Wee Jasper

This outing will include a visit to private property, as well as a walk along part of the Hume and Hovell Track.  Meet at Stromlo Forest Park carpark at 7.00 am for carpooling.  Bring morning tea and lunch.  Snakes should be out and about, so take the usual precautions with footwear and clothing, and carry a snake bandage.  Please register with Sue Lashko at smlashko@gmail.com

Photos Email Tee 8/3

Eleven members travelled to Wee Jasper on a perfect autumn morning.  We were warmly welcomed by members Patricia and Richard who have a property on the edge of the village, with a wonderful garden of limestone rocks, fruit trees, native and exotic trees, and plenty of shrubs which provide protection to a variety of small birds.  The house block is surrounded by paddocks (for Angora goats) which run down to the Goodradigbee River.  A slow wander over almost 3 hours yielded 50 species, with vocal garden residents including Olive-backed Oriole, Satin Bowerbird, Noisy Friarbird and  Australian King Parrots.  A Peregrine Falcon whizzed past and was missed by most, but later did a slower fly-by over open paddocks, giving good views to everyone.  Diamond Firetails and a Restless Flycatcher were other highlights.

After a leisurely morning tea on the house verandah, we took our leave of Patricia and Richard and drove the short distance to a section of The Hume and Hovell Track.  By this time, it was quite warm and birds were less active, but eagle-eyed Ryu soon spotted 4 Spotted Quail-thrush, two of which gave close views – a new bird for several people.  Our 1 km walk into the forest also yielded a calling Australian Owlet-nightjar, White-throated Gerygone and Eastern Yellow Robin among the 7 extra species added here.

We then lunched in Billy Grace Reserve on the banks of Wee Jasper Creek “serenaded” by a begging Sulphur-crested Cockatoo which made hearing any other birds almost impossible.  However, we did manage to add Yellow Thornbill and Mistletoebird.

Soon after we crossed the Goodradigbee River on the way home, Sandra spotted a raptor circling close to the road and a quick stop followed.  The bird had obligingly perched and revealed itself to be a Brown Falcon, bringing our species total for the morning to 50.

Many thanks to Patricia and Richard for hosting us, and to Lia for creating the eBird list.

Sue Lashko