Description: Gungahlin Hill is a woodland area rising on the western edge of the Gungaderra Grasslands Nature Reserve. This will be an opportunity to wander through open forest and grassy woodland areas, where we will aim to see a variety of parrots and other woodland bird species.
eBird hotspot: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2543552
Meeting time and place: Meet at 8:00 am at the stile on Cocoparra Cres in Crace, near the intersection with Nuleri St. There is plenty of street parking available.
Walk details: An easy-moderate walk of approximately 3-4 kms on established tracks, with some hilly sections.
What to bring: Water, morning tea, binoculars, sturdy footwear, sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses).
Registration: Please register with Lachlan by email (poephila@outlook.com), no later than Friday 16 February 2024. Participants should provide their name and mobile number, and the name and mobile number of an emergency contact.
Some 41 species were seen or heard on this morning walk, led by Lachlan Duncan who was in charge of a COG outing for the first time. We met at the stile in Cocoparra Crescent, Crace, where we began the walk in auspicious fashion with a flyover by seven Superb Parrots. In the first hundred metres or so of the walk itself, we saw nine other parrot species including a pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos which posed nicely for the photographers in the group. Both Sulphur-crested cockatoos and Rainbow Lorikeets were observed checking out possible nest sites. Also seen in this open forest area was a group of Striated Pardalotes.
Walking south down the hill, we came to a spot enlivened by the presence of Superb Fairy-wrens and Red-browed Firetails. After passing the 1RPH radio station in the south-east corner of the Nature Reserve, we came to a sizeable dam where we saw two Australasian Grebes, two Eurasian Coots, one Pacific Black Duck, a single Little Pied Cormorant and two Australian Reed-Warblers. In the same vicinity a couple of participants heard a Golden-headed Cisticola calling.
Two raptors were seen towards the end of the open country, before we re-climbed Gungahlin Hill; one was a Brown Falcon perching on a transmission tower and the other a Nankeen Kestrel in flight. Other highlights were the sighting of Sacred Kingfishers, a Black-faced Cuckooshrike and several Dusky Woodswallows.
One final note: the wasps we saw at a nest among the grass stalks have been identified in Canberra Nature Map as Asian Paper Wasps, and have not been recorded in that area before.
Thanks to Lachlan for leading this most enjoyable and parrot-filled walk.
Wendy Whitham
