More than twenty birdwatchers met at 8am at the entrance to Callum Brae Nature Reserve on a sunny Sunday morning. The walk was led by Sandra Henderson, who has been monitoring the reserve countless times over the years and expertly guided us through its varied habitats. We made our way through open woodland and denser patches of forest, each providing its own birdwatching opportunities. At first, the air was filled with the piercing calls of Noisy Miners but, as we moved along, the notes of more and more birds were heard, adding layers to the morning’s soundtrack. We passed small dams that held a few waterbirds, including Hardhead, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck and Eurasian Coot. While standing by one of the dams, intent on checking out the waterbirds, a Brown Quail suddenly flushed, catching some of us by surprise. Along the walk, we admired ancient trees’ twisted and gnarled shapes, pausing at times to focus on birds singing high in the canopy, with Mistletoebirds adding colours to the morning. Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike flashed through the trees, while Grey Fantails and Superb Fairy-wrens kept busy in the undergrowth. Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Weebills and Silvereyes also put in an appearance. As we were wrapping up for the morning, a Laughing Kookaburra was seen flying from tree to tree, adding a final touch to our tally of 45 species observed. A rewarding walk in a beautiful reserve. Nicole Damaggio