Hi Birders,
Here is a belated trip report to the Port Macquarie District organised by
the Central Coast Group of Birding NSW. The Report was prepared by Greme
Catt.
Alan Morris
PORT MACQUARIE CAMP-OUT 7-10 APRIL 2006
We were blessed with fine weather for the whole of this weekend, although
it was little breezy each afternoon. The camp was based around the Leisure
Caravan Park near Hibbards Ferry, Port Macquarie. Our group of 23 met with
27 members of the Hastings Bird Observers Club on the Friday morning at the
Innes Ruins, and under the guidance of Dave Whitfield, their president, we
were divided into four groups, and birded different areas. The site, part of
Lake Innes Nature Reserve, is so big that we saw each other only at morning
tea and lunch. What a wonderful area it is with Innes Lake on two sides and
the mountains in the background. Best birds were Regent Bowerbirds,
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Azure Kingfisher, Black-faced Monarch, Leaden
Flycatcher, Cicadabird & Drongo, while an Osprey was observed on a nest.
After lunch we proceeded to Kings Ck Lagoon Wauchope, a beautiful lagoon
with many blue water lilies. Here we found a Blue-billed Duck & a Jacana,
amongt the usual waterbirds.
On Saturday was our boat cruise into the Maria River Everglades area, 25
people attended. Leaving Telegraph Point we proceeded along the Wilsons
River, where a pair of Ospreys kept flying ahead of the boat. We then turned
into the Maria River and followed it up until it joined Pipers Creek.
Although tidal, in many places Blue Water Lillies lined the bank and Azure
Kingfishers were common. Darter, 3 species of Cormorant, White-necked Heron,
Whistling Kite, Brown Goshawk, White-headed Pigeon, Bar-shouldered Dove and
Golden Whistler were some of the species seen. We lunched at the junction of
Pipers Ck & Maria River where Drongos, Scarlet Honeyeaters & Rufous Fantail
entertained us. On our returned we stopped at Torrens Island and in an area
on about 2 ha we recorded 20 species in about 20 minutes including
Mistletoe-bird, Scarlet Honeyeater, Golden & Rufous Whistler, Brown & Yellow
Thornbill, White-throated Treecreeper & Yellow Robin. On our return along
the Wilson River, a pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagles kept us company.
On Sunday morning White-headed Pigeons, Olive-backed Oriole in the Caravan
park, and a Sacred Kingfisher on the riverbank were seen before we did the
Kooloonbung Ck walk located in the centre of Port Macquarie township. Best
birds were Satin Bowerbird, Striped & Scarlet Honeyeaters, Cicadabird,
begging juvenile Koel, Osprey, Whistling Kite, White-breasted Woodswallow &
Hobby. After morning tea we relocated to the Port Macquarie STW not far way
and saw about 30 species including 2 Wandering Whistling Duck, Great,
Cattle, Intermediate & Little Egret, Black-fronted Dotterel, Little &
Hoary-headed Grebe. In the afternoon we crossed on the Settlement Point
ferry and birded the area near the old coal wharf. Here we saw Eastern
Curlew, Red-browed Finch, Golden Whistler & White-cheeked Honeyeaters. Onto
Limeburners Creek where again Scarlet Honeyeaters were thick in the
flowering Paperbarks, with Brown Honeyeaters Scaly-breasted Lorikeets in the
mangroves. Bar-tailed Godwits were on the river flats and a pair of Ospreys
were nesting, with one feeding on a fish. Later that afternoon we passed
another nest in Riverside Drive and saw 4 in the air at one time. While
having happy hour on the riverside, a Brahminy Kite flew over.
Most members departed for home on Monday morning but some stayed on and 8
visited Sea Acres NR. In the car park there we saw 4 adult male Regent
Bowerbirds and 8+ brown birds. On the boardwalk a female Leaden Flycatcher
was seen, then Pale Yellow Robin, Spectacle Monarch and Janice Hempstead
disturbed a Powerful Owl! A great finale for a great weekends birding
enjoyed by all, with 115 species being seen in total (G.Catt).
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