Brindabellas – private property
This outing is to a 300-acre wildlife/wilderness sanctuary at Brindabella surrounded by national park, and it has a network of trails. A recent visit yielded Superb Lyrebird, Satin Bowerbird, Flame and Eastern Yellow Robin and Wonga Pigeon, just to name a few species. We will do a loop walk through the property, and then later walk down to the Goodradigbee River. Bring morning tea, lunch, water, hat and sunscreen, and wear appropriate footwear; walking poles optional. The tracks have been recently graded but the topography is undulating.
Numbers will be limited to 16 with 4 vehicles. Suggested contribution to drivers is $10 per passenger – please bring correct money. Departure time is 7.30am from Stromlo Forest Park Memorial carpark, off Swallowtail Road, Wright; the entry to the carpark is at the roundabout where Peter Cullen Way meets Swallowtail Road. Return time by 3pm. I will attempt to organise carpooling in advance. So, when you register to smlashko@gmail.com, please include the following information:
- your name and phone number
- the name and number of an emergency contact
- your suburb (so I can put you in touch with participants who live nearby)
- whether you have a 4WD or AWD vehicle and are happy to drive on unsealed roads and take 3 passengers.
Please note that, in the event of wet weather, the outing may need to be postponed due to unsafe road conditions.
Post event report
It is always a privilege to have access to private property that is set aside for conservation and this outing, to a forested area that abuts both Brindabella and Kosciuszko National Parks, was very much enjoyed by the 13 participants who joined our host, Mel, on a perfect spring day. The hilly property has a network of well-graded tracks and, after a car shuffle, we did a slow walk downhill, with Yellow-faced Honeyeaters being the dominant species, with some White-naped and White-eared Honeyeaters also present. Rufous Whistlers were also a constant presence, and there were good numbers of Grey Fantails, Spotted Pardalotes and particularly vocal White-browed Scrubwrens. At least one Superb Lyrebird was heard, and Fan-tailed Cuckoos also joined the chorus.
After a morning tea break, during which our wildlife carer host fed a baby Galah and the cutest Greater Glider with different, specific baby bird and animal formulas respectively, we did another car shuffle before walking into Kosciuszko National Park as far as Perkins Flat Campground. A Pilotbird was heard along the way, along with Sahul Brush Cuckoo and Sacred Kingfisher. A late lunch was enjoyed in an idyllic setting on the banks of the very clear Goodradigbee River, with more focus by then on socialising rather than birding in a group that was quite content with the 32 species recorded.
Very many thanks to Mel for inviting us to visit and for sharing her passion for such a beautiful part of the Brindabellas.
Sue Lashko
