Due to the very hot conditions forecast for Sunday, the outing to Jerrabomberra West Grasslands has been transferred to Callum Brae where there is more shade. Meet at the Narrabundah Lane entrance at the earlier time of 8.oo am. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water.
Register with Sandra Henderson at shirmax2931@gmail.com
Ten members and guests joined me for a walk at Callum Brae. The cicadas were singing loudly as we gathered at the start, and the noise was unrelenting for the whole morning. Shortly after we started the wind came up, and gusts were very strong at times. These factors combined to make it a very difficult morning of birding, reflected in the low number of species seen or heard.
Weeds, and in particular the huge swathes of tall Saffron Thistles, kept us largely confined to the tracks, although these too were rather overgrown in places. On the upside, all the dams are full to overflowing, although waterbirds numbers were very low on the day.
Throughout the morning groups of Australian White Ibis were seen flying overhead, and three Little Pied Cormorants also flew over. Striated Pardalotes were observed entering and leaving hollows in a known nest tree, and an Australian Reed Warbler was seen carrying food across a dam. A Magpie-Lark was at a nest with an unknown number of chicks. The only raptor for the morning was an Australian Hobby preening in a tree on the Mugga Mugga property.
Sandra Henderson