12 HOUR SUMMER TWITCH

I reckon a 12 hour summer twitch is in order, maybe late October or sometime in November when our migratory species are back. How many birds can be seen in Bundanoon in a 12 hour period? Close to 100? Anyone can get in on this. It'd be on a Saturday. Start at 8am and end at 8pm. Lunch in Morton NP. I'll get back to you with details... LJ, July 29 2014.

BLACK FALCON AT SUTTON FOREST

Late in the day yesterday, when heading home through Sutton Forest (about 10 mins from Bundanoon), I passed what was either a Black Falcon or dark morph Brown Falcon perched in a dead tree by Exeter Road. The light wasn't great - I did a u-turn, drove past it again, parked, got out and dashed back up the road to inspect it. Luckily my binoculars where on the backseat of my car. Uniformly dark brown feathers, a small head on massive shoulders, a slight pale cheek mark, grey about eye, long wings almost to the tip of tail meant Black Falcon. Whacko! I watched it watch me for 15 mins, then it took off over sheep paddocks in the direction of Werai. Black Falcons are my favourite Australian bird. Everything about them appeals to me, particularly their flight and classic silhouette featuring slightly bent wings. I've only seen this falcon 7 or 8 times before in my life (once before in the Southern Highlands - at Moss Vale). Let's hope this stunning raptor gets itself to Bundanoon. I need it for my list. LJ, 26 July 2014.

COW STUNNED TO SEE A BIRDER FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

WHERE BUNDANOON MEETS PENROSE

ONE OF OUR NUMEROUS WOMBAT HOLES

OLD ARGYLE ROAD

CONDITIONS

Minus 2 overnight. Big frost. It's now 10:30am - there's still ice on the grass in shadowy sections of the backyard. My dogs' water bowls had a film of ice. I remember speaking to a bloke from Wingello (a bit south) who recalls frosts that lasted until noon. I may have mentioned this before. LJ, July 13 2014.

170

A high Australian Hobby powering over Bundanoon's shops late today. About time I saw this Australia-wide raptor! LJ, July 6 2014.