Weston Ponds

Meet Doug Laing at 8.30 am at a sitting area by the side of Coombs Pond, adjacent to Terry Connolly St Coombs. Kerbside parking is available on this and adjoining streets and on Madgwick St on the opposite side of the Pond. This will be a relaxed circular walk taking in some urban ponds in this new housing development area, and nearby bushland along the margin of the Molonglo River. An ideal walk for beginners. Amongst a mix of water and bush birds we may encounter white fronted chat, which are not uncommon in this area. Bring morning tea with you, as well as the usual water, sunscreen, hat and good walking shoes. There are no difficult tracks to be negotiate.

Register with Doug by emailing Lilley@iimetro.com.au with your name, telephone number, as well as the name and phone number of an emergency contact.

After an extra hour’s sleep, ten extra wide-awake birdwatchers gathered at the lower Coombs Pond, in the Molonglo urban complex, where the watching started with a good range of waterbirds and more than 50 Welcome Swallows hawking over the water – and a single White-plumed Honeyeater foraging leaf lerp on a young planted eucalypt by the pond. Across, then above, and finally alongside the Molonglo, the highlights were flocks of Silvereyes passing overhead and foraging on weedy fleabane and pyracantha berries, and small groups of Double-barred Finch. Piece de resistance was more than 25 Australasian Darters by the river in all stages of post-breeding plumage, with some very large fluffballs still bound to the nest and demanding to be fed. A total of 35 species was recorded.