Despite some trepidation about the weather (initially temperature and then potential storms) the walk went off well.
We walked from Uriarra Road down to and across the Molonglo with the target species of Rainbow Bee-eater being sighted on the way down to the river. During this phase we also saw Red-browed Finch and Double-barred Finch and had great views of a Brown Falcon hunting in the pasture on the way back up to the road and two Wedge-tailed Eagles soaring over the confluence. A mystery raptor was seen on the far side of the Molonglo: it perched nicely in the top of a tree but was a pure silhouette.
Heading down to the picnic area a Diamond Firetail was seen beside the road. The casuarinas held Mistletoebird, and a Black-fronted Dotterel (and two Masked Lapwings) were seen on the (sandpiper-deficient) sandbar. The bird of the trip was seen as we got back close to the west side of the crossing in the form of a juvenile Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo being fed by a Superb Fairy-wren – as well as feeding itself.
In total 42 species were recorded despite a few of the usual suspects (Noisy Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike and Olive-backed Oriole) being absent.