Wee Jasper

This outing will include a visit to private property, as well as a walk along part of the Hume and Hovell Track.  Meet at Hall Primary School, Hoskins St, Hall, at 7.00 am for carpooling.  Bring morning tea and lunch.  Snakes should be out and about, so take the usual precautions with footwear and clothing, and carry a snake bandage.  Please register with Sue Lashko at smlashko@gmail.com

Ten people made the journey to Wee Jasper at the invitation of one of our members who has a property in the village and which goes down to the Goodradigbee River.  We spent a very productive two hours wandering through the garden which is full of bird-friendly trees and shrubs, many of which were in flower including the eucalypts.  Limestone outcrops added to the interest and were very popular with the very healthy population of Cunninghams Skinks, some of which are partial to bananas! A Satin Bowerbird’s bower was decorated entirely with strands of blue rope.  Yellow-faced and New Holland Honeyeaters were plentiful, along with Noisy Friarbirds and Red Wattlebirds. King Parrots fed on acacia pods, unconcerned by our presence.  A pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles soared overhead, and at least 3 Nankeen Kestrels were feeding over the paddocks with one seen to grab a small Cunninghams Skink off its sunbathing position on a limestone outcrop. A walk through the paddocks down to the river yielded Fairy and Tree Martins, as well as fabulous and prolonged close-up views of a male Mistletoebird perched low on dead branches beside the river.  We were well satisfied with a list of 46 species for the property.

Our next destination was the Hume and Hovell Track which begins on the edge of the village and initially goes past the dump and through blackberry-infested land – which was full of small birds – before entering forest with a good shrub layer. We added Leaden Flycatcher, Olive-backed Oriole, Sacred Kingfisher, both pardalotes and Crested Shrike-tit to our list, among others, but the middle of the day was not the best time for birding.

We decided Billy Grace Reserve on the banks of the Goodradigbee was a good spot for lunch and the birds were very obliging too.  We had wonderful views of Rainbow Bee-eaters hawking and then perching on open branches. An Australian Hobby did a quick flypast and a flock of 44 Straw-necked Ibis obligingly flew in and perched in the top of a dead tree.  However, the highlight came just as we were about to leave – a White-winged Chough flushed a Tawny Frogmouth which flew onto a low open branch, giving us wonderful views and photographic opportunities.

The total species count was 63.  Many thanks to Patricia for inviting us to this delightful part of our region.

Sue Lashko