Tuesday morning was cool and damp, a welcome relief after the hot days. The
birds seemed happy too, so it seemed a good morning for a walk. A Brush
Bronzewing flew up from the track as I started out and the Rufous Whistlers
were in full voice. I stopped to watch 2 pairs of whistlers trying to
outsing each other from either side of the track. Grey Fantails flitted
about (all walks here seem to include Grey Fantails!) and some Yellow-faced
and Brown-headed Honeyeaters were bathing in the wet leaves. Further down
the hill Golden Whstlers appeared, with Black-faced Monarchs, Leaden
Flycatchers and a Cicadabird. ThAngophoras are shedding bark and the wet
trunks shone with all shades of tan and salmon. Brown Thornbills and
White-browed Scrubwrens scolded from the understorey. The Cedar Wattles by
the creek were full of Red-browed
Finches and Brown Gerygones while a Red-browed Treecreeper foraged on the
loose bark high in a Sydney Peppermint. A Rufous Fantail dashed across the
track in pursuit of an insect and I could hear a Lewin's Honeyeater calling.
A little further along I found a family party of Crested Shrike-tits in a
Scribbly Gum, always nice birds to see. Variegated Fairy-wrens hopped
around in the bracken almost at my feet and I nearly trod on a Red-bellied
Black Snake when I wasn't paying attention. Eastern Whipbirds and
Pilotbirds accompanied me most of the way but, as usual, were just
disembodied voices. High on a moss-covered boulder a male Superb Lyrebird
danced and sang. I stood and watched for ages.
Surprise of the morning came in an area which had been burnt a couple of
years ago. A small parrot flew up from the ground and when I got the binos
on it I saw it was a Turquoise Parrot. I expect to see them in Capertee
Valley but have never seen one here in the mid-mountains. Possibly it was
an aviary escape, it looked like a juvenile bird, but I guess I will never
know.
All told I recorded 34 species for the morning. It's no wonder that what is
usually 1 hour's walk turned into 3.
Cheers,
Jill
Hazelbrook, Blue Mountains.
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
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