Autumn bird movements

[Ryu Callaway via Canberrabirds <>]

Liam and I walked the track to the Murrumbidgee from Williamsdale today. Most notable was the near-absence of Yellow-faced and White-naped honeyeater migration (<20 birds), despite clear skies and relatively crisp conditions. This is the same walk that I counted 2850 YFHE (and 65 WNHE) on 19/4/2017. 

On the whole, I have noticed minimal movement so far - 115 YFHE over an hour at Gilmore the other day has been my most to date, and I have not noted any WNHE moving. According to the ebird charts, we should be in peak YFHE migration and early WNHE migration. Have others experienced similar? Perhaps it only affects some parts of Canberra if they have modified their routes post-fires? Or is the migration delayed?

There was a good mix of late-departing summer migrants (a group of 75 Dusky Woodswallows on the move that seemed to have spent the night there but moved out, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, and a White-throated Gerygone in full song), and arriving altitudinal migrants (Scarlet Robins, White-eared Honeyeaters, and Golden Whistler). Varied SIttellas were nice to see.

There appears to be movement (or an influx) of both pardalotes that I have noticed in multiple locations, and I have noticed directional movement of groups of about a dozen Pied Currawongs and small groups of <5 Red Wattlebirds throughout the day when I have been out studying on the balcony at home (in Fadden).

Ryu

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