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Hi All,
Have recently returned from a most enjoyable 17 day
( 26 Nov to 13 Dec) return trip from and to Melbourne via Wangaratta,
Parkes, Armidale, Utunga (near Coffs Harbour), Port Stephens, Katoomba,
Kiama and Albury.
Being from the west i managed to see 17 lifers
and 150 in total. A good total as often birding took second place to
driving or socialising.
Highlights included the Chiltern
Box Ironbark NP in NE Vic (thanks to Frank O'Connor for the
suggestion) where i saw Fuscous Honeyeater, a magnificent male Turquoise Parrot,
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater and Black-chinned Honeyeater.
Just two kms south of Forbes in NSW we came
across, Gum Swamp Bird Hide and this is situated on a wetland
full of birds. At this great location in a short time we got two recently
fledged Peregrine Falcons, a pair of White-breasted Sea Eagles near their huge
nest, White-browed Woodswallow and numerous wetland birds such as Pink-eared
Duck.
To the east of Tamworth the Dorrigo
Rainforest Centre revealed Satin Bowerbird, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Green
Catbird, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone and Black-faced
Monarch.
At Port Stephens we rescued a
Short-tailed Shearwater from the road that was evidently one of many that
had been grounded along the NSW and QLD coast, perhaps due to the strong NE
winds. (It unfortunately did not survive) .
At the Minnamurra Rainforest
walk near Kiama had sensational close up views of four Superb Lyrebirds,
including a singing and dancing male. Also saw a Rose Robin here. Near
Jamberoo we saw some Topknot Pigeons. At the Bonaira
Native Gardens in suburban Kiama came across a great Satin Bowerbird
bower with 15 different blue items near its bower.
One of the other interesting things were the huge
numbers of cicadas heard throughout the trip, especially in the high
country such as Bright in Vic. I was told for instance at
Bright this is a once every seven year event. Is this
correct?
PS I have noticed some recent birders have dipped
out on the Western Shrike-tit. May i suggest you try the
Gloucester Tree in Pemberton. A few years ago when i was there
i managed to get two birds along one of the tracks, within one hundred
metres of the Tree. Watch out though for the March flies, they bite hard. (
And they do not just bite in March!).
Regards Wynton
Maddeford
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