Eleven participants came on the walk. The weather was cold and mainly overcast with little wind. A total of 55 species were recorded for the day, 51 at the main dam area and a further four at the Tin Hut end. A few Eucalypt trees were in flower, including a red stringybark and a red box near the main entrance. These attracted honeyeaters such as Red Wattlebirds and White-eared Honeyeaters and there was a mixed feeding flock of small birds nearby. Other honeyeaters recorded on the trip included Eastern Spinebills and Yellow-faced, Brown-headed and White-plumed Honeyeaters.
Other highlights included a flock of an estimated 10 Red-browed Finches. Overhead, a soaring Wedge-tailed Eagle temporarily shared air space with a Whistling Kite. The kite quickly decided it had an appointment somewhere else and made off at high speed. We had excellent views of a female Hooded Robin in a dead tree, beautifully camouflaged by its colouring. A little further on a Flame Robin was anything but camouflaged, perched serenely on the top of another dead tree. Not far away from it a Collared Sparrowhawk was moving furtively through the trees.
Down near the boat ramp, a pair of Diamond Firetails obligingly perched next to each other on a strand of fence wire at quite close range. One was facing us and the other presented a view of its back. The striking diamond markings and full range of colours of this bird were therefore clearly visible.
Waterbirds seen on the dam included Black Swans and Eurasian Coots as well as Cormorants and several duck species.
Two of the participants also visited the Tin Hut end of Googong Dam, where four additional species were recorded, Australasian Grebe, Australasian Shoveler, Noisy Miner and Brown Treecreeper. The pair of Brown Treecreepers were in a patch of dry forest feeding on the ground, presumably on ants. They were close enough for the barring on their tails to be clearly visible. Not far from them a diurnal wombat lumbered across the shallows of Burra Creek seeking greener pastures.
It is sobering to reflect on what the likely impact of the proposed new settlement of Googong on the rich avifauna of Googong Foreshores might be. An expected 16,000 people will live in this new area between Googong Foreshores and the Old Cooma Road. Apparently wildlife corridors are proposed for the new development but how effective will they be?
Ian Anderson