Yesterday (Saturday, 18th May), Alan
Morris, Phil Hansbro, David Mitford and myself enjoyed a good days birding around
Cessnock and Bulga in the
NSW Hunter region (approx. 170km north-west of Sydney CBD).
The places visited and some of the highlights were as follows:
Yesterday (Saturday, 18th May), Alan
Morris, Phil Hansbro, David Mitford and myself enjoyed a good days birding around
Cessnock and Bulga in the
NSW Hunter region (approx. 170km north-west of Sydney CBD).
The places visited and some of the highlights were as follows:
QUORROBOLONG – Grey Goshawk, Gang-gang Cockatoos, Turquoise Parrots,
Brown Tree-creepers and an Owlet Nightjar (heard calling during the day).
ABERDARE STATE FOREST (near Cessnock) –
there were still at least 6 Swift Parrots in with 50 plus Little Lorikeets and at
least 2 Black-chinned Honeyeaters seen. Unfortunately none of the Regent
Honeyeaters seen earlier in the week were located.
BULGA, near Singleton (several interesting birds seen within a few
hours spent at Bulga) – a Spotted Harrier, about
6 Wedge-tailed Eagles; Painted Button-quails; a pair of White-bellied
Cuckoo-shrikes (both dark and light-phase seen next to each other); 5 species
of Robin including Rose, Red-capped, Scarlet (a pair), Hooded and Eastern
Yellow Robin; an over-wintering male Rufous Whistler;
Restless Flycatcher; Grey-crowned Babblers; 5 Speckled Warblers; Brown Tree-creepers;
Striped Honeyeaters and about 6 Diamond Firetails.
It was certainly a good day and a great opportunity to visit some new
areas in the Hunter.
Edwin Vella
