As mentioned in a previous posting I had Jun Matsui, a visiting Japanese
birdwatcher, with me last week. In addition to the 31 new species he saw
in the Capertee Valley he saw others outside the valley. These were either
in a trip we took to the area east of Gulgong (central NSW) or on the trip
back to Melbourne. We opted to take the "scenic" route via West Wyalong
back as this would increase the opportunities for new birds for Jun.
The trip to the Gulgong area on 1 September was primarily to investigate
reports of Regent Honeyeaters in this area. The woodland we looked at,
with Dunedoo resident Lynne Heywood, was very, very nice. Mature Mugga
Ironbark grading into Scribbly Gum, a very interesting combination. Yes,
we found the Regents (at least six) although they were very secretive.
This was because they were breeding - they have the annoying habit of going
very quiet once they establish themselves and are on eggs. List for this
site follows.
>From there we moved on to a spot near Ulan, lots of Mugga Ironbark
throughout this area. Another pair of Regents at this spot, this time with
week old nestlings.
Although it was getting late I wanted to check out White Box Camp in
Goulburn River National Park. Getting there about 4-30PM meant that I only
had about half an hour. Nevertheless we located one Regent but didn't have
time to explore further. It is extremely likely that they are breeding in
that area. Anyone who can explore further please contact me for details.
A rather exciting new bird for Jun here was Emu.
The two days 2-3 September were spent travelling back to Melbourne with an
overnight stop at West Wyalong. The first new bird for Jun (Apostlebird)
was east of West Wyalong. These birds were then very common until about
Naranderra. This was followed by Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, again fairly
common from there on. Charcoal Tank Nature Reserve in the late afternoon
was, as usual, very good. New birds for Jun were Mulga Parrot, Australian
Ringneck, Little Raven and White-browed Woodswallow. I was disappointed
that we missed Shy Hylacola and, surprisingly, Yellow-plumed Honeyeater.
Heading north, the long route back to town, we saw Blue Bonnet, also new
for Jun, but only relatively poor views looking into the setting sun.
The next morning we headed back to Charcoal Tank and obtained good views of
the Blue Bonnets. Nothing new at Charcoal Tank but we were haunted by the
very elusive Crested Bellbird (which would have been new for Jun).
Onward towards Narranderra the new birds Jun saw were Brown Songlark and
then Chestnut-rumped Thornbill near Ardlethan. This was followed by Black
Kite and a male Superb Parrot which flew alongside the car (doing 80km/h)
for three kilometres before landing. We were fortunate to have great views
of ten Cocktiel near Finley after not being able to find a previous pair
that were flying in the opposite direction to that we were driving.
Birds seen in the woodland near Gulgong from about 8-30AM to 2-30PM were:
Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax
Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides
Square-tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura
Painted Button-quail Turnix varia
Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida
Galah Cacatua roseicapilla
Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna
Little Lorikeet Glossopsitta pusilla
Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius
Pallid Cuckoo Cuculus pallidus
Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae
Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus
Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus
Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus
Speckled Warbler Chthonicola sagittata
Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris
Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca
Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla
Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides
Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana
Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata
Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata
Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus
Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis
Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia Breeding
Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops
Fuscous Honeyeater Lichenostomus fuscus
White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus
Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis
Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris
White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus
Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans
Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis
White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus
Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris
Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica
Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta
Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca
Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa
Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae
Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus
Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus
Australian Raven Corvus coronoides
White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos
Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Rufous Songlark Cinclorhamphus mathewsi
Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
David Geering
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