We were most fortunate to have a still, clear day, in between days of windy, stormy conditions, for our August bird walk at Clarkesdale, near Linton.
We didn’t see a great variety of birds due to winter conditions, but had a really memorable day.
Clarkesdale Bird paddock
Highlights were a large flock of Sitellas, as just one is a rare sight, and a white morph Grey Goshawk nest, with a glimpse of a white bird leaving the nest.
Sitella on Candlebark tree
On our way out we visited the Devil’s Kitchen and saw the breeding site of Peregrine falcons, and one bird conveniently circled around so we were all able to get a good view.
The sanctuary is a testament to the far-sightedness of one man, Gordon Clarke. In the 1960s he noticed that birds were decreasing, with the land degraded by farming and mining, and decided to do something about it. Fortunately he had the time and money to do follow his passion. It is indeed a delightful place to visit, and anyone can camp near the picturesque dam and well set-up information centre.
Clarkesdale Education Centre
For more information check out the Birdlife Australia website at http://birdlife.org.au/visit-us/reserves/clarkesdale.
Below are all the birds identified on this walk:
1. Grebe species
2. Little Pied Cormorant
3. Whistling Kite
4. Grey Goshawk (white morph)?
5. Peregrine Falcon
6. Purple Swamphen
7. Long -billed Corella
8. Crimson Rosella
9. Fan-tailed Cuckoo
10. Laughing Kookaburra
11. White-throated Treecreeper
12. Superb Fairy-wren
13. Striated thornbill
14. Brown thornbill
15. Eastern Spinebill
16. Red Wattlebird
17. New Holland Honeyeater
18. White-naped Honeyeater
19. Varied Sitella
20. Golden Whistler
21. Grey Shrike-thrush
22. Australasian Magpie
23. Grey Currawong (H)
24. Grey Fantail
25. Australian Raven
26. Eastern Yellow Robin
Ellinor Campbell
Sitella photo: Alison Watson