Peter Roberts (former COG President now living at Merimbula) and I spent a
couple of days this week at Lake Cargelligo and were rewarded with fine weather
and a reasonable number of birds.
Highlights were White-fronted and Black Honeyeaters, Crested Bellbird,
Splendid and White-winged Fairy Wrens, Baillon’s and Australian Spotted Crakes
and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. There were also hundreds (if not thousands) of
White-browed Woodswallows on the road to Round Hill. They were flying low
and often landing near us and constantly calling – quite a distraction when we
were trying to listen for other species.
We were surprised to find Australian Shelduck (I thought they were called
Mountain Duck!) and White-eared Honeyeater out there also.
All up 107 species for the trip of which around 90 at or near Lake
Cargelligo.
A disappointing aspect of the trip was the lack of parrots – both variety
of species and overall numbers. We came home via Rankin’s Springs and
Griffith hoping to see Major Mitchells and various parrot species but no
luck.
Well worth a visit before it gets too hot although we were told by the
ranger that Round Hill NR will be closed from tomorrow for a fox-baiting
program.
