Spent this June Long weekend on NSW ’s mid north coast, centred mainly
around Coffs Harbour which is about 530 km north of Sydney or around 7 hours
drive ex-traffic from Sydney . This trip was primarily for bushwalking (about 20
km walked in total), sight seeing (as I have never explored the NSW north coast
past Port Macquarie before), relaxing and offcourse some birding (though the
objective was not really to find new birds and I saw nothing new, but
interesting ones). Some interesting birds were seen in the following places
:
DORRIGO NATIONAL PARK (about an hour west of
Coffs Harbour) - excellent and fairly lengthy views of very cooperative Noisy
Pittas, Bassian Thrushs, Pale-yellow Robin, Logrunners, Paradise Riflebirds
along the Wonga Walk from the Glade picnic area (lots of Wonga Pigeons were
flushed from this trail). The Wonga walk goes though superb Sub-tropical
rainforest with large Yellow Carrabeens, Large Figs and Bangalow Palms
everywhere. Great views of the surrounding rainforest and hills were had from
the Skywalk lookout, providing a good vantage point for passing pigeons,
Riflebirds and Bowerbirds. Heard an Owlet Nightjar here. Also went on the
Rosewood trail from the Never Never picnic area where I saw a male Superb
Lyrebird call and do its display as it perched on a fallen log within 5
metres away (amazing !!!). This trails goes through mainly Warm Temperate
rainforest and is dominated by Coachwoods, Rosewoods and Tree ferns. This was my
first trip to the Dorrigo area, and this area looks just like a sub-tropical
counterpart of the Atherton Tablelands in northern QLD with its patches of
remnant rainforest and cleared agricultural land surrounding. The area also
abounds with water falls. We saw the fabulous Dangar Falls only 3km north of the
Dorrigo township (a must see if you are in the area and have not seen the
falls). A beautiful area indeed.
MOONEE BEACH (about 10 km north of Coffs Harbour)
- Here there were Eucalypts in flower everywhere and to my amazement, among the
hundreds of Rainbow and Scaley-breasted Lorikeets, I saw about 30 Swift
Parrots feeding mainly on the blossoms of Forest Red Gums (a record
sheet will be submitted to Simon/David). At the moment, there is abundant
flowering all along the northern coast. Also, at dusk, in the remnant Littoral
Rainforest (on the southern part of the nature reserve) a Noisy Pitta and
Logrunners were heard.
WOOLGOOLGA FLORA RESERVE (in Wedding Bells State
Forest, about 20 km north of Coffs Harbour) - Here were lots of fruit pigeons,
in particular, Wompoo Fruit-doves which were quite common (8 were seen
together and squabbling over a fruiting tree), Pale-yellow Robins and
Logrunners. Blue-faced Honeyeaters were in the township
nearby.
SOUTH-WEST ROCKS - HATHEAD AREA (between Port
Macquarie and Coffs Harbour) - many Spangled Drongos along the Macleay
River and in the heathlands along the coast, Brahminy Kites, an Osprey
and Southern Emu-wren also in the heaths.
A brief visit was also made to Stuart Point in the hope of finding
Mangrove Honeyeaters but none were seen. However lots of Whistling
Kites, Brahminy Kite and White-bellied Sea-eagles were circling about
the estuary.
The weather over the long weekend was a blessing for this time of year, and
this trip an enjoyable one.
Edwin
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