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!

Despite the lack of rain recently and the warm weather there was still a reasonable amount of water in the river.
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. 

 

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.

Dusky moorhen families with a least 7 DY pottered around ...
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

Denis Wilson said…
A good outing, Martin.
Early start rewarded, I see.
Nice of the Frogmouths to pose together like that.
16 January 2013 at 14:55:00 GMT+11
Flabmeister said…
Thanks Denis.

Even nicer of the Crakes to walk up and down like that!

Martin
16 January 2013 at 16:47:00 GMT+11
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