Warbler hunting (2nd June '07)

Prospect Reservoir

On Saturday I actually didn't go snorkeling! Instead I headed west towards Penrith with Jarrod to try and track down some new birds. My trusty internet had reported Swift Parrots around Prospect reservoir and also Buff-rumped Thornbills and Speckled Warblers in Castlereagh reserve.

Old picnic place

Our first stop in the woods around the reservoir didn't show up anything new but an overgrown old picnic area turned into a top place for honeyeaters with plenty of Wattlebirds and New Holland, White-plumed, Yellow-faced, Fuscous and White-naped Honeyeaters. The reservoir itself was dominated by Coots but there was also a Great-crested Grebe - my first for the Sydney region. No sign of those parrots though.

White-naped Honeyeater

We then spent a while in the Castlereagh reserve in the Nepean river valley but the place was absolutely dead. A couple of Pardalotes, Fuscous Honeyeaters and Yellow Thornbills seemed to be the only residents apart from a family of Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Not a warbler in sight. We were just about to give up when we looked up to see a Little Eagle #347 soaring over the trees. Suddenly, from out of nothing, the day was a major success!

"Lets go, this place is dead anyway..."