On the weekend I ventured into central NSW with the major purpose being to
atlas an area to the south of Nyngan. The area had a large number of 10 minute
blocks with no atlas records and as many with only one atlas sheet returned.
From midday Saturday to midday Monday I covered a band of 10 minute blocks from
Trangie south to Tottenham and west to Nymagee. This is the geographic centre
of NSW, at one stage I passed with 5 kilometres of this location.
46 atlas sheets were completed across 22 10 minute blocks in the area between
31 55'S and 32 20'S and from 146 20'E to 148 00'E.
Starting at Trangie, the first Superb Parrots were encountered about 15
kilometres west of town. This was the first of many Superb Parrot sightings in
blocks west of Trangie and south to Tottenham. Ground Cuckoo-Shrikes were
encountered along the Dandaloo Road, running just north along the Bogan River,
about 20 km north of Tottenham. Western Gerygone were regularly encountered in
the extensive Coolabah woodlands in this area. About 20km NNE of Tottenham
White-fronted Honeyeaters were a surprise. At least one was seen feeding in
flowering Eremophila while others were busy in Casuarina and Poplar Box.
Late that afternoon excellent views were had of a Black Falcon as it flew with
the car about 30km north of Tottenham. The next morning large numbers of
Spotted Bowerbird were a feature of Tottenham itself.
25km west of Tottenham was a Bar-shouldered Dove. Further west, ~ 25km east of
Bobadah the first good tracks of mallee were encountered along with the first
of many Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters, invariably in mallee. An impressive list
here included the first Splendid Fairy-wrens. Grey-fronted Honeyeaters may
have been present but remained elusive. Several km east of Bobadah were
Eastern Yellow Robin, Speckled Warbler, Splendid Fairy-wren, Double-barred
Finch, Silvereye and Red-capped Robin. Just west of Bobadah a Pied Currawong
was a nice find that far west.
In the southern section of Nanerybone State Forest, ~15 km west of Bobadah were
Hooded Robin, Red-capped Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Southern Whiteface,
Speckled Warbler and White-browed Babbler. I could have been in the Capertee
Valley!
Eastern Rosella were recorded ~20 km east of Nymagee which must be close to
their western limit. Another great mallee patch 30 km east of Nymagee yielded
more Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, definite Grey-fronted Honeyeater and Crested
Bellbird.
I was surprised to hear Major Mitchell Cockatoo ~ 50 km northwest of Tottenham
but failed to find them. However, a bit further on six Major Mitchell's were
found feeding among newly emerged wheat. Beautiful birds. Yet more were seen
as far east as 25 km NW of Tottenham. This must be getting close to their
eastern limit.
On Monday morning the plan was to revisit the White-fronted Honeyeater site and
try and establish how wide ranging they were. However, despite the presence of
flowering Eremophila no more were located until the original site was reached.
They were again found 1.5 km to the west but no further. They appeared to be
common but restricted to a fairly small area with a combination of Eremphila in
a structurally more complex woodland containing Casuarina.
About 3 km east of the White-fronted Honeyeater location a Yellow-tufted
Honeyeater was found in Coolabah woodland, very different habitat from the
mallee in which these birds had previously been found in and well to the east
of the previous days records.
In all, a great couple of days. Well worth getting out into new areas. You
never know what you will find.
David Geering
David Geering
Regent Honeyeater Recovery Coordinator
NSW NPWS
P.O. Box 2111
Dubbo NSW 2830
Ph. Freecall 1800 621 056 or 02 6883 5335
This message is intended for the addressee named and may contain confidential
information. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it and notify
the sender. Views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender,
and are not necessarily the views of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife
Service.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
