Our Activities

Past Events

Bluetts Block

Sunday 1 December 08:30
Kim Farley

The walk will start at 8am.  There is no need to book.

Bluetts is a densely forested reserve with extensive heath in much of the understory.  A fire trail leads up a steep hill from the entrance gate and there are some pleasing views across Denman Prospect towards Black Mountain.  Bird and flower species vary throughout the year, and the forest rings with birdcalls.  Chestnut-rumped Heathwren are known to breed here.

The walk will also traverse some grassland off track. Sturdy boots or shoes are suggested because stones on the slope of the fire trail can be slippery.

How to get to Bluetts: from the Stromlo Forest Park roundabout, travel about 2.5km along Uriarra Road to where a bicycle path enters the roadside on the left hand side of the road. Park near the gateway on the left hand side of the road. Be careful if turning across the road at this point as traffic flows swiftly.

Jean Casburn

Post event report

Eight of us ventured forth on what turned out to be a very wet morning. Initially we had sunny breaks and hoped for the best, but after an hour the heavens opened, we all got wet and the paths became slippery; we abandoned the walk at that point. However, despite the less-than-ideal conditions we had some interesting sightings among our total of 25 species. Highlights were the two Tawny Frogmouths sitting in a eucalypt near the car park. In the same tree were a Leaden Flycatcher and a Noisy Friarbird, with both of these very active and appearing to harass the frogmouths. We also had nice views of a different Noisy Friarbird building its nest in the foliage of a eucalypt by the walking track. And further on, we encountered a pair of Brown Thornbills at a nest in a shrub. Other species we recorded were Yellow-rumped, Striated and Buff-rumped Thornbill, Spotted and Striated Pardalote, Weebill and Eastern Yellow Robin. We counted 12 Grey Fantails. Several of our party had not previously visited Bluetts, so we had a chat about Bluetts Block itself, including the role of the late Jean Casburn who was instrumental in raising community awareness and establishing the case for Bluetts Block to be reserved. While walking we also talked about bird species we were NOT seeing but which do occur here, and where they are typically found at Bluetts. Several of the first-time visitors said they would return on a better day!