COG does well on a wintery Sunday

The day started off very wintery with snow at home

 This is a little unusual with snow being seen from underneath.  It is looking up at our skylight!

Heading out to the initial meeting point there was a good serve of snow on the Taliesin Hills ...

 .. and this view of the Brindabellas as I drove down the escarpment into Queanbeyan.

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After an initial gathering at Spotlight we traveled (hopefully all getting through a speed camera trap with no damage to the wallet) to Mick Sherd Oval in Bungendore to meet the rest of the group, forming a band of 21 members and guests.  It was very pleasing to see a good representation of younger folk.

As David McDonald explained, our itinerary had evolved somewhat as the dam on Lake Rd was dry and a TSR had been leased out and was no longer available for birding.  We began with a walk to Bungendore Common, with a permanent water feature, but little known to people who don't live in Bungendore.  

Only three species of duck (Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck  and Chestnut Teal) were sighted but the three common members of the rail family were evident in fair numbers.  Australian Swamphens are not common in the area, but are regularly seen here.  This one appears to need some advice on grooming.

 A Little Pied Cormorant was taking advantage of the vintage light fitting.

The least frequently record bush ​b​ird was a Grey Currawoong. Two breeding records were logged with Australian Magpie and Crested Pigeon both building nests.  

Water levels were low in the lake,but at least the billabongs in Turallo Creek had some water.

There was some concern when a car appeared driving across the middle of the park and when some plastic bags were dumped out  I was getting ready to report them for littering.

Then the bags were emptied of netting, which was applied to nearby soccer goals and the youth of Bungendore carried on with the entirely admirable sporting activities.  Your reporter calmed down.

We recorded 29 species here.

After consolidating cars because of limited parking at the next two sites we drove to the Bungendore Sewage Treatment Works.  

Despite the dearth of open water around the area there were very few waterfowl on the Eastern pond.  A single Australian Shelduck was the most unusual sighting here.  We then walked along the ditch to the two Western Ponds.  The highlight here was  34 Pink-eared Ducks loafing on the central bank or swimming in the "water".  Hardhead and Australasian Shoveler were also notable.  

We recorded 24 species here.

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The next stop was the main dam on Trucking Yard Lane.   We were able to park without disturbing the ducks!  As is now expected there were 27 Plumed Whistling Ducks on the bank and 56 Australian Shelduck (including one with very strange plumage)

 ...  were grazing on the paddock.  At least 8 Chestnut Teal were also present and 5 Straw-necked Ibis grazed near Hoskinstown Rd,  

It was good that the landowner dropped by and explained how he was keeping food up to the stock (and consequently the ducks) during this drought.  As he also owns the Bungendore Butchery (and his meat is very good) that store should be supported!

19 species in total.

As time was moving on we decided to proceed directly to Cuumbeun Nature Reserve on Captains Flat Rd,  

A Wedge-tailed Eagle was seen soaring over the Reserve as we arrived.  The hope for this walk was a Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, but unfortunately that species was not evident.  Indeed, very few birds were evident until we got close to the Queanbeyan River Fire Trail.  This visit was beginning to be more of a botanical outing!  Then a mixed bathing flock in a puddle there delivered Scarlet Robin, Brown Thornbill, and Striated Thornbill with a female Golden Whistler overhead.  14 species were seen here.

In total we recorded 50 species for the day, which we regarded as a pretty good outcome for a chilly day in a dry season.