Warks Road/Blundells Creek Road
This trip is now full – no further registrations will be taken. Do not attend if you have not registered.
We will now meet at 7.30 am at the Uriarra West carpark (just over Uriarra Crossing, to the left).
There we will carpool to minimise the number of cars, hopefully into AWD / 4WD vehicles – the road is a bit rough in places. We will then all proceed to the bottom of Blundells Creek Rd. There is limited parking at our destination, so the fewer cars the better.
From the bottom we can walk a few hundred metres up Blundells Creek Rd, as well as exploring along Warks Rd in both directions from the intersection.
As usual, sensible shoes, sunscreen (although parts of walk are likely to be shaded), a hat and water.
If you are at all unwell please stay home. If you are unable to come for any reason can you let me know on 0435 820 461 (so we don’t have to worry about people who don’t turn up at Uriarra West).
Register at shirmax2931@gmail.com – give your name, mobile number, and emergency contact name and number.
Post event report
Our slow amble down Blundells Creek Road began in cool, almost autumnal temperatures and, after recent rain, the birds were active and vocal. A Superb Lyrebird was in full voice and kept us entertained as it switched from imitating one species after another. There were good numbers of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and their begging young near the top, while White-naped Honeyeaters were more plentiful lower down the slope. Their begging young stayed still long enough for the yellowish bare skin above the eye to be clearly seen. A male Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (with pink eye ring), perched on a stag, caught our eye and we soon realised it was sitting opposite the entrance to its nesting hollow with begging young at the entrance. Gang-gang Cockatoos, Australian King Parrots, Crimson Rosellas and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos added to the parrot list. Pairs of Grey Fantails were our constant companions, and we also recorded a single Rufous Fantail. Golden and Rufous Whistlers, good numbers of Striated Thornbills, Eastern Yellow Robins, Satin Bowerbirds, Eastern Whipbird, Satin Flycatchers and two Wonga Pigeons also contributed to the list of 30 species on this part of the walk.
It was almost midday by the time we reached Warks Road so, after a short walk to the left, it was time for a sit-down lunch in the shade. Rather obligingly, a pair of Red-browed Treecreepers waited until we were just finishing before they called and we all jumped to our feet to see what was for several people a new species. They were quite mobile but we were able to get quite good views of the red brow and lores, and compare them to White-throated Treecreepers which were also present. We strolled along Warks Road for several hundred metres as the day warmed up but conditions were still very pleasant, locating another Red-browed Treecreeper. An unusual but distinctly kingfisher-type call had us searching for the source and we soon located a bird partially hidden before it flew, revealing a very conspicuous rufous back and rump as it flew away – a Red-backed Kingfisher in an unusual setting. Sahul Cicadabird, Sahul Brush Cuckoo and Fan-tailed Cuckoo were heard. Perched Dusky Woodswallow chicks were being attended by at least one parent, and more Satin Flycatchers and a very calm Wonga Pigeon pottering along the road contributed to the 27 species seen on Warks Road, making a total of 38 species.
Sue Lashko
