MEGALONG VALLEY, BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW 15TH MARCH 1998
Yesterday, I spent the whole morning in the Megalong Valley (near
Blackheath) in the Blue Mountains. (This being a change from spending
the last four weekends in a row in the Newcastle area). The weather was
overcast, but was mainly dry in the valley until mid-morning.
Many birds were on the move in preparation of the upcoming cooler
weather, including hundreds of Silvereyes, Black-faced and
Little-Cuckoo-shrikes, Noisy Friarbirds and other Honeyeaters,
Olive-backed Orioles etc. It is now also the time of the year, when male
Superb Lyrebirds start to advertise there brilliant mimicry to passing
females. Many males were singing about in the valley yesterday.
In the open country on the 6 foot trail, several Gang-gang Cockatoos,
Jacky Winters, Scarlet Robins, Rufous Whistlers, Diamond Firetail and
White-winged Choughs were present.
On the densely forested hillsides of the valley, several Red-browed
Treecreepers were seen or heard and seem to outnumber the more regularly
encountered White-throated Treecreepers. The former species tends to
specialise on the smoother barked Mountain Blue Gums. Also, in this
habitat, and in the upland Temperate Rainforest, were Rose Robins, Rufous
Fantail and Large-billed Scrubwrens. A Pilotbird and a Bassian Thrush
were also heard briefly in the Rainforest.
On the Shipley Plateau road, it was with great pleasure to see a showy
pair or two of Flame Robins right beside the road. The males flame orange
breast really stood out amongst the surrounding burnt timber.
As the weather was turning sour about noon, it was time to call it a day.
Edwin Vella
P.S. I will be leading a club outing to this beautiful area later this
month for the Cumberland Bird Observers Club. If you are interested,
please feel free to join. I will be meeting all members at Blackheath
railway station car park at 9am, Sunday, 29th March. Lunch will be at the
cars.
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