On the sunny Sunday of 7 November Geoff Dabb, one of COG’s most engaging walk leaders, took a large group onto the property, `Callum Brae’. This grazing lease abuts Narrabundah Lane, near the junction with Mugga Lane.
The Heysenesque patch of woodland was recently proclaimed as an addition to Canberra’s nature parks. Although not yet formally open, it will soon be accessible to all. Its beauty, richness and proximity to the city mean that it may become almost as popular as Campbell Park with Canberra bird watchers. It would be rewarding for any bush-walker.
During the morning nearly sixty different birds were observed. This diversity shows how lucky we are in Canberra that we do not have to go far afield to enjoy the pleasures of spring in the bush. Beginner bird watchers were impressed, as was a visitor from Germany.
Sunday’s first very exciting moment came when several of us heard an uncommon honeyeater calling from a flowering Yellow-box. Yes, it was a Regent Honeyeater. This fact was confirmed by Jonette McDonnell and Richard Mason, both of whom saw it briefly. Unfortunately it soon flew off towards Mugga Lane and remained elusive.
We also saw Weebills and Yellow, Striated and Buff-rumped Thornbills; Peaceful Doves; Grey Teal and Hardhead, Pacific Black and Wood Ducks; White-throated and Brown Gerygones; Shining, Horsfield’s and Pallid Cuckoos (this last was being fed by a White-plumed Honeyeater). The migrant Noisy Friarbirds, Dollarbirds and Rainbow Bee-eaters had arrived. As well, both Dusky and White-browed Woodswallows were there, the latter species represented by a fledgling, on the ground and unable to fly. Geoff found this `a surprisingly early breeding record for the species in Canberra’. Nesting Little Corellas were observed; also an immature Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike whose face was, at that stage, only half-black; a male Mistletoebird, obligingly close overhead; Speckled Warblers; an Australian Hobby and a Brown Falcon. The writer saw one Southern Whiteface on her way back to the cars.
Geoff thinks of everything. He eased our entry to the lease with an elegant makeshift saddle for the barbed wire fence (and whisked the tell-tale sign away later). And he advised us in advance that he’d located a dense, bosky spot at that halfway point in any excursion when members are likely to need to see a man about a dog. Everyone was most grateful that it was he who introduced us to the birds of `Callum Brae’.
Sue Edgar, assisted by Shirley Kral.