The next Wednesday walk will be at Jerrabomberra Hill (Mount Jerrabomberra?) in the Jerrabomberra area of Queanbeyan. Meet at 9am at the carpark (see below).
Access via Tompsitt Drive off Lanyon Drive. Take first left off the big roundabout, into Limestone Drive, then a left at Halloran Drive. Jerrabomberra Hill Road is off to the right along that road. There is a parking area next to the locked gate into the reserve (some informal carpooling would be good because it’s not a huge carpark!). There is limited on-street parking, and when I was there yesterday (a Wednesday) some bins were out, so on-street parking may not be a good idea.
The road to the top of the hill is a very pleasant, easy walk through woodland with lots of stringybark, other eucalyptss, acacias, and quite a lot of flowering at present. Several mixed flocks with thornbills, Weebills, Scarlet Robins and pardalotes were seen yesterday, and around 30 species altogether.. Keep your fingers crossed for a non-foggy morning!
Twenty-one members and guests gathered at the start of the road up to Mount Jerrabomberra.
As is often the case there were interesting birds seen before the walk started, with about 12 species written down at that stage including 3 Gang-gang Cockatoos and 5 Eastern Spinebills being logged. Later in the walk an Eastern Spinebill was seen sitting on a nest as was a Common Bronzewing. The third breeding record of the day was curious behaviour – eventually recorded as Inspecting Hollow by a pair of White-throated Treecreepers. (The presence of an Australian Wood Duck on a branch was quite able to be rated as Inspecting Hollow!)
At least 5 Golden Whistlers (2 stunning males) were seen low down on the mountain so they have not yet retreated to the higher country. In a similar vein at least 2 pairs of Scarlet Robins were seen.
For returning migrants I recorded Yellow-faced and Fuscous Honeyeaters and an Olive-backed Oriole. Red Wattlebirds and Grey Fantails were also present in fair numbers.
In total we recorded 33 species.
