A select but wildly enthusiastic group of members (and a visitor for the UK) gathered on a mild morning near the Griffin Centre, before pushing off north towards Gunning. The car trip takes about an hour to Gunning, where at a comfort stop we noted our first bird of the trip. A Wood Duck was very pleased to see us from the top of the chimney of the Gunning post office. Dalton, a village ten kilometers further on was nearer our destination of Oolong. The former ostrich farm is owned by Gianni D'Addario and is in the early stages of being rehabilitated for conservation purposes. The caretaker, Lewis, as well as the brilliant, mild, still conditions welcomed us -perfect for bird watching.
Since COG was here last year, some of the invasive cassinia had been cut back to enable several walking tracks to be established. Before we set off, we were all impressed by the glossy emerald green of a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, which was just finishing its breakfast, while on a fence wire. The group of seven, spent the next three hours or so, walking to the eastern side of the property along the firetrail through dry woodland comprising red stringybark, with a shrubby understory. The range of thornbills were there along with Striated Pardalotes, Scarlet Robin, White-browed Scrub-wrens, Grey Shrike-thrush and Weebill. A flock of Straw-necked Ibis circled over head.
There were goods views across the paddocks, before we climbed up a steep path to near the top of the property. The honeyeaters were calling including the Yellow-faced, White-plumed, and White-eared varieties, and we had great views of the village and surrounding district. On the descent to the northern end fo the property, the vegetation opens out to low shrubs and bushes, perfect for Babblers. Indeed they were there. We found them in the cassinia making their usual chatter as we approached. An Australasian Grebe was spotted on a small dam, which unlike last year was full of water, as well a family of Superb Fairy-wrens.
Along the rocky track near the northern fence line Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes were seen doing their well-known wing shuffle after they landed in the trees. The chatter of the common rosellas was heard, along with the bubbling call of the Olive-backed Orioles. Towards the car parking area, near the end of our walk, there was one particular tree playing host to Red-rumped Parrots, Diamond Firetails, Red-browed Firetails, Double-barred Finches, Crimson Rosellas, Australian Magpies, and a Pallid Cuckoo. Richard’s Pipit was seen on the open paddocks. As we arrived back for our lunch, the Shining Bronze-Cuckoo was then tucking into some lunch on the same fence as before. Over a pleasant lunch our only bird of prey was recorded, being a Brown Falcon. The complete bird list, description of the walk and map are now on Gianni's web site at www.pcug.org.au/~gianni, under News.
All together we noted 61 species for the day, before thanking our host, and moving on to the Dalton cemetery. Why? I hear you ask -for a quick look for any local remnant vegetation, which is often interesting and undisturbed in a cemetery. This time it wasn't -BUT we found a handkerchief piece of road verge opposite the cemetery, having a local prostrate grevillea in full bloom. Further along the road in some remnant vegetation we flushed an Australian Owlet-nightjar and had excellent views of the complete bird sitting on a branch.
The troupe made its way back to Canberra in the late afternoon after a great day out. Thanks go to the energetic Jenny Bounds for co-leading the walk, and for preparing the bird list, field notes for Gianni, and the map.
Alistair Bestow