This trip is now full. You may register to go on the waiting list. If you have already registered but are now unable to attend, please contact the leader asap so others have the opportunity to attend. The plan for this outing is to walk down Blundells Creek Road and then along Warks Road, in particular to search for wet forest birds. This will involve a car shuffle so that we do not have to walk back up Blundells Creek Road. However, road closures, as have happened in recent years, may change these arrangements closer to the time. A meeting place is yet to be decided, but we will meet at 7.30am.
We hope to see Satin Flycatcher, Eastern Crested Shrike-tit, Rose Robin, Rufous Fantail, Red-browed Treecreeper, and at least hear Pilotbird, Wonga Pigeon and Superb Lyrebird, as well as see a variety of honeyeaters, whistlers and parrots.
Bring morning tea, lunch, plenty of water, hat and wear suitable footwear for a downhill gravel road. Finish time will be mid-afternoon.
Register at smlashko@gmail.com with your name, mobile number and name and number of an emergency contact. Please also include your suburb so that I can connect you to others in your area for carpooling. Suggested contribution to drivers is $10 per person; please bring the correct money.
Our slow amble down Blundells Creek Road began in cool, almost autumnal temperatures and, after recent rain, the birds were active and vocal. A Superb Lyrebird was in full voice and kept us entertained as it switched from imitating one species after another. There were good numbers of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and their begging young near the top, while White-naped Honeyeaters were more plentiful lower down the slope. Their begging young stayed still long enough for the yellowish bare skin above the eye to be clearly seen. A male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (with pink eye ring), perched on a stag, caught our eye and we soon realised it was sitting opposite the entrance to its nesting hollow with begging young at the entrance. Gang-gang Cockatoos, Australian King Parrots, Crimson Rosellas and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos added to the parrot list. Pairs of Grey Fantails were our constant companions, and we also recorded a single Rufous Fantail. Golden and Rufous Whistlers, good numbers of Striated Thornbills, Eastern Yellow Robins, Satin Bowerbirds, Eastern Whipbird, Satin Flycatchers and two Wonga Pigeons also contributed to the list of 30 species on this part of the walk.
It was almost midday by the time we reached Warks Road so, after a short walk to the left, it was time for a sit-down lunch in the shade. Rather obligingly, a pair of Red-browed Treecreepers waited until we were just finishing before they called and we all jumped to our feet to see what was for several people a new species. They were quite mobile but we were able to get quite good views of the red brow and lores, and compare them to White-throated Treecreepers which were also present. We strolled along Warks Road for several hundred metres as the day warmed up but conditions were still very pleasant, locating another Red-browed Treecreeper. An unusual but distinctly kingfisher-type call had us searching for the source and we soon located a bird partially hidden before it flew, revealing a very conspicuous rufous back and rump as it flew away – a Red-backed Kingfisher in an unusual setting. Sahul Cicadabird, Sahul Brush Cuckoo and Fan-tailed Cuckoo were heard. Perched Dusky Woodswallow chicks were being attended by at least one parent, and more Satin Flycatchers and a very calm Wonga Pigeon pottering along the road contributed to the 27 species seen on Warks Road, making a total of 38 species.
Sue Lashko
