Hello All - I couldn't go on any pelagics, so I had to make do
with this......
Last Saturday, I set out on my first major birding trip, given
that I now finally have a car, and don't have to rely on my Dad to take me
everywhere. My starting point was sunny Goulburn on the NSW Southern Tablelands.
I travelled west (obviously) to my first point of call, which was Jindalee SF
near Cootamundra. I only had time for a quick poke around as I had to get
moving.
There was quite a bit of Ironbark still in flower, and hence
there were quite a few honeyeaters around - I was specifically after the
Black-chinned Honeyeater, which didn't take very long to find,
given its distinctive call. Also around were a few Brown-headed
Honeyeaters, plenty of Fuscous Honeyeaters,
Brown Treecreepers and a few Peaceful Doves.
Here I also found the first of many groups of White-browed
Babblers.
From there I moved on to Temora, then up to Barmedman. From
here I went across to the Newell Highway. On this road I saw Pied
Butcherbirds, Apostlebirds, a single group of
Grey-crowned Babblers, and my first ever pair of Blue
Bonnets, which I would find to be plentiful throughout the
trip.
After reaching the Newell, I went north and made a short stop
at Charcoal Tank NR. Here I found quite a few Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters
(another common bird out this way) a few Little Friarbirds
and a Yellow Robin. I didn't stay very long,
unfortunately - I would have liked to have stayed longer, as this spot looked
quite promising.
From West Wyalong, I continued north, intending to go up the
western side of Lake Cowal. On the way to Lake Cowal, I came across
White-fronted Chats, Southern Whiteface, an
Australian Hobby and a pair of Banded
Lapwings. Lake Cowal itself had a fair bit of water in it, and hence
the associated waterbirds - swamphens, coots, Pelicans. Along
the road up the side of the lake, I found a Peregrine Falcon
and Blue-faced Honeyeater. I wandered around the
northern edge of the lake, and managed to turn up Common
Bronzewings, the first Cockatiels, and a few
Emus.
By now it was getting quite dark, so I proceeded to Rankins
Springs. On the way I saw an owl flying in the edge of my headlights - I am not
sure what species, though it was quite large. Unfortunately, the one night of
the year I chose to camp at Rankins Springs, which has a population of about
ten, was the night of the annual town get together, so I didn't get much sleep
that night.
I rose early, to head off to Loughnan NR, where I hoped to
find the Malleefowl. On the way I turned up Chestnut-rumped
Thornbills, Mallee Ringnecks and
Yellow-throated Miner, all ticks for me. I found the
Yellow-throated Miner, to be generally much shyer than its cousin. Also along
the road were plenty of Apostlebirds, Southern
Whiteface, Red-rumped Parrots, Blue Bonnets
and Pied Butcherbirds. I also came across two small
groups of Grey-crowned Babblers.
At Loughnan NR, I spent about an hour wandering through the
mallee. I found three ticks here, namely Crested Bellbird,
Splendid Wren and Yellow-plumed Honeyeater.
The Splendid Wren was a strikingly beautiful bird, one of the
prettiest I have seen. Its shiny plumage really stood out against the red dirt
of the mallee. Also here I found more Brown-headed Honeyeaters,
White-eared Honeyeaters, Mistletoebird and White-browed
Babblers - unfortunately I couldn't find the Malleefowl.
From here I proceeded to Hillston. Here at the grain silos,
there was a large group of about 200 Little Corellas, as well
as a few Black Kites hanging around. I went from here across to
Lake Cargelligo. This was quite a good drive. I found plenty of
Apostlebirds, Blue Bonnets, Pied
Butcherbirds, Yellow-throated Miners and Brown
Falcons. I also found a Spotted Harrier, the first
Wedge-tailed Eagle, and a Brown Songlark (a
tick for me). At Lake Cargelligo, I made a quick visit to the Sewerage Treatment
Works. Here I found my first White-winged Wrens, a most
beautiful bird, as well as Little Grassbirds and
Variegated Wrens. Amongst the hundreds of cormorants here, I
located a pair of Red-capped Plovers and had a good sighting of
a Spotted Crake as it skulked along the edge of the
reeds.
