PAGE 5: Trip highlights: Bris->Katoomba->Bris

[Judith Lukin-Amundsen <>]

After a week's work in Katoomba, and no chance to watch birds there, it was time to go home...

        In Dungong and in Gloucester I was astounded to see White-headed Pigeons calmly enjoying preening on the powerlines in town. Where I live, these birds, though they will alight on powerlines, are decidedly reserved, not to say shy, and much prefer the bush to the town.

        At John's River, in Isaacs Lane before the floodway (which was flooded), in pouring rain, White-breasted Woodswallows hunted, and perched together, a Leaden or Satin Flycatcher, combed through the bits and pieces at the top of a telegraph pole; and blurred by the rain too here were finches... Altogether worth returning to this little spot, I think, in better weather.

        At Nambucca Resort, in a circle of water around my accommodation, there were blurry Cormorants, Pelicans, Sacred Ibis, Royal Spoonbill with breeding plumes, white ?Herons/Egrets which roosted in great numbers at dusk on pontoons on the other side of the river, though this was very dim to see; and White-faced Heron, Wood Duck...And Brahminy Kites, two, regally perched in the emergent branches above the mangroves at Nambucca - and most splendidly ignoring the Masked Lapwings screaming and diving around them!

        At Fiddlers Creek bridge on a side-road (around Grafton, I think), Grey-crowned Babblers played happy families in a tiny stretch of trees; and here too was the first sighting of Eastern Rosellas.

        Over Casino that afternoon a White-Bellied Sea-eagle soared.

        Next morning, the newly sealed Lions Road across the Border Ranges was a pleasant drive at dawdling pace, being inaccessible to trucks, and abundant in one-lane river crossings. Pick your spot to stop near the top of the range, as this area is rife with Bell Miners and lantana. Just south of the Border Gate, at the turnoff to the Loop lookout, there were White-naped Honeyeater, Brown Gerygone, Spotted Pardalote...and more. As always, more calls heard than birds seen.

        A lovely last spot to picnic.

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Judith
Lukin-Amundsen
S-E Qld
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