This morning walk will be aimed specifically to help beginners and new members identify waterbirds, as well as other birds in the surrounding treed and grassed areas, and to learn about their behaviour and calls. Jerrabomberra Wetlands is well suited to viewing ducks and other waterbirds at close quarters from the hides. Dress appropriately for winter conditions.
Meet at 9.00 am at the carpark at the end of Dairy Road. Registration is essential; please provide your name and mobile phone number, as well as an emergency contact name and number. Book your place with Sue (smlashko@gmail.com or text 0449 898 838), who will be happy to discuss whether this outing is suitable for you. Please make sure to bring your binoculars, and the ACT field guide by McComas Taylor if you have it. If you do not have binoculars, please let me know as COG can supply you with a pair to use on the day.
Note that the aim of the walk is to introduce you to bird-watching, not bird photography, so please leave your camera at home.
An enthusiastic group of beginner and “emerging” birders joined me for a most enjoyable morning in calm and sunny conditions. As they wandered in, there was time to have a close look through the scope at a group of Australasian Swamphens feeding on the grass near the carpark. After an introductory chat about binoculars and field guides, we established ourselves in Cygnus hide and spent about an hour there as the birds of Jerrabomberra Wetlands behaved in the most impeccable fashion, almost as though someone was in the background orchestrating the arrival of the next new species on cue. To complete our waterhens, a Dusky Moorhen fed right in front of the hide and just as everyone had studied it closely and identified the distinguishing features, the first Eurasian Coot glided in from stage left! Australasian Grebes were common, with some beginning to show some breeding colour, and a couple of Australian Reed Warblers occasionally dashed from reedbed to reedbed, before disappearing.
Ducks were similarly cooperative with a pair of Pacific Black Ducks dabbling just in front of the hide, followed by, firstly, three and then many more Hardheads on or diving near the big log. A sleeping Grey Teal was then spotted on a small log tucked against close reeds, before Australasian Shovelers made their appearance, giving everyone wonderful scope views.
Non-waterbirds also showed well with a pair of White-browed Scrubwrens perching, and sitting still, on dead sticks close to the hide, long enough for everyone to see their key features. Superb Fairy-wrens in all plumages darted back and forth or pottered around along the grassy edge.
We relocated to Bittern hide and had closer views of Grey Teal before a small bird was spotted moving in and out of the reeds near the waterline – the bird of the morning, a Little Grassbird. Everyone had great views of this frequently heard but seldom seen species. A second one was seen from Ardea hide and there were more calling throughout the morning.
We then did a circuit around the rest of Kelly Swamp, adding to our list of waterbirds as well as woodland and grassland birds. A pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles soared overhead, a flock of Australian White Ibis appeared over the swamp, followed by another flock that also contained a single Straw-necked Ibis, and then a whole flock of the latter circled over the paddocks. Australians Pelicans did a fly-by but darters and cormorants failed to put in an appearance. Red-rumped Parrots, the Tasmanian race of Silvereye, and Red-browed Finches were seen well, then just as we were watching the latter, a Whistling Kite was spotted overhead but quickly vanished towards the east. Although listing was not the goal of the morning, we did see or hear close to 40 species.
Many thanks to the group for being so interested and engaged in the morning’s activities. Hopefully everyone, including the newcomers, will join us for future field trips.
Sue Lashko
