March - Mt Samaria, the Samaria Well campground & Brown Rd

Fourteen people attended our first outing for 2023 on 9th March on a mild, sunny morning. We drove to the base of Mt Samaria, then walked around the Samaria Well campground area and the along Brown Rd. A King Parrot flew past our group, then Jim found a few honeyeaters and a small flock of Varied Sittellas in a flowering eucalypt in the campground. The rest of the bush was initially quiet apart from a few calling White-throated Treecreepers. We finally started to see groups of birds on our return walk. Three Gang Gang Cockatoos and a flock of Crimson Rosellas landed nearby. Striated Thornbills and Grey Fantails were feeding in a low wattle, and an Eastern Spinebill found some nectar in a flowering mistletoe hanging low over the road. As we drove out of the campground some of us saw a Jacky Winter and Willie Wagtail on the fence of the adjacent paddock.

​Altogether 23 species were recorded. Here is the link to the bird list for the morning. https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S131254908
 
Next outing to Reef Hills State Park on Thursday 13 April.

We will meet in the car park behind the Seniors Building at our usual meeting time of 9.30am. Reef Hills is on the outskirts of Benalla and supports a variety of birdlife. The Grey Box is starting to flower and should attract a number of nectar-feeding honeyeaters and lorikeets.

Remember to wear sturdy footwear, and bring any food and drink you require for the morning.


​Kathy Costello

Thanks to Andi Stevenson for the photos and commentary