Narooma, South Coast (30 Dec - 2 Jan)

["Marnix Zwankhuizen" <>]

We spent 4 days at Narooma over new years. The tides seemed to be very high this year with Narooma Harbour and Wagonga Inlet almost constantly at or above the high tide level. Among the usual suspects were 4 GREY-TAILED TATTLERS, barwits, curlew, both oystercatchers and a LITTLE EGRET.

A quick visit to Box Cutting Rainforest Walk in Bodalla State Forest produced a confiding SUPERB LYREBIRD, RUFOUS FANTAILS and BROWN GERYGONES plus leeches. Among remnant rainforest along Riverview Rd I had several WONGA PIGEONS, a JACKY WINTER and a possible flock of 4 TOPKNOTS.

While driving past Trunketabella Gardens on Friday 2 January I sighted a probable SQUARE-TAILED KITE overhead just above the treetops. I am pretty sure of the id. A rest stop at Waldrons Swamp produced a pair of LITTLE LORIKEETS.

The place we were staying at had a bird feeder which attracted quite a nice selection of birds including up to 3 WHITE-HEADED PIGEONS each evening allowing for extremely close views from the verandah.

And the boardwalk at Narooma never fails to disappoint with many fish including a well camouflaged Small-toothed Flounder, a intricately marked Fiddler Ray, a massive Eagle Ray and a 2 metre Black Stingray.

A side trip on the last day (2 Jan) to Hanging Mountain in Deua NP produced OLIVE WHISTLER, BLACK-FACED MONARCH,YELLOW-TAILED BLACK-COCKATOO and more LYREBIRDS and the view from the lookout is spectacular. You can see out across the Deua/Wadbilliga wilderness area and all the way out to sea past Montague Island. The vegetation is amazing to and reminds me of the Blue Mtns or the small patch atop the Clyde. Christmas bells and trigger plants were in flower along with many wattles among the grass trees and silvertop ash.

Cheers
Marnix