Despite not seeing any sign of a single Swift Parrot or Regent
Honeyeater in yesterdays survey, It was still nice to be out and about for a
couple of hours in the early morning at Prospect Reservoir ( approx. 35-40km
west of Sydney CBD near Blacktown).
Most of the usual birds were seen including Great Crested Grebes, a
pair of Whistling Kites, 4 Peaceful and 6 Bar-shouldered Doves (as often the
case feeding in one of the picnic areas with a single Spotted Turtle-dove also
with them below George Maunder Lookout), Rose Robin, Variegated Wrens, Brown
Gerygones, Weebill, Varied Sitellas, a large movement of Silvereyes (consisting
of many Tasmanian birds), several of the usual fairly tame Eastern Yellow
Robins and Chestnut-breasted Mannikins along the edge of the reservoir. There was
lots of Honeyeater activity centred mainly around George Maunder Lookout with
an abundance of Yellow-faced and White-plumed Honeyeaters as well as
White-naped and Scarlet Honeyeaters, Eastern Spinebills, Noisy Friarbird and
both Red and Little Wattlebirds. The frequent calling of several Fan-tailed
Cuckoo indicated that Spring was just around the corner.
The best highlight was a good show put on by a Peregrine Falcon as it
made 3 attempts to attack a white Feral Pigeon without success!
Back at home later on that morning I saw another Peregrine Falcon (maybe
the same bird seen at Prospect Reservoir) chase off a Brown Goshawk.
Edwin Vella
