The Sunday morning outing to East O'Malley, so ably led by Dick Schodde, was a fascinating introduction for many of us to a little-known corner of Canberra. It was nippy, but brilliantly clear. The wind and the season kept numbers of bird species down to 22, however the human observers count was 35, a tribute I feel sure to Dick and his effortless erudition.
The avian highlights were the Little Eagle, seen perched then in flight on several occasions, providing unrivalled id opportunities. From the size of the ravens harassing it, Dick felt the perched bird was a male. We never saw more than one at any one time. The nest, however, was still in situ - awaiting the bulldozers? Good views were also had of a Speckled Warbler, Double-barred Finches and a pair of Brown-headed Honeyeaters, as well as Australian Magpies, Magpie-larks, Crimson and Eastern Rosellas, Crested Pigeon, large numbers of Noisy Miners, pardalotes and Weebills, White-winged Choughs, Galahs, wattlebirds, and only two thornbills - a Yellow-numped and a Brown Thornbill. There were Wood Duck on the dam and grazing in the surrounding area; flocks of up to 16 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos and also Sulphur-crested Cockatoos.
Some non-avian species were also observed: a hare, a fox, and good numbers of Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Sadly, the mixed feeding flock of four species of thornbill and Scarlet Robins which the Langdale-Smiths had enjoyed two days before did not put in an appearance.
Dick pointed out many fine mature specimens of Yellow Box and Blakely's Red Gum, and commented on the extent of the regeneration, as well as the numerous examples of the cockies' ringbarking in search of grubs.
Inevitably, the question of the fate of this area was a hot topic. And it must be said that East O'Malley is far from pristine, being heavily weed-infested. From my perspective, now that we have an already completely spoilt area in the form of Stromlo available for housing, I'd prefer to see it used in preference to East O'Malley.
A very big thank you to Dick, for leading this walk. Let's do it again, bulldozers permitting, when Dick gets back in the spring.
Barbara Allan