A large group of 29 people attended this walk, with over half being from COG and the rest from Field Naturalists, FOG and other friends. We split into two groups, with Rosemary Blemings taking the beginners and John Brannan and myself taking the more experienced birdos.
A quick introduction to the local trees (mainly Yellowbox, Blakely's Redgum and Applebox) also yielded a large mixed feeding flock (MFF). This flock enabled us to identify the features of Spotted Pardalotes, a male and female Scarlet Robin and a small flock of White-naped Honeyeaters.
Good views from The Pinnacle itself provided a useful setting for discussing the history and management of this site, and how this fits within the broader Molonglo valley. Heading towards the more native 'Red Stringybark forest' we saw a Rainbow Lorikeet (an ACT first for some birders), another male Scarlet Robin and a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. In the forest were White-throated Treecreepers and more scarlet robins and spotted pardalotes, plus some interesting plants including cauliflower bushes, paper daisies and everlasting daisies which had just finished seeding, and matt-rushes (Lomandra).
Moving back into tree plantings we finally saw Speckled Warblers, two White-eared Honeyeaters, White-naped Honeyeater, a Striated Thornbill and other sbbs (and Roger Curnow didn't have his camera—now that is a tick!).
I think John Cummings was first to see a Wedge-tailed Eagle which was being harassed by Magpies, Ravens and Magpie-larks. Then John Brannan showed us a Chough nest and we bumped into a group of choughs, plus more White-eared Honeyeaters and a Grey Shrike-thrush.
A number of people hadn't been to The Pinnacle and hopefully this introduction will encourage them to return.
Thanks to Rosemary Blemings for organising the walk, John Brannan and Barbara Allan for helping out, and all the
other input on the day.
Of course, when walking home I saw a Sparrowhawk and a Grey Currawong that we must have only just missed on the walk.
Benj Whitworth