|
Yesterday morning (Sunday 29th February,
2004) I was with Tony Saunders (our records officer from the Cumberland
Bird Observers Club) back in my local patch at Prospect Reservoir (near
Blacktown, approx. 40 km west of Sydney CBD) and enjoyed seeing a good mix of
woodland and forest birds and a few water birds as well. Prospect Reservoir was
given Heritage status a year or so ago for its significant water bird
habitat and the large remnant of Cumberland plain woodland surrounding the
reservoir which provides important habitat for our declining woodland birds and
many endangered and almost extinct flora. I have been surveying this woodland
and the reservoir itself over the last few months which is not yet open to the
public but is planned to be in the near future.
Some of the (more so local) interesting things
included a a few Great Crested Grebes (most of the 100-200 previously there have
departed), over 100 Australian Pelicans, a Grey Goshawk, 9 Whistling
Kites (all together perched in 2 adjacent trees), Brown Quail, Common Bronzewing
(locally rare), Little Lorikeets (feeding in some flowering eucalypts),
Fan-tailed and Shining Bronze-cuckoos, Spine-tailed Swifts (at least 7 birds in
2 seperate groups), Crested Shrike-tit, Variegated Wren (a few groups inhabit
the northern section of Prsopect Resevoir and is more so a bird of the Sydney
sandstone and unusual on the Cumberland plain), Rufous Fantail, Weebill,
White-throated Gerygone, Scarlet Honeyeater (only a female left behind from the
large numbers seen early in the season), small groups of Noisy
Friarbirds and Olive-backed Orioles passing through, lots of Yellow-faced
Honeyeaters in one area, several Mistletoebirds (including some young birds),
Straited Pardalote and Chestnut-breasted Mannikins in the
reeds.
When I visited Prospect Reservoir a month or so
ago, I saw my first 2 Bell Miners for the area and was wondering if they were
going to establish a colony (well I hope not). I have not checked the area where
I did see them since that time, but the area looks ideal for them with tall
Forest Gums (Eucalyptus teriticornis) and an understorey
of Lantana and other weeds.
There are also currently lots of Musk
Lorikeets (with many Rainbow Lorikeets) in the Blacktown area
feeding in the flowering Grey Box (Eucalyptus moluccana) with our
local Peregrine Falcon keeping a watchful eye.
Edwin Vella
|
