It was a beautiful spring day for Margaret McJannett and Charles Buer to introduce us to this interesting new area with its variety of eucalypts and understorey. Yanununbeyan SCA is about 25 kilometres southeast of Queanbeyan and was gazetted in 2003.
Most of us met at Spotlight carpark in Queanbeyan at 7.30 am, arranged some car-pooling and met up with others along the way, making a party of 16. We reached the SCA by travelling from Captains Flat Road to Woolcara Lane before turning left on to Woolcara property road. We stopped at several different places in the SCA, spotting 30 species in all.
Our first stop was by a massive old Applebox. where we could hear a Superb Lyrebird making a variety of calls. Some members spotted a Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, and a pair of Brown Goshawks were seen flying over the forest.
At our next stop, to explore a creek line, we were treated to delicious Anzac biscuits, made by Margaret’s mother. A number of Brown Thornbill as well as Weebill and Yellow-rumped Thornbill were observed here. We made our way down the creek bed to the river where most of us were lucky enough to see a platypus come up to the surface.
Grey Shrike Thrush and honeyeaters (White-eared, Yellow-faced and White-naped) were particularly active near the crossing where we stopped for lunch. Other species included Pallid Cuckoo, Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo, White-throated Treecreeper, Brown Treecreeper, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Kookaburra, Eastern Yellow Robin, Grey Fantail, Australian Wood Duck and White-faced Heron.
Just before leaving the area, we saw two Red-necked Wallabies. Then there were a number of sightings on the way back, including Wedge-tailed Eagle, Jacky Winter, Welcome Swallow and Common Bronzewing. A very enjoyable outing.
Tina Bromhead