Hi all I made an early morning foray to Lovers Jump Creek in North Turramurra this morning, walking from McRae Place to just below Golden Jubilee Oval and back in about 2 1/2 hours. Overall I saw or heard 46 species – no sign of the Powerful Owls that sometimes roost over the creek near McRae Place. There weren’t many honeyeaters, although some bloodwood is blossoming. Best sightings were:
– a pair of immature Black Faced Monarchs seen not far from where the track splits to go towards North Turramurra (must be just about time for them to go I would have thought); – a pair of Superb Lyrebirds with the male displaying in a 1/2 hearted fashion (so winter is definitely coming); – a small party (5 or 6) of Brown Headed Honeyeaters in a mixed flock of Brown Thornbills, Grey Fantails and Brown Gerygones; – a single Collared Sparrowhawk being given plenty of bother by about 30 Sulphur Crested Cockatoos; – a family of Black Faced Cuckoo Shrikes (4 birds) eating some large green insects (looked like stick insects or preying mantis at a distance, but they were obviously a few as at one point all 4 birds had one); – a single Wonga Pigeon seen (more heard); – three of four groups of Brown Cuckoo Doves in different places; and – a single White Headed Pigeon.
There were lots of very vocal Golden Whistlers all along the track and Scarlet Honeyeaters were also calling, although I only managed to see a couple.
Cheers Tom Wilson
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