Hello everyone,
I spent the long weekend on the south coast based in Narooma.
Although it was a family holiday I did do some birding.
A site in Bodalla SF I first visited in January had been
trashed. The original single track had been widened to a fire trail by
bulldozer, completely opening up the rainforest along Spring Creek. This was
where I had seen the Yellow-throated Scrubwren in January. Birds seen this time
included BASSIAN THRUSH (1), WONGA PIGEONS (5), RUFOUS FANTAIL (1), GANG-GANG
COCKATOO (8), LARGE-BILLED SCRUBWREN (2), VARIEGATED FAIRY-WREN (5)and
Yellow-bellied Glider (spotlighting).
Back in Narooma where we stayed we had a BOOBOOK calling at
night along with Fruit Bats feeding on date palms. Also singles of CICADABIRD
and a CHANNEL-BILLED CUCKOO calling. Off Carters Beach we had an EASTERN REEF EGRET.
In Narooma harbour a large playful Fur Seal frolicked
literally two metres off the jetty we were standing on while underneath a two
metre Smooth Stingray silently swam by. The water was still a warm 20 degrees
which may explain the number of stingrays still around? Also saw an Eagle Ray,
a Fiddler Ray and many Stingarees. Also hermit crabs. Birdwise there were
plenty of BAR-TAILED GODWITS, PIED OYSTERCATCHERS and an EASTERN CURLEW.
The water level in all the lakes, swamps and creeks was
high. Bar Swamp had dependent young of AUSTRALASIAN GREBE (2 juv), CHESTNUT
TEAL and PURPLE SWAMPHEN (3 juv) as well as ROYAL SPOONBILL.
Also WHISTLING KITES were present at three separate sites.
Cheers
Marnix
