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Cathedral Ranges (& Satin Bowerbird)

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Subject: Cathedral Ranges (& Satin Bowerbird)
From: <>
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2004 22:55:33 +1000
Cathedral Ranges (& Satin Bowerbird)

Hi All,

I?ve just spent a very pleasant couple of days in the Cathedral Ranges 
State Park, approx 100 km north east of Melbourne (accessed via the 
Maroondah Highway between Taggerty and Buxton). We camped at Cooks 
Mill, and as is often the case, most of the birds were seen in and 
around the campsite. 
 
Considering it?s winter (the days were often idyllically sunny and the 
nights freezing cold), the bird life was excellent, particular mid-
sized birds. In response to the current comments on birding-aus re 
Satin Bowerbird, there were at least two territorial families linked to 
the Cooks Mill camping area. There was also a pair of Wonga Pigeon, who 
spent most of the time strolling comically around the edge of the 
campsite; and perhaps surprisingly Lewin?s Honeyeater was the most 
common HE. The Cathedral Ranges (and surrounds) would certainly 
represent the western range for both these birds. There were also large 
families of White-winged Chough, Pied Currawong, White-backed Magpie, 
and a pair of what appeared to be very late nesting Laughing 
Kookaburra. 

Other birds seen here included Golden Whistler, Striated, Yellow and 
Brown Thornbill, Striated and Spotted Pardalote, Varied Sittella, Black-
faced Cuckoo-shrike, Crimson Rosella, unusually tame White-throated 
Treecreeper, Grey Thrush, Grey Fantail, Red Wattlebird, Eastern 
Spinebill, a large mob of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Red-browed 
Firetail, White-browed Scrubwren, Superb Fairy-wren, and Superb 
Lyrebird could be heard from all directions. 

The campsite was also excellent for large sized mammal, with the list 
included Grey Kangaroo, Black Wallaby, Wombat, both Ring-tailed and 
Brush-tailed Possum, and both Koala and Greater Glider were spotlighted 
on the Friend Nature Trail.  

Beautiful Firetail was also seen on the roadside of South Cathedral 
Lane, approx 1 kilometre north of the Maroondah Hwy, 50 Meters past the 
entrance to the ?Cathedral Lavender Farm?, and may be a good eastern 
site for this uncommon Victorian bird.

Tim

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