The spring bird survey in the southern half of Goorooyarroo was done by Prue and I this morning in mostly sunny conditions with a cool breeze. The reserve was looking a bit dry, although there was water in
most dams, and quite a few wildflowers out. We recorded a total of 51 species with 39 of those during our 10 minute counts, compared to 54 and 47 last year.
Highlights included a couple of species of displaying raptors;
Nankeen Kestrels and Brown Goshawks, both near sites where they had previously nested. Spring/summer migrants present were
Western and White-throated Gerygones, Noisy Friarbirds, Rufous Whistlers, Horsfield’s
and Shining Bronze-Cuckoos and Olive-backed Orioles. Small birds were reasonably plentiful with thornbills, pardalotes,
Weebills, Superb Fairy-wrens and Grey Fantails all fairly widespread. Eight species of honeyeater were recorded although no migration was evident.
Noisy Miners, Brown-headed and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were the most numerous. We found
Mistletoebirds at 4 sites. Breeding records were few but included an active
Yellow-rumped Thornbills nest, and a Goldfinch collecting beakfuls of fluffy material from a thistle and flying off with it.
Other fauna included Cunningham’s Skink,
Shingleback and Eastern Bearded Dragon, as well as five species of butterfly including Imperial Jezebel
and Lesser Wanderer.
Steve
