Central Coast Outing Report: Colongra Swamp & Munmorah SCA. 6 November 2004.
Leaders: J & C. Carpenter.
A good birding place to meet was at Budgewoi Rotary Park on a lovelly fine
spring morning following overnight rain. We were greeted with the calls of
Olive-backed Oriole, Figbird, Eastern Rosella, Grey Butcherbird & Striped
Honeyeater. White-breasted Woodswallows were nesting on the channel-markers
again this year and the usual common waterbirds were to be seen as well as
Black-winged Stilts, Little & Great Egret, Caspian & Crested Tern. With the
help of telescopes we were able to see Red-necked Stint, Pacific Golden
Plover, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, & Bar-tailed Godwit. Dollarbirds in
beautiful plumage were seen on the drive to our first walk for the day at
Colongra Swamp., Although the birds seemed fairly quiet at first, we
finished with a good list for the area. Channel-billed , Koel, Horsfield
Bronze & Fantailed Cuckoos were all heard, as were White-throated Gerygone,
Spotted & Striated Pardalote. White-throated Treecreepers were seen feeding
young. Good views were had of two male Leaden Flycatchers and the usually
hard to see Striped Honeyeater, ignored his audience as he extracted grubs
from cocoons in the Broad-leafed Paperbarks. As there had been plenty of
local rain we had expected to see water in the Colongra Swamp, which has
been a breeding place for Cormorants in the past, but the "cupboard was
bare". Back to the cars for a well-earned morning tea.
Next we drove to the Budgewoi Beach boardwalk, which takes you through the
dune vegetation, up over the sand dunes and onto a viewing platform to see
the ocean. With the help of telescopes, Fluttering & Wedge-tailed
Shearwaters were seen and a pod of dolphins breaching! Lunch was at the
Mackenzie Park before travelling north to Munmorah SCA. New Holland &
White-cheeked Honeyeaters were seen in the bushes as they busily fed, but
several Tawny-crowned Honeyaters sat still on the top of bushes for good
views. Bar-shouldered Doves & a Pheasant Coucal called & 3 Brush Bronzewings
flew past. A Dusky Woodswallow made a brief appearance, while White-throated
Needletails flew over-head, some just skimming the heath and headlands.
Trevor with his scope found a Reef Egret below on the rocks. As we left the
Park a few of us were lucky enough to see a Grey Goshawk in a large
Paperbark being harassed by a Pied Currawong. 88 species were recorded for
the day, and many thanks for those who shared their telescopes with us.
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