GOULD LEAGUE BIRD STUDY CAMP AT OAKHAMPTON STATION, UPPER MANILLA NSW
27 SEPTEMBER TO 6 OCTOBER 2006
Once again a very successful Gould League Bird Study Club Camp has been held
this year, at Oakhampton Station, Upper Manilla, in the North West Slopes of
NSW. Seasonal conditions were very good leading up to the Camp, with good
rains falling. Wheat and canola crops looked great and every where there was
green grass with flowing creeks and rivers. The birds were wonderful, in the
grassy box woodlands, characterised by White Box and Yellow Box many of
which were in flower, the calls of Rufous Songlarks, Rufous Whistlers,
Sacred Kingfishers, Musk & Little Lorikeets, Noisy & Little Friarbirds were
very loud while in the open grasslands and crops, the calls of Singing
Bushlarks, Brown & Stubble Quail, Brown Songlarks and Pallid Cuckoos was
equally enjoyable. Everywhere swallows and martins were tending and building
nests, and Magpie-larks and Magpies were to be found nesting. Overall there
were great birding conditions and during the second day of camp 23 mm of
rain fell just to liven things up.
During our ten days of camp we birded along the "Birding Routes" of the
former Manilla and Barraba Shires (now part of Tamworth Regional Council),
including well known sites such as the Coonoor, Tarpoly, Borah, Adams &
Upper Horton Stock Routes. Split Rock Dam at Upper Manilla including the
Glenriddle Reserve was visited on a number of occasions, and one of the
favourite spots was the big farm dam set amongst the timber, on Oakhampton
Station itself. On the Friday, Jenny and Russell Watts led us on a trip
down the Tarpoly and Borah TSR Bird Routes, on the Saturday a visit was made
to Warrabah National Park and on Tuesday a special atlassing trip was made
out west of Manilla towards Boggabri.. Altogether 180 species of birds were
seen during the camp, in addition to the 11 species of mammals, 18 species
of reptiles and 10 species of frogs identified.
Highlights of the Camp included seeing Wedge-tailed Eagles in just about
every 10 minute grid block we visited, while Collared Sparrowhawks, Brown
Goshawks and Little Eagles were regularly sighted, a Brown Falcon was found
nesting at Tarpoley TSR and Black falcons were seen at Oakhampton Stn and
the Boree Clump. 2 White-bellied Sea-eagles were at Borah Reserve and
another at Split Rock Dam whilke Spotted Harriers were seen at 4 locations.
A lone Sharp-tailed sandpiper was seen at Spliut Rock Dam on 4/10..
Turquoise Parrots were located at 11 separate sites including a pair at a
nest hole; Painted Honeyeaters were heard calling on Oakhampton and 6 were
found 30 km west of Manilla in an Acacia myall clump feeding in mistletoe.
Threatened species such as Hooded Robin, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Diamond
Firetail and Brown Treecreeper were each found to be relatively common . A
group of 4 Ground Cuckoo-shrikes gradually worked their way south through
Oakhampton Station and down to Upper Manilla, while Plum-headed Finches were
found at Upper Manilla, on the Manilla River at Barrabara Caravan Park, and
Andersons Ck south of Bingara. Chesnut-breasted Mannikin, Golden-headed
Cisticola and Tawny Grassbird were also found at the Barraba CP, and the
latter also at Andersons Creek. Spotted Bowerbirds were located at the
Oakhampton Cabins and at Upper Horton. A Barn Owl was seen at Upper Manilla
and a Barking Owl at Sheep Station Ck, Cobbadah while Southern Boobooks
called to us at the Camp each night. A Black-eared Cuckoo was seen near
Oakhampton dam while an out of range Black-faced Monarch was found at
Tarpoly Reserve.
The number of bird species seen (180) was a very good number for a Camp and
47 species were found breeding/nesting by the 34 campers. Once again Greg
Clancy organised the camp well; Anne Mannion was the person who located and
arranged the camp site; Pam Durie was a great housekeeper and the cooks,
Natalie and Jane Ison did an excellent job at feeding the troops. The Camp
was at the Oakhampton Cabins, formerly the Shearers Quarters and is located
along Oakhampton Creek. The facilities were ideal for our type of camp which
included 12 children. A Camp Concert was organised as well as spotlighting
expeditions, while a number of campers gave slide and power-point
presentations on matters of interest to the Campers. A great 10 days birding
and 66 atlas sheets completed & 20 ten minute blocks visited for the Birds
Australia Continuing Bird Atlas (Alan Morris).
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