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Hi all
Firstly , thanks to all those who provided
information as to where to find birds and good spots to go on my recent trip. I
personally find this a good aspect of birding-aus, not just for twitchers but
for general information on some nice birding spots when you are away from home.
It can often save a lot of time looking in areas where there are not many
birds.
After recent reports of Ruff and Pectoral Sandpiper
on Ash Island , we started our trip last Saturday, 9th March by a quick visit to
Ash Island, Newcastle. Although not finding either of these birds there were
plenty of nice birds around to get the trip off to a good start, the best of
which were 3 Yellow Wagtails together on "Wagtail Way". Other nice birds
included:
Sharp tailed Sandpipers -
hundreds
Black winged Stilts
Marsh Sandpipers
Greenshank
Eastern Curlew
Black fronted and Red kneed Dotterels
Pacific Golden Plover
White fronted Chats
Red necked Avocets
Golden headed Cisticola
We headed from here to Mudgee, stopping at Munghorn
Gap on the way. Although it was 5 P.M. there were very few birds around despite
it looking like an excellent birding spot. Birds sighted included:
Superb Lyrebird
Grey Shrikethrush
Striated Thornbill
Eastern Spinebill
White throated Treecreeper
Pied Currawong
Noisy Friarbird
A bit further down the road was the first of
several Brown Treecreepers seen for the trip. Overnight in Mudgee and an early
morning walk in Avisford Nature Reserve on the southern outskirts of the town
put us off to a good start. A great spot for bush birds.
Red browed Finch
Double barred Finch
Grey Fantail
Rufous Whistler
King Parrot
Crimson Rosella
Spotted Pardalote
Yellow Robin
Yellow tufted Honeyeater
White eared "
Yellow
faced "
Mistletoebird
Speckled Warbler
Yellow Thornbill
Grey Goshawk
Wedge tailed Eagle
Nest leg , Mudgee to Dubbo and on the way
saw
Little Corella
Blue faced Honeyeater
Brown Quail
A morning visit to the zoo was good and added White
browed babblers ( new bird for me ), Apostle birds,
Australasian Shovelers , Eurasian Coots, Spiny
cheeked Honeyeaters, Peaceful Dove, Yellow throated Miners, Whistling and Black
Kites, Clamorous Reed Warbler.
On to Forbes and an afternoon visit to Blue Gum
Swamp just out of Forbes on the West Wyalong road.
Several Pink eared Ducks and 3 male and 2 female
Blue billed Ducks, and several Hoary headed Grebe were the highlights here. No
sign of any Freckled Ducks. Also White bellied Sea-Eagle, White breasted
Woodswallow and one solitary Cockatiel
Early morning we spent 4 hours in Back Yamma
State Forrest North east of Forbes. We were searching for Gilberts Whistler and
Turquoise Parrots in particular, neither of which we found but there were many
bush birds to keep us occupied.
Common Bronzewing
Fan tailed Cuckoo
Dusky Woodswallow
Striated Pardalote
Varied Sittella
Hooded Robin 1 pair
Red capped Robins about 10
Crested Shriketit
Striped Honeyeater feeding on the ground in a
bare paddock with some Red rumped Parrots
Grey Crowned and White browed Babblers ( no rings
visible for Paul McDonald )
White winged Choughs
Rufous Whistlers ( also no rings, Paul )
Diamond Firetails
Southern Whiteface
Rainbow Bee-eater
Painted Button Quail ( second and last new bird for
the trip )
Whilst trying to film the first of the Red capped
Robins seen, Lynn said to me what is that behind you looks like a Quail
and sure enough it was the Painted and I got a really good
view of it as it moved its way off along the floor of the forrest which was
fairly open and easy to get views of it as it moved away.
Finally in the Lucerne paddock beside the eastern boundary were some
Stubble Quail.
Next stop was Weddin Mountains National Park near Grenfell. We were here in
the heat of the afternoon so very few birds around. Added Inland Thornbill to
the list. After overnight in Cowra we visited the Japanese Gardens and then
continued on to Canberra. Alas no Superbs were seen.
An early morning walk at Campbell Park was fairly unproductive. Lots and
lots of Kangaroos. In the afternoon we visited some people at Michelago on the
way to Cooma. I was very envious of their garden birds which included a pair of
Hooded Robins, several Diamond Firetails, Southern Whiteface, Restless
Flycatcher, Dusky Woodswallow, yellow rumped Thornbills and several Red rumped
Parrots.
Next day we went to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, south west of Canberra.
Walked the "Lyrebird Trail".
Added Satin Bowerbird , Wonga Pigeon, Brown Thornbill, Red browed
Treecreeper, Rose Robin and a male Golden Whistler devouring an enormous
Caterpillar. Our final day staying with friends in Forrest was highlighted by up
to 7 Gang Gang Cockatoos in and around their garden. If only I could bring
some home as these must be my favourite Cockatoo. Several Sulphur cresteds
around as well.
We had a quick stop at Rose Lagoon ( Edmundson VC Rest ) on the way
home. Thanks to all who provided information on how to find this place. Not much
water there and very few birds. No Bittern, but we were only there about 10
minutes and there are lots and lots of reeds it could have been hiding in.
Both varieties of Spoonbill, White necked and White faced Heron and Masked
Lapwing, and Great Egret were the only birds present.
Overall around 150 species seen for the week with 2 new birds.
Cheers
Dick Jenkin
DUNGOG NSW
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