The weather was overcast but there was no wind when we commenced walking up Cecil Track, off Gum Flats Road. White-throated Treecreepers were calling and Red Wattlebirds were squawking up high in the trees.
Apart from the single note call of the Grey Shrike-thrush, there were not many other birds around. We walked awhile looking also for orchids and other interesting items, including some red lichen which attracted Penny’s attention.
Not a bird but Penny saw some red lichen
We then decided to go off Cecil Track and walk through the disused old Rifle Range. Over the past ten years the vegetation has grown and with all the rain this year, small ponds have developed with plenty of frogs calling.
Lots of Superb Fairy-wrens were seen and heard in the short undergrowth, and high in the tree canopies Striated Thornbills were seen feeding on the flowering eucalypts. Brown Thornbills were also sighted lower down in the trees. Heard calling were Spotted Pardalotes, Eastern Spinebill, Shining Bronze-cuckoo and Golden Whistler. On the way back, we walked along Gum Flats Road and here we saw Yellow Robins and a female Flame Robin.
Highlight of the day was the sighting of a Wedge-tailed Eagle flying low over Gum Flats Road, near Cecil Track. It gave us a great view of its wing markings as it slowly circled around.
Yep, definitely a Wedgie
Other birds included Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Welcome Swallow, Laughing Kookaburra (2 of them laughing at us), and Crimson Rosella. Overall, 24 species were recorded (full list below).
Morning tea was enjoyed in the bush on the corner of Gum Flats and Forrest Roads, where we spotted a Banded Greenhood and a Dwarf Greenhood.
Also not a bird but a perennial favourite with the photographer – Running Postman
Cheryl West Lau
Below are all the birds identified on this walk:
- Galah
- Eastern Spinebill
- White-throated Treecreeper
- White-eared Honeyeater
- Striated Thornbill
- Brown Thornbill
- Grey Shrike-thrush
- Little Raven
- Laughing Kookaburra
- Red Wattlebird
- Spotted Pardalote
- Grey Fantail
- Shining Bronze-cuckoo
- Pied Currawong
- Golden Whistler
- Superb Fairy-wren
- Fan-tailed Cuckoo
- New Holland Honeyeater
- Wedge-tailed Eagle
- Eastern Yellow Robin
- Flame Robin (female)
- Welcome Swallow
- Australian Magpie
- Crimson Rosella