5 January bird survey

The number of bird species recorded today was high with a good tally of 52 species, but aside from Brown Quail they are all species regularly found in Westgate Park. In stark contrast almost every species under Opportunistic Sightings are rare or infrequent visitors to the park, adding another 13 species to the total tally. The most significant was a Tawny Frogmouth, not previously recorded here plus some very occasional visitors such as a Grey Shrike-thrush, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Tree Martin and of course the continuing presence of a male Powerful Owl.

Whilst the number of Fairy-wrens was lower than usual, along with Scrub-wrens and Silver Gulls, today’s survey was very encouraging with plenty of breeding activity by water birds. Black-fronted Dotterels have returned to the saltwater lake.

Small patches of algae are forming in parts of the freshwater lake, but overall the water quality appears to be good, as it is supporting good numbers of Hoary-headed Grebes and cormorants. Furthermore, evidence that the lake and other freshwater bodies are in good condition is the high number of dragonflies and damselflies present in the park over the last few weeks – see photos of some of them on the last page. They no doubt are a good food source for many birds.