COG does Tharwa Sandwash and Namadgi Visitors Centre
19 members gathered at the Sandwash at 8:30 and soon noticed that the policy of starting an hour early was endorsed by the sun having some heat in it. However hot it got logging 65 species of birds by 12 noon was probably worth it!
Early
excitement was generated by a pair of Tawny Frogmouths in the trees on the
inland side of the car park ...
... and
a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike with young in nest (NY) on the River side!
This Cuckoo Shrike appeared to be in training for a contortionist routine
... while its offsider did heavy lifting with what appeared to be a (ex) phasmid
We then headed off for a stroll along the path
upstream. Good numbers (at least 20) of
Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, including 2 Dependent Young (DY) were recorded at
this location. Another big flock was at
least 20 Red-browed finches which taken
with a few other sightings that were confidently asserted to be different birds
pushed the count for this species to 35 birds.
2 Black-fronted Dotterels were seen on a sandbank. This image is put in mainly to demonstrate what a 24x zoom can achieve at about 80m range with quite a small sized bird.
For this site we totalled 48 species, before moving off to the Namadgi Visitors Centre.
The main business at the Visitors Centre was Crakes and Rails. The dam did not disappoint: almost as soon as we settled we observed a Spotted Crake and a Baillon’s Crake.
A little later we added more of these species ....
... and at least 3 Buff-banded Rails.
Dusky moorhen families with a least 7 DY
pottered around ...
Despite the lack of rain recently and the warm weather there was still a reasonable amount of water in the river.
The main business at the Visitors Centre was Crakes and Rails. The dam did not disappoint: almost as soon as we settled we observed a Spotted Crake and a Baillon’s Crake.
Those who had visited the site earlier noted that the amount
of mud visible was considerably greater than a few days ago. This made the spotting a little easier but
the Baillon's in particular wandered about on the Ottelia ovalifolia leaves
with no concerns about the sotto voce oohing and aahing and much clicking of
shutters.
and while an Austalasian Grebe was on nest, another Grebe
was very small and would clearly be a DY breeding record. A Magpie-lark was sitting on a nest. The final bird recorded here was a
White-winged Triller.
We recorded 30 species at this second stop.
Comments
Early start rewarded, I see.
Nice of the Frogmouths to pose together like that.
Even nicer of the Crakes to walk up and down like that!
Martin