Dear All,
A slightly belated report from the trip I had at the start of October
from Sydney to Melbourne via
Capertee Valley and the Griffith
area of south central NSW (Cocoparra NP, Binya State
Forest, Five Bough
Swamp and the Murrimbigee Irriagation Area State
Forest). Firstly thanks to
all those people who responded to my RFI and made my trip more enjoyable by
sharing their knowledge with me.
I managed to spend one and a half days in Capertee Valley and during that time over 40 mm of
rain fell, giving me a view of the valley that not too many people would have
had in recent times, ie from under an umbrella. It also made birding very
challenging. Highlights for me were Scarlet Honeyeater, Chestnut-rumped
Hylacola, Diamond Firetail, Wonga Pigeon, Hooded Robin and Black-eared Cuckoo. A
total of 89 species were seen or heard which given the weather conditions
reflects what a wonderful place Capertee Valley is. Unfortunately I couldn?t find
Regent Honeyeater or Turquoise Parrot and Nankeen Kestrel was the only raptor
seen.
Cocoparra NP and surrounding areas had also recently been inundated and
bird activity was high, lots of White-winged Trillers, Rainbow Bee-eaters,
Blue-faced Honeyeaters and Western Gerygones plus a couple of Emu. Painted and
Striped Honeyeaters, Crested Bellbird and Black-eared Cuckoos at Binya State forest were highlights as were
numerous Speckled Warblers and breeding Splendid Fairy-wrens at the start
of Jack's Creek Gorge. Fledgling White-browed Babblers and a
mud-bucket-full of young White-winged Choughs also gave an idea that this had
already been a good year for breeding and many species were still mating and
nest building. Parrots in this area were enjoyable including Mallee Ringneck,
Mulga Parrot, Blue Bonnet, Cockatiel and Superb Parrot on the Murrimbigee. Five
Bough
Swamp at Leeton was
literally overflowing and as a result nearly all of the waders had disappeared
from view, Freckled Ducks and Glossy Ibis were highlights. I was also surprised
to see so many Double-barred Finches at the south western extent of their range.
Would anyone care to comment on the chance of White-broed Treecreeper in Binya
State Forest, a Treecreeper I saw briefly sure looked like one to me. Rufous
Songlarks were vocal throughout the trip and it was pleasant to escape from
Common Mynas for a while.
On the way to Sydney I spent the night at
Womorgama
National Park, approx. 80
km north of Albury and 10-20 km west of the Hume Hwy. There is very little signage in
this park and local knowledge or a detailed map would greatly aid anyone
planning a visi. It consists mainly of ridgetops of drier forest intergrading
into wet eucalypt forest. Highlights were large numbers of White-throated
Gerygones and Spotted Quail-thrush.
More details of any sites can be provided on request.
Cheers
Stuart Dashper
Melbourne
