A cold morning and some confusion over dates meant that only four members set out on the first ever COG outing to this new reserve. A circuit of about 5km devised by Tom Green took us through a variety of habitats in the reserve's south. Parched ground, a complete absence of understorey and freezing conditions did not promise well, but we quickly came upon a party of about 30 Yellow-rumped Thornbills feeding jerkily in leaf litter. A noisy party of Crimson Rosellas chased each other, tails fanned, through the trees. Two Scarlet Robins perched nearby.
The summit of Burnt Stump Hill afforded fine views of Civic and the snow capped Brindabellas, but no birds. Descending to the Pipeline Track we found Brown-headed Honeyeaters feeding in a flowering eucalypt, notably vocal Weebills, and a Willie Wagtail. The southern stock dam added an Australasian Grebe, a party of White-winged Choughs and a Golden Whistler. Another dam under Old Joe Hill was devoid of birds.
On the way back to the car park we found Noisy Miners, solitary Yellow-faced and Fuscous Honeyeaters, and an Eastern Spinebill feeding in mistletoe. On arrival, a Wedge-tailed Eagle was being mobbed by two Australian Ravens overhead. The intrusive and insistent bleep bleep call of the Great Yellow Caterpillar Tractor reminded us of the ever advancing new suburbs. 22 species were seen. All present agreed that Goorooyarroo (map available on COG website at http://www.canberrabirds.org.au/GoorooyarrooNR.htm) was a scenic and interesting addition to Canberra's reserve system which promised even better birding in spring and summer after some much needed rain.
Trevor Lipscombe