Hello Edwin,
The Cedar Hill Swamp is very important for Latham's Snipe, especially during
dry years. During the 1997-1998 summer there were a minimum of 500 snipe at
the site. The Hunter Bird Observers Club carries out annual counts of snipe
each December. The numbers recorded since 1997-1998 have been approximately
200 birds but I don't think there has been a dry year like the 1997-1998 one
since.
It also used to (probably still does) provide habitat for Magpie Geese,
crakes, rails and has had Painted Snipe recorded here a couple of times
although they may be only rare visitors. During 1997-1998 there were groups
of Wood Sandpipers also. Thankfully it is now reserved and is called
Pourmalong Nature Reserve, although I'll probably always know of it as Cedar
Hill Swamp.
Cheers,
Mick Todd
Michael Todd
Tropical Savannas CRC
c/o CSIRO
PO Box 780, Atherton, Qld, 4883
Phone- (07) 40918837
Email-
-----Original Message-----
From:
Behalf Of Vella
Sent: Monday, 20 November 2000 2:07 AM
To:
Subject: CATTAI AND CENTRAL COAST AREA - 18TH NOVEMBER 2000
The final stop of the day was the swamps beside Cedar Hill Drive at Minmi,
near Newcastle. Surprised that there was still some muddy margins there with
all this rain we had, and had about 15 Black-fronted Dotterels just about
all crowded together at one end. Also saw a Whistling Kite, atleast 6 Latham
?s Snipe (some very close given some great views. The Hunter region provides
some very important sites for these endangered waders in Australia and all
must be done to provide permanent protection for them in this region.
Hundreds of Latham?s Snipe have been seen at times at this Cedar hill Swamp
and at the Newcastle Wetlands Reserve), Pied Stilts, 3 Yellow-billed and a
Royal Spoonbill, lots of Grey and Chestnut Teal and several White-breasted
Woodswallows about aswell. On Cedar Hill Rd itself and beside the forest,
was unfortunately a road-killed Diamond Python.
Rain held off for the morning, but it rained on and off for the whole
afternoon, This however did not prevent me to see/hear more than 100 species
for the day at a leisurely pace. There was a good reason to be out and about
despite the unpleasant (?) weather.
Edwin
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