We were most fortunate to have a still, clear day, in between days of windy, stormy conditions, for our August bird walk at Clarkesdale, near Linton.

We didn’t see a great variety of birds due to winter conditions, but had a really memorable day.

Highlights were a large flock of Sitellas, as just one is a rare sight, and a white morph Grey Goshawk nest, with a glimpse of a white bird leaving the nest.

On our way out we visited the Devil’s Kitchen and saw the breeding site of Peregrine falcons, and one bird conveniently circled around so we were all able to get a good view.

The sanctuary is a testament to the far-sightedness of one man, Gordon Clarke. In the 1960s he noticed that birds were decreasing, with the land degraded by farming and mining, and decided to do something about it. Fortunately he had the time and money to do follow his passion. It is indeed a delightful place to visit, and anyone can camp near the picturesque dam and well set-up information centre.

For more information check out the Birdlife Australia website at http://birdlife.org.au/visit-us/reserves/clarkesdale.

Below are all the birds identified on this walk:

1.  Grebe species

2.  Little Pied Cormorant

3.  Whistling Kite

4.  Grey Goshawk (white morph)?

5.  Peregrine Falcon

6.  Purple Swamphen

7.  Long -billed Corella

8.  Crimson Rosella

9.  Fan-tailed Cuckoo

10. Laughing Kookaburra

11. White-throated Treecreeper

12. Superb Fairy-wren

13. Striated thornbill

14. Brown thornbill

15. Eastern Spinebill

16. Red Wattlebird

17. New Holland Honeyeater

18. White-naped Honeyeater

19. Varied Sitella

20. Golden Whistler

21. Grey Shrike-thrush

22. Australasian Magpie

23. Grey Currawong (H)

24. Grey Fantail

25. Australian Raven

26. Eastern Yellow Robin

Ellinor Campbell

Sitella photo: Alison Watson