Dar Birders
Yesterday drove west and north out of Gloucester NSW to investigate some
of the side roads, usually marked No Through Road. Most of the drive
was through cleared forest now mainly beef grazing, with the odd patch
of original temp.rainforest in drainage lines and isolated large trees,
farm buildings, cattle and a few sheep. At one spot in a creek line with
some old trees on Boulliac Road West, just west of the Barrington River,
I stopped to do a 20min Atlas and was amazed to find a host of Wanderer
Butterflies. Below a small group of old Broad-leafed White Mahoganys in
the creek line, was a mass of milkweed Asclepias sp. In and on the
trees above this were 100s of Wanderers, fluttering and stationery (not
quite as dense as the numbers one sees in photographs of them wintering
in Mexico, but getting on that way), hanging from the foliage,
fluttering everywhere, shining in the late afternoon sun. It was just
pure joy to watch them.
There were birds there too! Jacky Winter, Willies, rosellas, 3 Stubble
Quail, Yellow-rumped and Buff-rumped thornbills, White-throated
Gerygones, Grey Fantail, Striated Pardalote, BFCS and a Kestrel, all in
this bare hillycountry. And further on half an hour later, a Peregrine
Falcon sitting on a fence post.
We are fortunate in this area as we've had our usual autumn rain so the
country is looking good, grass deep and green but turning blond now that
winter is upon us. Rivers are running full with clear water and the
local canoe outlets are busy with visitors. Honeyaters
(yellow-faced/white-naped) are still migrating north and Pied Currawings
have come down from the hills to upset the resident Little Ravens in the
valleys.
I do feel for those over the other side of the range who are still
hoping for some rain.
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