If the farmers of Taylors Creek Landcare Group were hoping that the COG visit on 12 March would be a repeat of their rain-bearing performance of 18 months ago they were to be disappointed. The first bird survey by COG of the Taylors Creek area ended in torrential rain, but the 2006 survey was held during a hot dry autumn spell. Despite the Canberra forecast of a windy 33 degrees, 22 members partook in the survey and the total of 82 bird species for the morning was surprisingly good given the conditions.
The survey has been designed to provide an inventory of the Landcare group area, and to monitor the birds of specific habitats such as remnant woodlands and tree plantings. The survey also provides COG with a snapshot of this area to the east of Lake George that is otherwise rarely visited by birdwatchers and it affords us a wonderful opportunity for access to private land. Surveys were conducted on 7 properties with additional sightings made along roadsides and homestead gardens.
Some highlights for the morning included two sightings of Diamond Firetail, several records of Southern Whiteface, groups of White-fronted Chat including one flock of 20 birds, and a sighting of a Singing Bushlark. One group had excellent close views of an Owlet-nightjar, and the larger dams had plentiful waterfowl with 8 species of duck recorded including Pink-eared, Musk Dusk and Australasian Shoveler. Despite the absence of Spring migrants such as woodswallows, triller, cuckoos, oriole, the morning’s total of 82 species was not far behind the 2004 total of 90 species. This time there were a few different waterbirds and a few more raptors around. A definite highlight of the morning was the post-survey barbeque provided by the Landcare group at one of the historic homesteads of the area. Thankyou to everyone who participated and to the Landcare group for hosting us again.
Nicki Taws
It was a great pleasure to be asked to survey several paddocks on "Willeroo" station along with Julienne, Barbara and John and the owner George Grundy, whose family have been on the property since 1894.
Our first two paddocks had vegetation dominated by massive centuries old Scribbly Gums. Things were relatively quiet in the currently grazed paddock, but in the adjacent one (ungrazed since 1984 - and with intact native understorey) highlights were many Striated Pardalotes, Weebills, White-throated Gerygones, Rufous Whistlers, Grey Fantails, and a pair of Leaden Flycatchers. Highlights in a third paddock (where the predominant eucalypts were broad-leafed peppermint), were a flock of Yellow-rumped Thornbills, a White-eared Honeyeater, Tree Martins and a female Scarlet Robin. On the way out we recorded a Brown Goshawk and a small flock of Red-rumped Parrots.
A more distant broad-leafed peppermint paddock on Taylor's Ck Rd was very quiet indeed, with Brown Thornbills, a
few Rufous Whistlers, a Nankeen Kestrel and a pair of quail (flushed too quickly for identification).
Back to "Willeroo" homestead for the last survey before lunch, we were overwhelmed by a massive flock of Sulphur-crested
Cockatoos, flocks of Welcome Swallows, Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Laughing Kookaburras and several
others.
It was a great outing and wonderful hospitality from George and Erica and local landcarers.
Bruce Lindenmayer