In the creekside dry rainforest below the house on afternoon of 10 Oct huge
amount of activity with prominent species being Yellow-throated Scrubwrens
(breeding, prob 2 pairs), Eastern Yellow Robin and Brown Gerygone, with others
being Grey Fantail, Satin Bowerbird, Lewin’s, White-naped and Yellow-faced
Honeyeater, Brown Thornbill and White-browed Scrubwren. Got 3 new species for
the house list – a Leaden Flycatcher in the upper canopy on the forest edge by
the garden, then a Rufous Fantail (both long-expected but never previously
recorded) by the creek, and finally a group of 5-6 Large-billed Scrubwrens,
very close range, in the fern undergrowth and lower levels along the creek. The
Yellow-throated Scrubwrens are nesting here – 2nd local breeding record, the
first along Wheeny Creek two seasons ago. Pair doing most of their food
gathering within 20 metres of the nest – easily seen as they searched due to
the open understorey. One bird very vocal
at times, including some mimicry of gerygone and thornbill, and also a song I
hadn’t heard before like a muted range of canary-type whistles.
Grey Goshawk and first Channel-billed Cuckoo of the season also present.
Elsewhere in the garden apart from the norms were just fledged Little
Wattlebird, and W Wagtails nesting again. Scaly Thrush are also visiting
Along nearby Mill Road returned migrants included first season record of
Black-faced Monarch, another Rufous Fantail, a pair of Sacred Kingfisher,
White-throated Gerygone (heard), Shining-bronze Cuckoo calling excitedly and a
Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Striated and Brown Thornbills, a few Little Corellas,
Bar-shouldered Dove, the usual honeyeaters. Great views of a huge Lace Monitor,
at least 1.75 m in length but tail partially hidden in fork of a trunk of the
stringybark it was resting on about 3 metres up.
Rufous Songlark were very vocal on Old Kurrajong Rd below Richmond.
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