HAWKESBURY AND CASTLEREAGH AREA - 2ND AUGUST 1998
Yesterday, I showed John Bannon from England (who I met on last Sundays
Wollongong Pelagic) around some of the top spots in Western Sydney. Our
highlights as follows:
a) MITCHELL PARK (CATTAI) - Wonga Pigeons (2 calling to each other in tall
Eucalypts), Boobook and Powerful Owl (The Boobook was mobbed by a group of
Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters, while the male Powerful Owl was seen it its usual
roosting area but not usual roosting tree), a trio of Gang-gang Cockatoo's
(a pair with juv. male), Bassian Thrush, and lots of Rose Robins (atleast 20
heard or seen).
b) PITT TOWN LAGOON - An Australasian Bittern, hundreds of Hardheads and
Black Swans, Swamp Harrier, Brown Falcon and Hobby.
c) SCHEYVILLE NATIONAL PARK - Great views of Speckled Warblers here.
d) WINDSOR-RICHMOND TURF FARMS - several Black-shouldered (Australian) Kites
and Kestrels, Red-capped Plover and Tree Martins
e) LONDONDERRY - small numbers of Swift Parrots still present but given a
bit of hard time from many Noisy Friarbirds
f) CASTLEREAGH NATURE RESERVE - a male Red-capped Robins (2 - 3 pairs
presumably exist in this reserve), 2 Regent honeyeaters still feasting on a
single flowering Mugga Ironbark and Black-chinned Honeyeater.
Over 100 species were present for the day in these areas.
John also mentioned that he had a great day on Saturday in the Royal
National Park (just south of Sydney) with a pair of Grey Goshawks,
Double-banded Plovers in breeding plumage, Sooty Owl (spotlighted and
detected by falling bomb whistle), many Tawny-crowned and other Honeyeaters,
Southern Emu-wrens and Green Catbirds present.
Edwin Vella
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