In a climatic contrast to the heat of last year it was a brisk four degrees when a group of nine left Mr Spokes (supplemented by two plant sale attendees a little later). As birdlife has seemed a tad absent from West Basin recently, with the agreement of the group, we went towards East Basin.
After looking at the first of many Darters – posing nicely in the shadow of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge – our next point of call was the fruit bat colony at Regatta Point. The cooler weather had certainly not diminished the size of the colony, but possibly made them more active. A short pedal to Commonwealth Park added a few birds to the list, as did the second stop on Aspen Island. There were no Pied Cormorants in the area this year. After checking four very cute cygnets in Bowen Park (and hearing Little Corellas overhead) we headed through Kingston and investigated Norgrove Park, a very well set out wetland area. Of particular interest were two each of New Holland Honeyeater and Clamorous Reed-warbler.
Heading into Jerrabombera Wetlands we initially found birds hard to come by. However a flock of 60+ Straw-necked Ibis took off from the grazing land opposite Tadorna hide and were seen closer up as we approached Kelly’s Swamp. This was livened up by a female Australian Shelduck and a Great Egret. After removing several bindii burrs from our tyres (and only two of us needed to replenish the air therein before we got back to the cars) we signed in to the sewage ponds where the most exciting bird was a Musk Duck on Pond 6. All up I recorded a pleasing 48 species for the trip (not counting the bats).
Martin Butterfield