, Australasian Reed Warbler.  The trees did not seem to be a favoured habitat and few species were added in this stretch.

As we got back closer to the bike track several less common species were added.  An adult Nankeen Hight-Heron flew back and forth across the water.  It seemed to be nervous of humans, and was possibly further agitated by the harassment by several Noisy Miners.  3 Dollarbirds were seen and a single Sacred Kingfisher.  Close to the start of the road in to this Arboretum several Striated and Yellow Thornbills were heard.

Overall we recorded 41 species in 146 minutes.  A full birdlist is at https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S79571768.  I have added a few less formal comments and some ordinary - and a couple of BAD - images in a blog post.

Martin Butterfield

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

https://mallacootaweatherwildlife.blogspot.com/

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