Outing Report - Eagleby Wetlands, July 2016

Fassifern Field Naturalists Club members on the Eagleby Wetlands boardwalk

Condensed from the report by our leader, Noela.

A small group of 10 Field Nats braved the overcast skies and showery forecast to take part in the walk on the tracks and boardwalks of the Eagleby Wetlands.                                                    
The Paperbarks (Melaleuca quinquenervia) and (Melaleuca sieberi) had just finished their flowering but a number of the Eucalypts were in full flower. The melodic calls of the Scarlet Honeyeaters could be heard throughout the network of tracks and their red and black plumage was clearly visible as they fed amongst the white eucalypt flowers. A highlight was the number of wrens seen flitting around in the lower vegetation and grassland. The plumage of the male Red-backed and Superb Fairy wrens was brilliant even in the dull light of a heavily clouded day. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                   
The Albert River walk produced a few more birds and the open spaces gave us clear views to the skies to observe the magnificent White-bellied Sea Eagle and the Brahminy Kite as they sailed overhead. Peter pointed out to the group a large clump of Needle-leaf Mistletoe which had attached itself to a Casuarina and mimicked the host’s foliage. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Fauna list

Birds:          

Aust. Brush Turkey, Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Crested Pigeon, Bar-shouldered Dove, Aust. Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Aust. Pelican, Eastern Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, White-faced Heron, Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Long-billed Corella, Little Corella, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Pale-headed Rosella, Pheasant Coucal, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Superb Fairy Wren, Red-backed Fairy Wren ,Variegated Fairy Wren, Mangrove Gerygone, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin’s Honey-eater,Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Varied Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike Thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willy Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Magpie Lark, Eastern Yellow Robin, Tawny Grassbird, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Fairy Martin, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch, Red-browed Finch, 1 Unidentified Raptor, 1 Unidentified Tern, 1 Cage Escapee Parrot  (Indian Ringneck)  69 species     

Butterflies: Black Jezebel