I recently spent five days in the central west of NSW and thought others may
like to know of good winter birdwatching locations in that region. Round
Hill and Nombinnie Nature Reserves were looking terrific after a little rain
ten days before and with absolutely no other people or traffic seen from
evening on a Friday to after mid-day on Saturday, the mallee was magic.
Birds were everywhere - crested bell-birds hopping round my feet at my
campsite in the morning. ( I camped just outside the reserve). Permission
is needed to enter these reserves and can be obtained from NPWS in Griffith.
Sadly rain prevented me from visiting Yathong nature Reserve as planned on
the Monday, but is well worth a visit if you haven't been there and the
roads are dry (unless you have a 4WD, of course). There are two resident
wardens and their telephone number can be obtained from NPWS at, I think
Cobar, or Broken Hill. I detoured via Goobang NP in stead which was on my
homebound route between Parkes and Dubbo and has only 12 months been
gazetted about 12 months. Magnificent trees and prolific with honeyeaters,
and little lorrikeets in the northern section of the park. The NPWS office
at Forbes will fax a map showing access and are very helpful regarding local
conditions and bird species. However, if you have a reasonable map of the
area, you can work out access for yourself.
Happy winter birding.
Cilla Rose
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