Myself, and a visiting friend from Tasmania, David Walker, had just
experienced some great birding highlights in only 2 and ½ hours drive west of
Sydney. We stayed overnight at "Rockview" which is currently owned by Mick and
Josie Landry. The accommodation is excellent for a very small price (I would
definitely give it 10/10) and the property offers breathtaking views of the
western escarpment of the Great Dividing Range and excellent birding. I had one
of my best birding experiences in the Capertee Valley, because of the
following:
1) BLACK FALCON (1) one was seen in a swift and spectacular aerial
pursuit, after some small bird, which is typical of this uncommon raptor.
2) BARKING OWLS (4) - a pair with 2 well grown young were at the usual
spot beside the stream on the grounds of the Glen Alice church. I was watching
the Black Falcon through my binoculars,and as the Falcon disappeared from sight,
these Owls then came into view.
3) BLACK-CHINNED HONEYEATER (several) -were about in the numerous
flowering Eucalypts throughout the Capertee Valley but we had excellent views of
4 birds together feeding in flowering Eucalypts near the Glenolin bridge turnoff
from the Glen Davis-Ryalstone Rd. They were all calling persistantly.
4) REGENT HONEYEATERS - Aleast 3 were seen in flowering eucalypts
between the Glen Alice Museum and Camping Area
5) PAINTED HONEYEATERS (4 Plus) - Excellent and lengthy views
were had of atleast 4 Painted Honeyeaters feeding on fruiting mistletoe (often
in flowering Eucalypts). The honeyeaters made themselves very noticeable as they
called with their loud and very beautiful "Georgie-georgie…" calls and at times,
on the tops of dead trees. It has been several years since I last saw these
fantastic honeyeaters.
6) TURQUOISE PARROTS - Atleast 3 were seen on the grounds of the Glen
Davis Museum grounds as they fed quietly on the Glen Davis museum grounds.
7) PLUM-HEADED FINCH - atleast a dozen were easily seen perched on a
fence on the grounds of ‘Rockview’ property (off Crown station Rd and between
Capertee and Glen Davis)
8) PAINTED BUTTON-QUAIL - one was seen on the ‘Rockview’ property from
the spinifex covered hillside.
9) AUSTRALIAN OWLET NIGHTJAR - several were heard on the ‘Rockview’
property and we watched one for about 10 minutes as it perched only a few metres
in front of us on a branch of a small dead tree. As it remained perched, it
revealed its large gape several times as it snatched up insects flying past. I
have never observed this feeding behaviour before.
10) CHESTNUT RUMPED HEATHWRENS - great views of 4 Heathwrens were had,
about 5 to 10 km east of Capertee beside the main road.
White-browed Woodswallows, Little Lorikeets, Scarlet Honeyeaters were all
in their hundreds in the valley due to the large numbers of Eucalypts in flower.
In addition White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, Common Bronzewings, White-winged
Trillers, Striped Honeyeaters, Western Gerygone and Diamond Firetails
were in fair numbers due to the abundance of insects and seeding grasses (such
as spinifex).
About 105 species were seen/heard in the valley during the time, which
included 17 species of Honeyeater.
Edwin
