Lovers Jump Creek – North Turramurra 12 October 2014

Hi all I enjoyed a pleasant walk along the track that follows the creek from McRae Place in North Turramurra this morning. Some good spring birds included in the 45 species seen or heard, including a Black-faced Monarch, nesting Leaden Flycatchers, at least 6 singing male Golden Whistlers, 2 Dollarbirds and a pair (seen) and 3 or 4 others (heard only) of Sacred Kingfishers. However, missing for me were Channel-billed Cuckoos. I may have heard one call in the distance just as I walked into McRae Place (off the junction of Burns Rd & Bobbin Head Rd) at about 7am but that was it. In fact, they have been noticeably absent from my part of North Turramurra this spring. There are Currawongs and Ravens about, so the requisite target species are in the neighbourhood. Is anybody else seeing numbers down? Cheers Tom Wilson