Hi all
I've just spent a week in Port Macquarie on a family holiday, so birding was
mostly fitted in around other activities involving the beach or the pool at
our holiday accommodation. I managed two early mornings out, a walk around
Sea Acres Nature Reserve and then whatever else we saw doing trips etc, plus
some good
birding from the balcony of our unit at Flynn's Beach. My Dad was out most
mornings.
Overall, I saw about 140 species. My Dad's count was slightly higher.
Highlights were:
Sewage works tertiary ponds - Lake St (early am 2 Nov) - Buff Banded Rail,
Crested Shrike Tits, Swamp Harrier, Black Faced Monarch
Koolunbung Creek walk (early am 4 Nov) - female Regent Bowerbird, Horsfields
Bronze
Cuckoo, Leaden Flycatcher, Mangrove Heron, Nankeen Night Heron, lots of
Koels, Tawny Frogmouth about 3 feet off the path, great views of Bar
Shouldered Doves, Cicadabird
Hastings River mouth & sandbanks (several days, esp low tide on morning of 4
Nov) - lots of E Curlews and Whimbrels, Godwits (not sure which sort -
possibly both?) and (on 4 Nov) 2 very small white waders with dark legs,
running back and forth from the waterline/small breaking waves - we reckoned
almost definitely Sanderling (based on the behaviour and colouring) but they
were just a bit too far off for the scope on full magnification to help.
Sea Acres NR - (morning of 5 Nov, just before the heavens opened!) -
generally quiet and not many pigeons seen; two groups of Crested Shrike Tits
(I replicated the 2-tone whistle of one male
and he became very agitated and whizzed around really close to us looking
for the intruder, which my daughter found fascinating - he moved far too
fast
for photos!) and Spectacled Monarchs nesting.
>From unit - male Regent Bowerbird preening, great views of all 3 coastal
raptors
(Osprey, Brahminy Kite, Sea Eagle), 3 Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo and lots
of activity from Little Wattlebirds and Lewins Honeyeaters in the flowering
Silky Oak near the balcony
Taree Riverfront (by sailing club - 11 am on 6 Nov) - 2 Whiskered Terns,
White Throated Needletails (the only ones of the trip)
On the way home, we stopped at Medowie Creek rest area near Karuah for lunch
and I saw a Flame Robin.
I have been to Port Macquarie several times before, so had a few ideas of
places to go anyway, but I obtained off the 'net and from the Tourist office
the brochure provided by the Hastings Birdwatchers which I found helpful
(thanks to Shirley Cook for putting me onto this), plus I spoke to a contact
given to me by the tourist office.
Cheers
Tom Wilson
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