Meet at the informal car park at the top of Long Gully Road at 8.30am. We will then cross the road and enter the reserve near the reservoir and follow some of the firetrails. Birds seen in the reserve in last few years include Flame and Scarlet Robins, Painted Buttonquail, Common Bronzewings, various honeyeaters and raptors, and many of the small bush birds. Sturdy shoes are essential, and dress appropriately for the weather. Register with Sandra at shirmax2931@gmail.com by Friday 12 July with your name and mobile number and name and mobile number of an emergency contact.
Sun 14 July 2024 08:30am
Sandra HendersonPost event report
On a freezing, foggy morning, 19 keen birders and our intrepid leader, Sandra, undertook a three kilometre loop walk in the Wanniassa Hills Nature Reserve.
Commencing on Long Gully Road, we followed a wide trail uphill, passing the reservoir on our right. As we climbed, the fog slowly lifted. Six White-winged Choughs huddling together on a branch were a memorable sight.
On reaching the ridge line, we observed two White-eared Honeyeaters and a mixed feeding flock of Striated, Buff-rumped, Brown and Yellow-rumped Thornbills, a Weebill, two Golden Whistlers, two Spotted Pardalotes and two Striated Pardalotes, and Superb Fairywrens were heard. Crimson Rosellas and Eastern Rosellas enjoyed the emerging sunshine.
We turned left off the trail, walking down a grassy slope towards the powerlines and the road. A large flock of over 100 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and around 30 Galahs were observed in the near distance feeding on the ground. It was not obvious what had attracted them to that particular spot.
Continuing to our left under the powerlines, we had good views of four Scarlet Robins, two males and two females. Closer to the road, Silvereyes and Red-browed Finches were seen.
In total, 27 species were observed. We also admired the wonderful display of Leucopogon attenuatus (Small-leaf Beard Heath), the small white-flowered shrub for which Wanniassa Hills is well known.
Susan Cribb