Report  –  21 January 2007 — Blundells Creek and Warks Roads

Our regular annual outing on this weekend turned up some surprises this year. A pleasant overcast day was much cooler than forecast, but the effects of the long, hot and dry summer were clear throughout. 12 COG members came along, with a nice mixture of experienced and inexperienced people.

The water level at Uriarra Homestead dam was the lowest I have ever seen, and the number of birds and species (23) was down on past years. Waterbirds included Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal and Hardhead, White-faced Heron, Australian White Ibis, Masked Lapwing, but no Nankeen Night Heron nor Latham's Snipe seen in previous years.

Bush birds included five species of parrot, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Varied Sittella, Restless Flycatcher and a Willie Wagtail family with dependent young.

It was again interesting to see further progress in the recovery of Namadji National Park along Blundells Ck and Warks Roads after the 2003 fire. There has been excellent recovery of native understorey plants that have now largely displaced the exotic grasses and weeds that grew in profusion for the first few years, although there are still many weeds along the roadsides and blackberries in the wetter areas. It was good to see that Environment ACT had (at COG's request) repaired a nasty creek crossing which gave us some headaches in 2006. Again, there were fewer birds and species (26) than in recent years. Numbers of Golden and Rufous Whistlers, Grey Shrikethrushes and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were down but this year we recorded more White-eared Honeyeaters. As predicted, the abundance of Flame Robins is down as the bush regenerates, but we had excellent views of a male by the roadside. Summer migrant Satin Flycatchers were again in good numbers and there were a few sightings of migratory Rufous Fantails amongst their resident cousins. One Superb Lyrebird was heard calling, but no Pilotbird, Wonga Pigeon, Red-browed Treecreeper or Cicadabird.

It was a most enjoyable outing and a long but easy and completely downhill walk.

Bruce Lindenmayer