We spent a very enjoyable weekend in the Capertee Valley, overnighting
on Saturday with friends who have a property of some 150 acres there.
The Turquoise Parrots who apparently regularly visit their swimming pool
did not turn up for us, but a 2-hour walk on the property on Sunday
morning produced a few interesting sightings, e.g. a pair of Hooded
Robins and (most interesting of all for us) a single female Red-Capped
Robin, which presented us with excellent views of its boldly rufous
forehead.
The total list for the weekend was not huge, in fact a lot of the
woodland seemed quite quiet. We were struck by the apparently large
numbers of Crested Shrike-Tits, which seemed to be in all parts of the
valley, and of Peaceful Doves, which seemed nearly as numerous as the
Common Bronzewings. Honeyeaters were not particularly in evidence, with
White-Plumed most abundant, but Noisy Friarbirds, Fuscous, Yellow-faced,
Yellow-tufted, Easter Spinebills, and a single Striped Honeyeater also
on the list. A Fan-tailed Cuckoo, and both Golden and Rufous Whistlers
were single chance encounters, and there was a very large flock of
White-winged Choughs (c. 140) beside the river down below Glen Alice
church. Plenty of Double-barred Finches were about, and no lack of
Diamond Firetails.
The Dunville Loop proved very quite indeed, the most interesting
sightings being a large Black Snake and a couple of quite brazen foxes.
John M. Clifton-Everest
--
Associate Professor John M. Clifton-Everest
Department of Germanic Studies
University of Sydney
(61) (2) 9351 2262
Fax (61) (2) 9351 5318
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