Leura, Prince Henry. Fernbower: Glossies, crescent, lyrebird, satin b

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hi Benj,

 

About the last bit, in general the Superb Lyrebird sing a lot but most during winter (this is a bit early but it has been cold), typically this is when the birds they mimic sing least. Lyrebirds like most "mimics" do not relate to the species they mimic. Indeed they learn most of their mimicry from other lyrebirds. Almost certainly the accuracy is further honed by hearing the model species. Evidence includes that for new generations of lyrebirds introduced to Tasmania still did whipbirds for many years. Also that populations tend to use similar sequences of calls.  At the talk given at Field Nats last week we were told of a mother lyrebird teaching its chick some mimicry. That was a new one on me.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: boy nature [
Sent: Tuesday, 7 February 2012 7:33 PM
To: boy nature; Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Leura, Prince Henry. Fernbower: Glossies, crescent, lyrebird, satin b

Blue Mountains.
Prince Henry Cliff Walk- >From 3
sisters to Leura cascades. 5/1/12
The 3 sisters were packed with tourists,
but head east on the cliff walk and soon you only see the odd person.
Just
past the 3 sisters a couple of tourists were looking at 3 Glossies feeding in
Allocasuarinas (1 begging dy). The american tourist asked 'what are they', the
Aussie friend said 'cockatoos' and walked on. 1 satin bowerbird, 2 new holland
h, 3 eastern spinebills including a juvenile that was being fed every ~5 
minutes. Strange, but I cant remember when I last saw a dy spinebill. Bell
Miners and yellow robin in the gully. 2 YTBC. A BOP which was calling loudly but
I didnt get a good view. I almost stepped on a blotched blue tongue which had
unusual red patches rather than yellow. 2 brush wattlebirds. A lyrebird fed
right next to the path (an advantage of having lots of tourists). Crescent
honeyeater. Strangely 2 SC cockatoos. Leura water skinks.
Lots of trigger
plants, goodenias.
The walk was quoted as 2 hours but it took me 4. The walk
is rated as easy but it was up and down a lot and I was stuffed.

Leura
Forest-Fernbower to L Cascades. 6/1/12
After failing to see Fernbower I
decided to try again even though it was spitting. From Katoomba I walked down
Merriwa st to the start of the Leura forest walk (only took 15 minutes not 3
hours). This gully West of the main Leura creek gully, is narrow, steep and
spectacular, with rainforest trees- coachwoods and tall treeferns. Although the
cliffwalks and views mentioned above are impressive, it is hard to judge the
perspective & depth of view. But walking within this gully really shows the
BM true size. Not many birds- Rufous fantail, yellow robin. Once you reach the
main trail 2/3 of the way to the bottom the views are great. I walked around to
Leura cascades gully, with huge cliffs that seem to swallow you, plus hanging
moss & fern gardens and small waterfalls, until you reach Bridal Veil falls,
which was spectacular (perhaps due to the rain). It is tough on the walk back
up, but doesnt take too long. I only saw 5 people to this point. I walked up the
L cascades and back West to where I started (along the PHCWalk). Had lunch on
the Fossil rock and a bowerbird flew within 1m while a lyrebird called nearbye,
mimicking: currawong, satin bowerbird's churr, crimson, whipbirds, golden
whistler (possibly?- wr wr   wip ou eer whip), ytbc, galahs, sc
cockatoo. Interestingly, if those species were actually present the lyrebird
didnt give their call (performance anxiety??).
This walk was the one that
blew me away out of all the walks I did. And so simple to get to.
  
Benj