Today Simon Hayes and myself spent
a few hour birding this morning at Prospect Reservoir (approx. 40km west of
Sydney CBD) near Blacktown. There
appeared to be slightly fewer birds present this morning than on my previous
visits, but we did see or hear a number of interesting birds. A pair adult Grey
Goshawks appears to be much now in residence after seeing them 3 times in a row
in the same area of Forest and I suspect
they could be nesting or have already nested in this area. Another good find was
a magnificent Wedge-tailed Eagle (number 173 on my Prospect Reservoir list and
a bird I expected would turn up here as it has been seen by others a few km
away). What looked to be a young eagle was initially seen flying relatively low
above tree top level before staring to soar up high as it was harassed by about
a dozen Australian Ravens.
Other birds present at Prospect Reservoir this morning included
Great Crested Grebes (at least 50 or so), Whistling Kite, Bar-shouldered and
Peaceful Doves, Fan-tailed and Shining Bronze-cuckoos, Variegated Wrens,
Brown-headed and Scarlet Honeyeater (many of the later have now disappeared), White-throated
Gerygones, Weebill, Varied Sitellas, Double-barred Finches and Olive-backed Orioles.
At one stage I also thought I heard a “Swift Parrot”
in the area which ofcourse would be very unusual for
this time of year.
Edwin Vella
