Hi,
There have been some good birds about in the Valley and up Mayfair Rd
over the past week. Some of the larger eucalypts have regenerated reasonable
foliage after the fires three years ago, but much of the undergrowth has
been cleared to prevent further fires. The fire was so hot that virtually
all the lantana is gone, being replaced by dense thickets of Acacia. Fewer
Fairy-wrens, haven't seen a Variegated this year, only two families of
Superb. Fewer Bell Miners, only an occassional Weebill; the lerps haven't
returned yet. A single Ironbark in flower, only Rainbow Lorikeets and a
brace of Eastern Rosellas in it when we walked by.
Most interesting sightings after a few weeks out of the local action;
A PACIFIC HERON still wading in a flooded horse paddock at the Northern
end of the Valley, six were seen there three weeks ago. Two BROWN QUAIL at
he bottom of Mayfair hill. A LITTLE BUTTON-QUAIL in my front garden. A
MASKED LAPWING incubating in the middle of expansive lawn on the Mayfair
/Mulgoa Rds corner, sleeked down and inconspicuous in the drizzle.
CRESTED PIGEONS, COMMON BRONZEWINGS, PEACEFUL and BAR-SHOULDERED
DOVES. LONG-BILLED CORELLAS inspecting nesting holes. PALLID and FAN-TAILED
CUCKOO, including a juvenile Fan-tailed. CHANNEL-BILLED CUCKOOS and KOELS
still calling, a male making himself very visual. SACRED KINGFISHER,
DOLLARBIRD. TREE MARTINS. WHITE-WINGED TRILLERS. CRESTED SHRIKE-TITS.
RUFOUS WHISTLERS. EASTERN WHIPBIRDS calling.
WHITE-THROATED WARBLERS in several places, also SCARLET HONEYEATERS
and a brand-new immaculate male MISTLETOEBIRD searching a clump of mistletoe
in the White Cedar tree at our back door. Plenty of NOISY FRIARBIRDS.
GOLDFINCHES nesting in a Japanese Red Pine. A SATIN BOWERBIRD
BOWER scattered with blue.
Cheers
Michael
Michael Hunter
Mulgoa Valley
50km west of Sydney Harbour Bridge
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