Report of visit to Towra Point, Saturday 26th February 2000.
Weather: Hot, sunny and no cloud. Little wind. Time of visit ... 8.30am to
3.00pm. Tide was low and gradually coming in.
At first we visited that so-called Metromix wetland rehabilitation site ...
the old mining area that is filled with water and is now fresh/ brackish.
Over time this wetland seems to be reducing its variety. We did see the
regular Musk duck but there were few other ducks ... some Chestnut teals, a
pair of Grey Teal and no other ducks. There were Pied and Little Pied
Cormorants, Black Winged stilts and a visible Buff Banded Rail. Purple
Swamphens were also present. Around the edges we saw some wonderful Southern
Emu wrens and a most cooperative Golden Headed Cisticola. There were lots of
mangrove gerygones and silvereyes. And the odd other ... Dollarbird, Grey
Butcherbird, Topknot Pigeon, etc
This area no longer seems a happy place for Clamorous Reed Warblers ... I
have not seen or heard them on the last few visits now. Nor have I seen the
Marsh Harrier ...and the weeds around the perimeter are getting bad ...
infestations of bitou bush, lantana and others ... and the acacia and
casuarina thicket is closing in ...should a company still be able to have
its names up in lights if there is no long term follow up work to ensure
that the environment develops effectively? Any comment?
Out on Towra Point there were 25-30 Eastern Curlew, 2 Whimbrel and one
solitary Bar Tailed Godwit ... no other waders to be seen. However it was
low tide, the middle of a hot day and boating activity was high ...
including a jet skier who came into the no-go zone with ferocity
(registration number VB273N). I saw no small waders and not one Little Tern.
Have they gone yet? Or is the Commonwealth Government hasty in withdrawing
it from Schedule 1?
The White Fronted Chats were there in numbers and pleasant to see and there
were two Pied Oystercatchers as well.
Along the causeway the bitou bush has recovered with energy. The huge
commitment by the community will need to be replicated and the NPWS
coordination will need to continue. There is not as much along the littoral
rainforest sand dune but the lantana is still a concern. There was one pile
of horse manure too ... um. I wonder what caused that! The local Branch of
the NPA-NSW will clearly need to follow up on licence agreements held by the
neighbouring horse stables and riding school.
On a hot day the party saw 49 species and as many regular bush birds were
missing today that was not a bad day.
Brian Everingham
And that mess that is the beach and breached lagoon still is a mess ... the
erosion remains a major concern and the dead trees stand/lie testament to
poor planning and government inaction, from both sides of the
Commonwealth/State divide.
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