Birds in Franke Scrub

contributed by Lesley Beaton, a local birdwatcher.

I went down to Franke Scrub one morning recently, though not very good birding weather. However I flushed a Southern Boobook which was very nice to see. It was in the thickest scrub towards the bottom of the gully and only flew to another tree close by. So I skirted around that bit so as not to disturb it any further. The Double‑barred Finches and Rufous Fantails were very active, but it was too windy for the honeyeaters. I didn't see a one! There were a pair of Rufous Fantails following me along the track. They are such an attractive bird.

A male Double‑bar was courting. He sat on a mid‑canopy dead branch flicking a dangling wisp of grass. As soon as the female appeared lower down on the branch, he gave the grass one more flick, dropped it and went over to the female. He wiped his beak on the branch a couple of times and fluffed up her neck feathers, she lay low, and he mounted her. This only happened once. He then wiped his beak on the branch again, she flew of, he wiped his beak a further time and flew off in the opposite direction. The bird books say he does a bit of a dance and sings to the female but I saw and heard none of this behaviour.

Scrub

Southern Boobook S

Sacred Kingfisher S

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike S

Rufous Fantail S

White-browed Scrubwren S

Weebill S

Brown Thornbill S

Lewin’s Honeyeater S

Silvereye S

Double-barred Finch S

Grey Butcherbird S

Australian Magpie S

Torresian Crow S

Road reserve

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike S

White-browed Scrubwren S

Lewin’s Honeyeater S

Silvereye S

House Sparrow S

Double-barred Finch S

Grey Butcherbird S

Australian Magpie S

Overhead/adjacent paddocks

Straw-necked Ibis S

Ground Cuckoo-shrike S

Torresian Crow S

16 species

NOTE: At the time of these observations, there was no water in the scrub, but the farm dam next to it was full.

Working Bee, 2nd December

9.00am to midday (Morning tea break at 10.30)
The asparagus fern is flowering now, making the plants in the trees particularly easy to find at present. Let's hope it's still as conspicuous by the working bee date, as getting those plants down from the trees before they set seed will be out highest priority this time. there are not too many. We may be able to get most of not all of the plants which are mature enough to produce seed, if we make this our focus this time.
Bring:
* Cutting and digging tools
* Your own safety gear - boots, gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.
* Morning tea and a chair
I look forward to seeing you there!