birding-aus
24th February 1999
Dear all,
I had today off work so decided to camp out at Glen Davis (Capertee
Valley, NSW) last night.
We arrived at the campground just before dark to catch the sight of
several hundred SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOOS all flying over towards their
roosting places (and what a cacophony this morning as they flew round,
crests raised, screaming at the top of their voices).
Throughout the night I heard five species of nocturnal birds from the
campsite - I think this is more than I've ever heard anywhere in a
single night before - these being BOOBOOK OWL, BARN OWL, TAWNY
FROGMOUTH, OWLET-NIGHTJAR, and the highlight for me, a WHITE-THROATED
NIGHTJAR calling repeatedly from the hillside nearby.
Early this morning I wandered around Glen Davis for a while before we
drove slowly up the valley, back to Capertee. Everywhere the mistletoe
was flowering and the trees were alive with NOISY FRIARBIRDS and other
honeyeaters, including WHITE-PLUMED, FUSCOUS and YELLOW-TUFTED, and
there must have been hundreds of LITTLE LORIKEETS, especially in one
spot about 8km west of Glen Davis, where their tinkling calls sounded
like a multitude of bells. Elsewhere many flocks of them flew over like
bullets. Unfortunately I saw no Regent Honeyeaters, despite looking
carefully at every likely-sized bird in every likely spot. I was very
pleased to see a STRIPED HONEYEATER a couple of kilometres west of Coco
Creek.
Other highlights included ZEBRA FINCHES, DIAMOND FIRETAILS, a BROWN
QUAIL heard, a ROYAL SPOONBILL which flew over near the Glen Alice
turnoff, about seven GANG-GANG COCKATOOS at Coco Creek, SPECKLED
WARBLERS at Glen Davis, and RAINBOW BEE-EATERS in abundance in all parts
of the valley. Altogether about 60 species noted for a trip which was a
bit rushed.
The trunks of some of the trees in the bush behind Glen Davis have
turned a beautiful orange colour, I think they are Eucalyptus punctata
but I didn't take the time to check properly.
Carol Probets
Katoomba NSW
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