Six enthusiastic birders had a glorious day at Clarkesdale Sanctuary on the October Bird Walk. David, who has managed the 535 hectares since 1985, was a wealth of knowledge during our morning walk.

We had beautiful weather, with crystal clear blue skies, and were greeted with bird calls that continued all morning.  During the afternoon we walked around the Dam and the Education Centre.

Altogether, we identified 37 species at the Sanctuary and one more on the way home.

1. Brown Thornbill
2. Grey Fantail
3. Grey Shrike Thrush
4. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
5. White Winged-triller
6. Hoary-headed Grebe
7. Spotted Pardalote
8. Shining Bronze-Cuckoo
9. Jacky Winter
10. White-naped Honeyeater
11. White Goshawk
12. Pallid Cuckoo
13. Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo
14. Little Corella
15. Australian Magpie
16. Laughing Kookaburra
17. Fan-tailed Cuckoo
18. Long-billed Corella
19. Purple Swamphen
20. Little Pied Cormorant
21. Grey Teal
22. Pacific Black Duck
23. New Holland Honeyeater
24. Varied Sittella
25. Sacred Kingfisher
26. White-browed Scrubwren
27. Golden Whistler
28. Crimson Rosella
29. Red-browed Finch
30. Yellow-faced Honeyeater
31. Dusky Woodswallow
32. Brown Goshawk
33. Rufus Whistler (Male & Female Courting)
34. White-throated Tree-creeper
35. Common Blackbird – Singing in the Dead of the Night
36. Eastern Spinebill
37. Superb Fairy-wren
38. Brolgas on the journey home.

Deborah White & Ellinor Campbell.

Photos by Chrissy Freestone