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I spent some days up in Nightcap/Minyon/Koonyum ranges area in late Febuary this year. Like Colin I was also disappointed with the seeming lack of birds around. This probably had a bit to do with the hours I was out (rarely before 9am) and the heavy rain at the time but I still expected a bit more.
Highlights for me included a Pacific Baza and Paradise Riflebird in Mt. Jerusalem Nat. Park, Koonyum Ranges.
Mike.
Colin R <> wrote:
Hi
I spent the weekend 21.5 ? 23.5 at Nightcap Nat Park/Whian Whian State
Forest reserve in far north NSW (15 kms west of Mullimbimby). Camping in
Rummery park camp ground, in the state forest, is free and easily
accessible, via unsealed dirt road, in any vehicle. The road continues
through the park/reserve for about 30 kms in a loop coming out near Rocky
Creek Dam and in places is a bit rough, but not quite 4WD. Toilets and
cold showers advertised, but there was very little water in the campsite,
so I would advise taking your own, just in case. (I got more water at the
dam on Saturday afternoon)
I went, specifically, to try to find Superb Lyrebird. Although I?ve seen
Albert?s on several occasions in SE Qld I haven?t been lucky enough to
catch up with a Superb yet. Strangely enough (I think) Superb is not
listed on the NSW atlas list for Nightcap
Nat park, but I thought it
might be there all the same.
Walking the main track on Saturday morning I heard 2 or 3 Lyrebirds
calling/singing deep in the brush. Very heavy undergrowth prevented
further follow up in most cases, but I did get to within about 50 m of
one individual who then stopped singing. I didn?t actually get to see
any, therefore, with my limited experience, not confirming which species
it was.
Bird numbers in general were lower than I expected ? time of year? lack
of flowering plants? the bush was dry but the creeks were running and it
rained fairly heavily on Sunday (a 6km walk back in the rain from the
bottom of the Minyon Falls was ?bracing?!)
I visited Rocky Creek Dam on Saturday afternoon and had a pleasant walk
along the boardwalk. Did have a male Rose Robin there, at the spillway
lookout, and another one on the Scenic track from Rummery Park to the
falls on Sunday. Best bird ? Peregrine falcon halfway along the
river
track from the campsite to the falls late on Saturday afternoon. No owls
or frogmouths heard or seen at all ? not even a Boobook - despite driving
the forest track with one spotlight angled to mid tree level for an hour
or so.
I quite like the parks in this area, and wonder if anyone out there knows
Toonumbar, Mebbin or Border Ranges National Parks and what they?re like
for birding? Does anyone else bird these parks? I never see any reports ?
then again I?ve been pretty slack sending this one??!
Full bird list available if anyone is interested.
Checked out Hastings Pt on the way home (as I always do in hope!) ? no
sea passage visible.
--
Colin Reid
So many birds, so little time......
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