Fisherman's Pocket / Widgee Crossing Outing Thursday 27 May 2021

Members of the Thursday outing met at Robert Road to peruse the birdlife and vegetation of the area stretching along the busy highway to the lakes at Chatsworth Park.  Surprisingly, some 45 species of birds were recorded for the morning.  On our arrival, a small flock of Fairy Martins were observed flying through the drain under the road. Inspection revealed the intricately made bird nests belonging to the Fairy Martins attached to the roof of the tunnel, a much-preferred site of this species.

Martin nests under house eaves at Bowra

Fairy Martin

Plantings of native species are growing well, the Acacia maidenii, (Maiden's Wattle) flowering adjacent to Acacia falcata (Sickle-leaved Wattle) with its creamy white pom-poms welcoming in the cooler months. 

Maiden's wattle

Sickle wattle

Cattle egret nests - unoccupied at the moment

In the park area, larger areas have been thickly planted surrounded by mown grassy open areas. Some of the trees planted in these areas are Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii), Brown Pine (Podocarpus elatus), Queensland Kauri (Agathis robusta),Bat Wing Coral Tree  (Erythrina vespertilia), Bailey's Cypress (Callitris baileyi ) -Vunerable. This specimen, growing beautifully on the corner of the plantings, will hopefully continue to thrive.The nests of the Cattle egrets were noticed in the Casuarina cunninghamiana growing in the low wetter area. 

Bat Wing Coral leaves

Bat Wing Coral - spiny trunk

Bailey's Cypress

Pattern on Cypress branches

Smaller under storey specimens included the Thick-leaved Quinine Bush (Petalostigma pachyphyllum), covered in reddish berries looking striking again the shiny green leaves. 

Thick-leaved Quinine Bush

Pink Euodia (Melicope elleryana) and Brachychiton discolor and bidwillii had also featured in multiple planting.

Cotton Pygmy-Geese

A pair of Cotton Pygmy -Geese were soaking up the morning sunshine.  Two pairs are currently making the lakes their home.  This seems to be a more common occurrence - a visit by the Pygmy-Geese for the last 5-6 years.

Red-backed Fairy-wren (Male)

Red-backed Fairy-wrens, male and female were feeding on the seed of the tall grasses left to grow in the paddock.  At the second destination, the call of the Rose Robin was heard and the female was photographed.  Further into the red sandy area a Spotted Pardalote was recorded and photographed. This area with the banks of sandy mounds would be favoured for these birds for nesting sites. Holes  were noticed in the north-facing banks.

Spotted Pardalote

The vegetation in this area is mainly the Black Wattles (Acacia concurrens and leiocalyx). This is a regrowth area as the sand had been excavated in earlier times for use as mortar for the days of red brick houses built for the local area.

Cabbage Tree Palm

Along the lower track of the area, Cabbage Tree Palm (Livistona australis) was growing thickly in a wet area with the ground covered in Forked Fern (Dicranopteris linearis var. linearis).On our return to base, one of our members had recorded of a sighting of a Yellow-tufted Honeyeater. A new sighting for this area and good end to an outing of the Thursday Group.  

Yellow-tufted Honeyeater - Archive

Forest Kingfisher

                                                                            

Golden-headed Cisticola

White-throated Honeyeaters

Rose Robin - Archive

The Rose Robin male was heard but not seen.  Not so the female.

Rose Robin - Female

TEXT: Jeanette

PHOTOGRAPHS: Vince, Cecile, Lionel.