A crew of about 20 - derived from both COG and Field Naturalists Association of Canberra (that is Naturalists, and not Naturists - who have very different interests!)- were welcomed by a cacophony of Noisy Friarbirds and Red Wattlebirds at the parking area for the reserve. The morning was bright and cool, which was a relief after the wild, windy and cloudy day before. Although only 71 hectares in size, the reserve presents a wide variety of habitats. The lower gully has some great examples of apple box and red box, and had good healthy examples of native cherries, while the upper reaches of the walk where the ground is stonier, near the Kings Highway, had a predominance of scribbly gum and some yellow box. The understorey contained lots of kangaroo grass and wallaby grass, and the mistletoe was flowering profusely. We saw Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos rowing their way across the sky to the pine plantations nearby, Mistletoebirds flitting here and there, and heard a selection of Yellow-rumped, Buff-rumped, Brown and Striated Thornbills. A Leaden Flycatcher made its presence known, as did Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, White-throated Gerygone, Eastern Spinebill, Rufous Whistler and both species of Bronze Cuckoos.
The highlight was not a bird, though - rather a Tiger Snake, a full metre in length, warming itself on the track, complete with a bright yellow belly with subtle stripes. It provided everyone with really good views, before sliding into the undergrowth. It was several hundred metres from the dam at the lower end of the reserve. A hare was also seen - but not too close to the Tiger Snake!
Some of the naturalists in the party dallied at the dam, investigating and identifying the frogs (the few not yet consumed by the Tiger Snake), while the birdos amongst us had moved on toward the carpark, there being few if any birds at the dam. It was a very pleasant three hours, and we agreed that the Field Naturists Naturalists Association of Canberra and COG should share on other excursions in the future.
Alistair Bestow