G'day all
I visited three of my favourite spots in Kinglake N.P. on Monday 24th April.
(Kinglake is in the hills about 40km north east of Melbourne).
Overall, birds were very scarce. I was up early and the weather was fine but
few birds were calling. The forest is very dry and invertebrates may well be
scarce also. Are other areas of Victoria's wetter forests quiet at present?
Stop 1. Mountain Creek track.
This track is in the northern section of the park and is accessed from the Yarra
Glen-Yea road. On previous visits this area has been thick with Lyrebirds,
Crescent Honeyeaters, Olive Whistlers, Rose Robins, Eastern Whipbirds, and
Large-billed Scrubwrens etc. On this occasion I only heard two Lyrebirds (none
seen). I didn't manage to find any of the others.
There was only one Yellow Robin, one Golden Whistler, one Mistletoebird and one
Grey Currwaong. The common species were Brown Thornbills which seemed to be
everywhere.
One bird I am keen to find along this track is the Pilotbird. I've heard
Lyrebirds imitating them so they must be here.
Stop 2. Jehosophat Valley picnic ground
This is one of the main tourist spots in the park and is close to Kinglake
township.
Two Lyrebirds (a male and a female) were scratching around the edge of th picnic
area. A few crescent Honeyeaters were calling and zapping around. (I find that
they are very hard birds to get a decent view of). Otherwise not much of
interest. This is usually a good spot for Red-browed Treecreepers but not on
this visit. A cat was lurking in the picnic area also.
Stop 3. Beggary Track
A couple of km from Kinglake on the Hurstbridge road. This track is my never
fail spot for Spotted Quail-thrush - or was until this visit! Again the forest
was very quiet. The silver banksias and pink heath were far from peak flowering
and none of the eucalypts were in flower either. A single Scarlet Robin,
another Golden Whistler, a few Brown-headed and White-naped Honeyeaters were
notable. Otherwise a few wrens and thornbills. This was the only spot I found
White-browed Scrubwrens - another normally commonly seen species in the park.
Don't be put off visiting Kinglake N.P. by this post. It is usually much better
than this.
Cheers
Steve Clark
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Steve Clark
45 Carmichael Street, Hamilton, Victoria, 3300
www.ansonic.com.au/clarks/sw_birds.htm
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