The weather was overcast but there was no wind when we commenced walking up Cecil Track, off Gum Flats Road.  White-throated Treecreepers were calling and Red Wattlebirds were squawking up high in the trees.

Apart from the single note call of the Grey Shrike-thrush, there were not many other birds around.  We walked awhile looking also for orchids and other interesting items, including some red lichen which attracted Penny's attention.

We then decided to go off Cecil Track and walk through the disused old Rifle Range.  Over the past ten years the vegetation has grown and with all the rain this year, small ponds have developed with plenty of frogs calling.

Lots of Superb Fairy-wrens were seen and heard in the short undergrowth, and high in the tree canopies Striated Thornbills were seen feeding on the flowering eucalypts.  Brown Thornbills were also sighted lower down in the trees.   Heard calling were Spotted Pardalotes, Eastern Spinebill, Shining Bronze-cuckoo and Golden Whistler.  On the way back, we walked along Gum Flats Road and here we saw Yellow Robins and a female Flame Robin.

Highlight of the day was the sighting of a Wedge-tailed Eagle flying low over Gum Flats Road, near Cecil Track.  It gave us a great view of its wing markings as it slowly circled around.

Other birds included Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Welcome Swallow, Laughing Kookaburra (2 of them laughing at us), and Crimson Rosella.  Overall, 24 species were recorded (full list below).

Morning tea was enjoyed in the bush on the corner of Gum Flats and Forrest Roads, where we spotted a Banded Greenhood and a Dwarf Greenhood.

Cheryl West Lau

Below are all the birds identified on this walk:

1. Galah
2. Eastern Spinebill
3. White-throated Treecreeper
4. White-eared Honeyeater
5. Striated Thornbill
6. Brown Thornbill
7. Grey Shrike-thrush
8. Little Raven
9. Laughing Kookaburra
10. Red Wattlebird
11. Spotted Pardalote
12. Grey Fantail
13. Shining Bronze-cuckoo
14. Pied Currawong
15. Golden Whistler
16. Superb Fairy-wren
17. Fan-tailed Cuckoo
18. New Holland Honeyeater
19. Wedge-tailed Eagle
20. Eastern Yellow Robin
21. Flame Robin (female)
22. Welcome Swallow
23. Australian Magpie
24. Crimson Rosella