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Hi Birders,
The Central Coast Group of the NSWFOC held their
regular outing today Saturday 29 July 2000 with a trip to Quorrobolong and
Ellalong near Cessnock, in the Hunter Valley. Arthur & Gwen Biggs led the
trip, the day was fine and sunny, 98 species of birds were seen with the
highlights being 18+ Swift Parrots and 40+ Regent Honeyeaters! 14 members and
two visiting couples from Bathurst and Townsville Qld, started the day at
Freemans Waterhole where Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, Lewin Honeyeaters &
a Collared Sparrowhawk were the top birds. Our first stop was not far from
Mulbring where Varied Sitellas, Satin Bowerbirds, Golden Whistlers, King
Parrots, Yellow-rumped, Buff-rumped & Striated Thornbills were
found.
Around Whitings Lane at Quorrobolong we saw
Blue-faced Honeyeaters, Tree Martins, Grey-crowned Babblers, Pied Butcherbirds,
Kestrel & Jacky Winters and other woodland birds. Morning tea was taken on
private property on the upper reaches of Quorrobolong Creek where we found 40 +
Regent Honeyeaters. Some were feeding in flowering Spotted Gum, some were
gleaning insects and taking flying insects in mature Grey Box Euc. moluccans
while the majority appeared to be taking insects along the wooded banks of
Quorrobolong Creek that contained plenty of water. Other good birds here were
Fuscous, Yellow-tufted, White-naped & Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Little
Lorikeets & Yellow Robins. We inspected an occupied Sea-Eagles nest on
another private property where Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Rose Robin, Weebills &
Jacky Winters were seen and finally to lunch atTrevor Mugford's property
"Oakleigh". Here Satin Bowerbirds, Grey-crowned Babblers, Red-rumped Parrots
& Striped Honeyaters were common and a Yellow-billed Spoonbill was on a
large lagoon, while Cattle Egrets & Straw-necked Ibis were in the
paddocks.
After lunch we went to Ellalong Lagoon stopping at
two locations where we found Shovelers, Royal Spoonbill, Darter, Musk Duck,
Golden-headed Cisticola, Brown Goshawk, Kestrel, Black-shouldered Kite, Pelicans
and the usual common waterbirds. Our final stop was Alexander Street, Ellalong
scene of recent visits by Swift Parrots. We were fortunate here to see 18 Swift
Parrots feeding in flowering Spotted Gum, along with 4 Musk Lorikeets and 2 Gang
Gangs. Other birds present included yet another Brown Goshawk, Noisy Friarbirds
& Striated Pardalotes. A great days birding in the Hunter
Valley.
Alan Morris
Central Coast Group
NSWFOC
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