Rhonda and I spent last week at Round Hill in pursuit of
some elusive birds. Notable points were:
- Sighting Malleefowl (2),
Chestnut Quail-thrush and Painted Button-quail
- Photographing the Southern
Scrub Robin and Shy Hylacola as well as several species of honeyeater
- Failing to find either Gilberts
or Red-lored Whistlers (heard Gilberts calling)
- Absence of Hooded Robins, any
treecreepers and only one sighting of a babbler
- Plenty of Splendid Fairy Wrens
and Red-capped Robins
- Absence of small birds around
Wooey Tanks (possibly explained by the presence of many Miners).
- Heard a Spotted Nightjar and
sighted a Spotted Harrier
- Initially there were no chats
but a bunch of Crimsons appeared for one day and they then disappeared.
Incidentally on our last trip we had been approached by a
ranger from NPWS who asked us to advise the Cobar office each time we visited
the nature reserves. Accordingly we phoned Cobar Office prior to this
trip and received something of a grilling about why we wished to go there
before the visit was sanctioned by the Regional Manager. It was pointed
out to us that nature reserves (as opposed to national parks) are not open to
the public but rather are areas set aside for scientific research and
conservation of flora and fauna. The Regional Manager, in sanctioning our
visit, asked for some photographs of the birds in the park, which we will
provide.
An overnight stay in Lake Cargelligo
provided an opportunity to visit the local sewerage treatment ponds.
Water levels were very low and while there were plenty of birds there was a
notable absence of waders (other than Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Black-winged
Stilts, Red-capped Plovers and only one or two dotterels). A plus was the
presence of a number of Spotted and Baillons Crakes (several of each).
Lindsay Hansch
