The walk will start at 9am on Baroona Rd, on the roadside at bottom of the driveway of Illilanga: it’s the 2nd property along that road, on the left. Baroona Rd runs off the Monaro Highway about 9km past the turn-off to Michelago.
As it is a fair step from town people may wish to car pool for the trip. It is suggested that parking near the Motor Vehicle Registry on Couranga Crescent Hume may be a suitably secure spot.
People that choose this option should leave by 0830 to get to Baroona St by 0900. Note that Sandra will be going early to Baroona Rd and Martin doesn’t pass Hume so it will up to others to coordinate this step,
Wed 21 November 2018 09:00am
Martin Butterfield Sandra HendersonPost event report
7 members didn’t believe the BoM weather forecast and gathered at Baroona Rd for a guided tour by one of the owners of Illilanga of their property and the adjoining wetland. While the wind was a tad gusty there was not a drop of rain during the outing!
We began with a loop around a woodland remnant particularly notable for interesting nest sites. These included White-faced Heron (Occupied Nest); Brown Falcon (Nest with Young); Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Carrying Food); Easter Rosella and Common Starling (both Inspecting Hollow, with some disputation over ownership); and Dusky Woodswallow (Occupied Nest).
Less common species observed, but not undertaking breeding activity , were Speckled Warbler, and male and female White –winged Trillers. The only cuckoo observation was a brief call by Horsfields Bronz-Cuckoo. A full list of the 28 species seen at this site is at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50088909
We then proceeded to the large wetland on an adjacent property being developed as wildlife habitat. The big-ticket item in this wetland was a male Musk Duck and he duly appeared (and as is normal for this species disappeared frequently beneath the water). The only breeding activity recorded in this site was Golden-headed Cisticola where chicks were heard begging in a bramble when an adult entered the bush.
Less common species seen here also included 2 Black-fronted Dotterels seen on mud banks in the larger water body. The full 22 species list is at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S50090195.
Overall we recorded 39 species for the day.