It must have been the urge to get one last birding outing in before stage 3 COVID restrictions came into force the next day. That is the only explanation as to why 11 of us braved the forecast 8 degrees, showers, wind and chance of a thunderstorm to gather in Stratford. Despite the very fresh breeze, it was sunny and not too cold. Maybe we all knew the forecast was wrong.
After splitting up into two groups to meet COVID rules, we wandered from Apex Park through the railway bridge construction site and along the river bank to the lookout and back (see attached map). Being at tree-top height for the dense foliage down the slope, we got some great views of a number of species. Twenty four species is a good count with an elusive Eastern Whipbird in there too. A dozen or so Silvereyes cavorted for a few minutes in close sight in a wattle tree. Most of them seemed to be Tasmanian lateralis lateralis. Most photogenic birds were Grey Shrikethrush and Grey Fantail.
Apex Park, Stratford (-37.97135, 147.07913)
2.40 km
113 Minutes
3 Pacific Black Duck
1 Great Cormorant
2 Galah
192 Little Corella
1 Crimson Rosella
1 Rainbow Lorikeet
1 Superb Fairywren
2 Eastern Spinebill
2 Yellow-faced Honeyeater
3 Red Wattlebird
2 New Holland Honeyeater
1 Spotted Pardalote
1 Striated Pardalote
2 White-browed Scrubwren
2 Yellow Thornbill
1 Eastern Whipbird
2 Grey Shrikethrush
51 Australian Magpie (White-backed)
1 Willie Wagtail
4 Grey Fantail
3 Little Raven
2 House Sparrow
Pied Cormorant
Welcome Swallow
Silvereye
Little Wattlebird
Common Blackbird
Common Myna
Common Starling
Crested Pigeon
Number of Taxa: 30
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After a socially-distanced morning tea, we went up to the Knob Reserve for a wander through the bush to the farm/bush interface to the south of the oval, then up to the lookout. Not a massive number of birds but our socially-distanced lunch at the Oval was visited by a magnificent White-bellied Sea-eagle who soared overhead for a couple of turns.
Everyone was glad they came out.
NEXT OUTING: none for a while until we see COVID restrictions eased. Stay tuned (and stay safe and sane).
BLEG_Knob Reserve
1.07 km
65 Minutes
2 Pacific Black Duck
1 Straw-necked Ibis
1 White-bellied Sea-Eagle
2 Laughing Kookaburra
4 Galah
2 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
1 Crimson Rosella
2 Rainbow Lorikeet
1 Striated Pardalote
1 Black-faced Cuckooshrike
2 Australian Magpie (White-backed)
1 Grey Fantail
2 Magpie-lark
2 Little Raven
Litle Corella
Whistling Kite
Number of Taxa: 16
