Hi All,
I've been in Centenial Park several times over the last week and have had a few
interesting observations:
* Red-browed Finches, almost walked on top of 20 feeding in fairly low grass
near Busby's Pond last friday, the first time I have seen any in the park for
over 3 years and many, many visits. Also saw 12 this morning in a nearby area.
I know these are very ho hum and common in some areas, but when you haven't
seen them at a location for a few years it's exciting to have them back however
briefly;
*Great views of Brown Goshawk last Friday, and excellent views of Grey Goshawk
Monday. Also on raptors, saw an adult White-bellied Sea Eagle flying low,
being chased by an Australian Raven over the Willow Pond, and settling to perch
in a tree on one of the islands in that pond on Saturday. Spoke to one of the
rangers (Paul) who was nearby and he had said that there had been two hagning
around the park for the last couple of months. Apparently they were picking
off the large carp from the ponds as they were drying up. Saw 2 birds perched
over the same pond this morning, one adult, one seemed to be a late immature;
* Cormorants are way down in numbers and represented almost entirely by Great
Cormorant only (also in very reduced numbers), in contratst to every visit over
the last three years where I have recorded all 4 local species. There was a
single Little Pied Cormorant on Friday, Sunday and monday, but not today.
Guess they have all gone off to better water elsewhere. Perhaps the cormorants
don't like the eagles on top of their colony, but if so why are some of the
White Ibis that nest in the same trees still here (although none appear to be
nesting now anyway)? The Darters are down with only 3 at the moment, but they
drifted away earlier, when many ponds were mostly mudflats whilst the
cormorants were conspicuously present, although perhaps with somoe reduced
numbers;
*Winter passerine visitors are still around with Brown Gerygones still
conspicuous, and a few Grey Fantails and Golden Whistlers;
*Peahen is still hanging around. Cheers.
Frank
Frank Hemmings
Curator
John T. Waterhouse Herbarium
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of New South Wales
UNSW SYDNEY 2052
AUSTRALIA
Tel +61 2 9385 3274
Fax +61 2 9385 1558
CRICOS Provider Code:00098G
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