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> From: "Colin R" <>
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> Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 08:50:23 +1000
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> Subject: Goomburra - revisited
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> I've had some trouble getting this through so it's nearly 2 weeks ago,
> however, I don't think that will make a lot of
> difference...............try again
>
> I visited Goomburra State Forest at the weekend. Located behind Main
> Range Nat. Park 200 kms west of Brisbane I have been to Goomburra a
> couple of times, but not in Autumn/Winter. I was hoping for Robins or
> any
> other western species that may have made the trip east as winter
> approaches.
> By 10.15pm I had the tent up, coffee made and was thinking of bed. A
> light rain was falling =96 increasing, of course, the second I left the
> shelter of the tarp in spotlight search of a BOOBOOK OWL I could hear
> calling. I retreated =96 I=92ll follow it up tomorrow night when
> it=92s not
> raining, I thought. (It wasn=92t raining on Saturday night, but he
> wasn=92t
> calling either =96 maybe it was the snoring of the other camper that
> put
> him off!!)=20=20=20
> Woke to a damp, cool morning and SULPHUR CRESTED COCKATOOS screaming
> over
> the campsite. I watched as SATIN BOWERBIRDS, PIED CURRAWONGS and
> BELLBIRDS called and flew through while breaking my fast with some oats
> and dried fruit. At 7.15 I headed off on the Cascades Trail (6 Km, 3
> hrs)
> intending to follow on to the Ridge Trail (5 kms 2.5 hrs).
> The Cascades section begins with some open eucalypt, grassy, areas
> changing, as one travels upstream, to thick rainforest. There are
> several
> river crossings along the route =96 none difficult as, despite the
> rain,
> the creek was only trickling gently between the rocks. Birds were few
> and
> far between and, in fact, overall, I was a little disappointed with the
> numbers and variety over the weekend.
> Plenty of WHITE-BROWED SCRUB WRENS, THORNBILL sp (mainly BROWN but
> with a
> few irregulars thrown in here and there =96 none positively identified
> =96
> I=92m still struggling) CRIMSON ROSELLAS and a few KING PARROTS flew
> from
> the trees and WHIPBIRDS called occasionally. Weather damp and
> =91low=92,
> everything dripping. I reached a point just below the Cascades =96 the
> main
> waterfall that provides the trail=92s name =96 and it really started
> to rai=
> n.
> I decided that, as time was not important and I would only get soaked
> on
> the more exposed ridge I would sit it out. So for over an hour I sat
> and
> watched the drops falling through the trees, the occasional bird fly
> past
> or land in a tree top. A flock of approximately 30 TOPKNOT PIGEONS were
> within sight for a while, LEWIN=92S HONEYEATERS called and chased and a
> GOLDEN WHISTLER passed by. Normally I guess I would have been itching
> to
> move on, but, given the excuse, it was very rewarding sitting on the
> track watching the forest absorb the rain and trying to work out how it
> might affect the birds=92 life.
> When the rain eased I headed on up to the ridge, on the way flushing an
> ALBERT=92S LYREBIRD that sprinted along the track ahead of me before
> disappearing into the bush. The track up to the Ridge Trail is heart
> attack material but I made it and walked through the old growth
> eucalypts, grass trees and misty rain. Nothing much to report along the
> ridge, but a lovely walk all the same. Coming down the steep sections
> at
> the far end I speculated whether I would see a YELLOW-PLUMED HONEYEATER
> again. The only one I have ever seen had been in this area, but I
> reckoned my chances were 10.000 to 1. Well surprise, surprise almost
> exactly where I had seen the previous one I saw another one (or is it
> the
> same one?) Strikingly beautiful, the black contrasting with the bright,
> bright yellow =96 WOW. I watched, in fact, 3 or 4 birds feeding and
> calling
> before they, and I, moved on. A flock of WHITE-NAPED and YELLOW-FACED
> HONEYEATERS moved through the trees overhead as I cleared the last of
> the
> trees.
> After lunch I decided to take a drive and a quick walk to the Araucaria
> Falls =96 a 3 km (2 hr return) walk through rainforest to another
> waterfall
> - the entrance is located off the State Forest road about 5 kms from
> the
> campsite. Not much seen here although an immature LOGRUNNER caused some
> interest and an EMERALD DOVE flying off the track was a stir. On the
> way
> back to the campsite I drove along the road through Gordon County =96 a
> private property open to the public for camping, but virtually empty at
> this time of year. As I had expected I saw 1 JACKY WINTER catching
> insects off a stump and a WOOD DUCK unexpectedly threatened the car
> while
> his family looked on in admiration as the vehicle was =91seen off=92
> by the=
> ir
> lord and master! I thought he was pretty gutsy!! Then over the road
> =96 Yes
> =96 2 RED-TAILED BLACK COCKATOOS. I thought I had heard them earlier
> while
> in the forest and was really pleased to see them =96 only my second
> time
> and very close, perched in a dead tree =96 as they are wont to do!
> I returned to camp and had tea while preparing to go
> spotlighting/calling
> for Frogmouths and Owls. The bush closest to the campsite had looked
> ideal for Marbled Frogmouths and/or Sooty Owls and so I prepared my
> speakers and CD player for the event.
> ...................to be continued.........
> --
> Colin Reid
>
> So many birds, so little time......
>
>
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