Tallaganda NP & Honeyeater Migration

I spent the greater part of Sunday (9.30am-7.30pm)
exploring Tallaganda National Park. I drove along the spine of the range
from North to South, starting at Forbes Creek. During the day I also kept
an ear and eye out for migrating honeyeaters.

I drove part or all of North Black Range
Fire Trail (FT), Mulloon FT, Bald Hill FT, Lewis Camp FT, Coxs Creek Rd,
Tower Forest Rd (FR), Parallel FR, Sawpit Gully FT, Harolds Cross Rd, Rocky
Pic Rd, Cowangerong FT, Bald Peak FT, and South Forest Wy. I stayed after
dusk in the hope of hearing a Powerful Owl, but no luck.

Highlights were:

# A Cicadabird calling at Lewis
Camp FT.
# Many Superb Lyrebirds in full
song.
# Lewin's Honeyeaters calling
at Coxs Creek Rd & Parkers Gap (I seem to encounter this species on
most trips to Tallaganda).
# A male Flame Robin near Coxs
Creek Rd.
# Over 18 Gang-gang Cockatoos
feeding on the summits of Mt Cowangerong and Mt Tumatbulla.
# A very vocal Brush Cuckoo along
South Forest Wy.
# A Crescent Honeyeater along
South Forest Wy.
# Grey Currawongs at Bald Hill
FT.

Strangely no sign of Olive Whistlers
this time. However, along Rocky Pic Rd many shrubs had black berries which
was attracting large numbers of Currawong and Crimson Rosella. Easily over
100 Pied Currawongs along one short stretch of road.

Now to the honeyeaters. It was a cool
sunny day with no wind. I encountered Yellow-faced Honeyeater (YFHE) and
White-naped Honeyeater (WNHE) as soon as I reached the Forbes Ck area of
Tallaganda. There were also White-eared Honeyeater (WEHE) present, and
Eastern Spinebill (ES) in the flowering banksia.
Again at a creek crossing marking the
boundary between Tallaganda NP and Tallaganda State Conservation Area YFHE
and WNHE were present. In fact at most sites I stopped they were there.
It wasnt until Rocky Pic Rd nr the summit
that greater numbers were seen. 30+ YFHE flying over the ridge heading
east or northeast in 2 minutes. Some 6+ WNHE also. I saw or heard ES at
many sites during the day too. At a pond nr Coxs Creek Rd flocks of YFHE
and WNHE came to drink/bathe. Some 20-30 birds in 5 minutes. I did hear
YFHE at the summit of Mt Cowangerong as well.

Cheers
Marnix


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