The COG outing to Blundells Creek and Warks Roads in the Brindabellas has been an annual event for more than a decade. The area was a very special part of Namadgi National Park and is highlighted by Ian Fraser in his book "Above the Cotter".
As usual, we started with a good look at the dam at Uriarra Homestead, where we saw big groups of Eurasian Coots, Hardheads, Australian Wood Ducks and Welcome Swallows, a few Grey Teal, Masked Lapwings and Black-fronted Dotterels. Rufous Songlarks were in fine voice and a Sacred Kingfisher and both Pallid and Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoos were heard. In total we recorded 25 species on and around the dam.
All of us were a little apprehensive about what to expect in the once beautiful wet forest we knew so well and now burnt. Some of the tall Brown Barrells and Ribbon Gums have survived and even a few Tree Ferns in places. The understorey has grown back vigorously but is now dominated by exotic grasses and weeds. However there were plenty of natives including trigger plants, bluebells and various daisies. In the past, the area was well known for uncommon / spectacular species such Pilotbirds, Cicadabirds, Eastern Whipbirds, Rufous Fantails, Wonga Pigeons, Eastern Yellow Robins and Superb Lyrebirds. None of these were observed, whilst the numbers of more common species such as Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Brown Thornbills and White-browed Scrubwrens, Rufous and Golden Whistlers were much lower than in earlier outings. However, we did find more birds as we moved down into the valley where the fire may not have been as intense. Notables included Fan-tailed Cuckoos and Shining Bronze-Cuckoos, Flame Robins (not recorded here in recent years) and a very sooty Sulphur-crested Cockatoo which emerged from an even sootier tree hollow.
Overall, a bit depressing, but not without hope for the future. Future surveys will be interesting. Does anyone have some spare Pilotbirds?
Bruce Lindenmayer