OUTING REPORT Lake Cressbrook and the Munro Tramway, Sunday 05 November

Over the course of the day 21 people attended for all or part of this very relaxed outing. Thank you to Diane Pagel for her efforts in organising this. Thanks also to Donalda and Graham Rogers for our morning bird list and Mike Ford for the afternoon recording.

We met at the Cressbrook picnic area for a walk along the shoreline and local area. An abundance of Eastern Grey Kangaroos rested in the shade apparently indifferent to us. Groups of water birds including Pelicans, Cormorants were occasionally disturbed by motorised human activities. Following morning tea, we drove to the camping site where a Koala was keenly observed. We enjoyed a leisurely walk along the shoreline observing the scrub such as Eucalypt and Ironbark trees and various grasses.

Among our general sightings was the tiny White-throated Gerygone which drove off a pair of Noisy Friarbirds from their hanging nest, a Whistling Kite circling and the Red-backed Wren.

Following lunch and a very interesting and well-informed discussion by Diane on the local Geological features, we drove to the Perseverance Creek Restoration project with billboard information of the cattle rest, trees and timber. We then visited the Munro Tramway for a late afternoon stroll (see bird list). In addition to billboarded information, Jan Veacock shared her local historical knowledge of logging, bullock transport and saw milling near Argyle house and Murphy’s Creek. This indeed was a very interesting and informative day.

(Report by Sandy Eastoe)

Bird List Munro's Tramway: Spangled Drongo; Olive- backed Oriole; Sacred Kingfisher; Rufous Whistler; Rainbow Lorikeet; Lewin’s Honeyeater; Grey Shrike-thrush. (Compiled by Mike Ford)