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I have just returned from a trip to several
pastoral properties recently acquired by NSW NPs. Sue Lashko, Jenny Bounds, and
I spent a few days birding through these parks with the assistance of local
rangers.
Oolambeyan is the largest (20000 ha) of these
reserves. It is mostly open riverine grassland with patches of hard red soils
that support Plains Wanderer. The most interesting birding was around the
homestead where we saw both Pied and Painted Honeyeaters. In the NW of the park
is a sand-dune area with scattered pine and rosewood. Here we found a good range
of birds. The number of Grey-crowned Babblers was particularly
noteworthy.
Darcoola (to be renamed Kulyarr NP) is in contrast
mostly saltbush with pigface and other small herbs as groundcover. Bluewinged
Parrots have been reported from this park. We also saw a huge Wedgetailed Eagle
nest. Darcoola is about 30k west of Hay.
London borders the Lachlan River and is about 80 k
NW of Hay. It is a mix of saltbush and redsoil plains that also have
plainswanderer potential. It also encompasses Lake Ita, a large redgum and
lignum swamp that would be an excellent waterbird breeding area when the Lachlan
floods.
We made side trips to Fivebough Swamp where we saw
a pair of Brolgas and >50 Freckled Ducks, Binya State Forest, and the "Hay
wetlands". Birders visiting the Hay wetlands would be well advised to take
note of the 6pm gate locking deadline.
While driving between sites several large flocks of
Whitefronted Chats were seen and in the evenings we often encountered flocks of
up to 12 Banded Lapwings. Several Black Falcons were seen over flooded
irrigation bays. A total of 137 sp were seen.
It is possible for bird groups to stay at the
Oolambeyan homestwead and I hope that Jenny will be able to organise a COG
visit to the area in mid October.
Tom Green
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