A full boat, leaving at the more leisurely time of 8 am, again silently proceeded up the Molonglo River on the all electric “EL Cygnet”, to look at the nesting darters and cormorants.
Despite the recent rain we weren’t to be disappointed, with Darter breeding in full swing and at most stages of nesting. Birds (mainly females) were seen sitting very tightly on nests, there were a number of nests where very small young could be seen continually snaking and spiralling their necks and puffing their cheeks up past their mother’s breast towards her bill, another nest had still very downy chicks on it, while there were several nests with well developed largely non-downy young either still on them or within a metre or two. All in all close to 50 Darters were seen, with nests again well spaced over the length of the Reach. Most free flying birds were either in female or immature plumage, and less than one third were adult males. As for early May 2004, the latter were generally not in full breeding plumage, with limited red-brown colouring only on the underside of the neck.
Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants were also seen nesting, but these were concentrated in one spot along the southern bank where the river widens appreciably before the Dairy Road Bridge. The nests were also much closer together, and in the “Apartment Block” there were at least 5 nests of each. Nearby was another tree with at least 10 Little Black Cormorant nests, which were in big numbers here, with up to 75 birds seen. These two species tended to take the wing (Darters were noticeably less shy) and the stage of nesting was difficult to determine, though the Little Pieds appeared to be either on the nest or in one case with small young as well as 3 much larger young. There were a few Great Cormorants here but no confirmed nesting, though on return a group of about 15 was seen resting on the eastern shore of East Basin. On our way back to the jetty at Bowen Park, we observed several Pied Cormorants feeding in the water, which completed the observation of all the local species before these flew off in the direction of the Carillon, where they are known to gather.
In keeping with the wetter conditions numbers of other waterbirds were generally low, though at least 3 sets of Pacific Black ducklings were seen with their parents, as well as a fairly advanced Black Swan cygnet. However, the other highlight was an immature Nankeen Night Heron, which while rather shy flew to several logs on the river, allowing very good views. Over 30 species were recorded in the 2 hour trip, including several Sacred Kingfishers calling and on one occasion briefly seen. Clamorous Reed Warblers were also calling regularly, with several birds emerging from the reeds to allow reasonable views.
This is the fifth trip COG has had up Molonglo reach within 18 months, but it continues to be very rewarding. At the time I felt there finally appeared to be some consumer resistance, but in fact further trips were run on Sunday evenings 16 and 23 January 2005. See below for a report on the latter trip, during which at least 35 Darters were seen including both adults and various immatures and nestlings. The 3 other cormorants (Little Pied, Little Black and Great) were also nesting, plus Caspian Tern, Whistling Kite and Dollarbird were seen.
If there is demand, I’m happy to organise further trips. It is clear that this site, together the one on Black Mountain Penisula described below, are becoming very important regional breeding areas for the darter and cormorant species.
Jack Holland