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Hi All,
Just spent a couple of weeks in far
east Victoria and south-eastern NSW. We hadn't planned to visit NSW, but
the inclement weather in Mallacoota (highest rainfall in Victoria for May) saw
us heading north to Narooma for two days. I thought I might be lucky and
find a White-cheeked Honeyeater as Pizzey mentions they are down are far as
Bermagui. No such luck.
Some highlights at Narooma included a
Striated Heron which landed on the rocks within 10' of
where I was standing. Excellent
An Azure Kingfisher working along
the edge of the boardwalk.
Over-wintering Bar-tailed
Godwits foraging on the exposed sand at low tide
3 beautiful White-breasted
Sea-Eagles prowling over the inlet. Whilst watching one of these, a
brown bird of prey flying above them caught my attention. Momentarily
thought a Whistling Kite which were also around,
but thrilled to realise that it was a Square-tailed
Kite. Only my second sighting, the first being along the
Strzelecki Track about 20 years ago.
The following day, slowly headed south.
Called into Mimosa Rocks NP but the weather from Victoria was heading
north. The blustery wind and intermittent rain made birding virtually
impossible, but a small puddle on the side of the main road provided a
wonderful sight with White-naped, Fuscous and
Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Brown Thornbills, Yellow Robin and
Silvereyes bathing and drinking.
By the time we reached Tathra, the heavens had
opened. Back to Mallacoota.
A few days later, with the rain
again preventing us from fishing, (Ian's obsession) we drove north from
Mallacoota to Genoa and returned, slowly birding along the way.
The Genoa floodplains (1 1/2k's se Genoa), normally
a lush green cattle paddock with a small creek running through, was now flooded,
which provided some interesting sightings.
Australasian Shovellers (8), a
Darter, Hoary-headed & Australian Grebes, White-faced Heron whilst
the Swans had moved over to the next paddock.
Birds in the bush on the other side of the road
included Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, King Parrots (20) Restless
Flycatcher and Bell Miners.
At this one site, in-between heavy showers, we
counted 38 species.
At Gipsy Point, which must be the stronghold of the
Wonga Pigeon where they roam across the road in front of
you, we counted 29 species.
Back at Mallacoota, the list ran to 28 species
including an Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwits,
Red-capped Plover, Pied Oystercatchers, Great & Little
Egret and Royal Spoonbills on the lower lake, plus Satin
Bowerbird, Horsfields Bronze-cuckoo, Lewins and New Holland Honeyeaters
were a few of the bushbirds.
On a very wet, windy Saturday afternoon,
we'd accounted for 71 species.
This was our 7th visit to Mallacoota and the
predominately green Satin Bowerbirds have definitely increased
in numbers.
The only new bird for the trip was a
Beautiful Firetail along the Genoa River.
If anyone would like any further information I'd be
happy to forward it after the weekend.
Happy birding
Marlene.
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