Yesterday (Saturday, 22nd October 2005), David
Mitford and I spent a day’s birding around the NSW Hunter region visiting
both Myall Lakes and
Barrington Tops NP (approx. 250-300 km north of Sydney CBD).
At Myall Lakes NP, we visited the Mungo Brush campsite hoping that the 2 Radjah
Shelducks seen recently were still about but with no
sign of them at all (it would have been a lifer for David and a NSW tick for
me). We did see however around Mungo Brush both Wonga and Topknot Pigeons, Bar-shouldered Doves,
Channel-billed Cuckoos, Sacred Kingfishers, great views of one of two male Cicadabirds, Rufous Fantail, several
Blue-faced and Scarlet Honeyeaters, Olive-backed Orioles, heaps of Figbirds, 3 species of corvid
(Forest and Australian Ravens as well as Torressian
Crows) and heard Green Catbirds in the rainforest.
By mid morning, we then drove to Dungog
and into the southern section of Barrington Tops NP were at Jerusalam
Creek we saw nesting Pale-yellow Robins (this is about the southern extent of
this birds range in NSW), several Brown Cuckoo-doves on the road, Black-faced
Monarchs, several Leaden Fycatchers (3 males seen
together), Crested Shrike-tits, Rose Robins, Sacred Kingfishers, Satin
Bowerbirds (one male with bower), Superb Lyrebirds and what was most likely a Russet-tailed
Thrush (considering the altitude) giving a few alarm calls. However we failed
to see any Paradise Riflebirds which David was hoping to see as they have been
seen displaying low on the stumps in rainforest at Jerusalam
Creek (this being the closest locality to Sydney to see
these nice birds). We did also see some other nice wild life along the forestry
road that runs between the Barrington Tops NP and Teleghery
Forest Park including 2 Red-necked Pademelons,
several Eastern Water Dragons, Lace Monitors and a nice Red-bellied
Black-snake.
On our way back (with a huge storm brewing later in the
afternoon) we spotted a Collared Sparrowhawk with
prey in its talons (which may have been heading back towards its nest!) and a
few hundred Cattle Egrets (in glorious breeding plumage) were nesting in Seaham NR as we headed closer to Newcastle.
A nice day in the Hunter!
Edwin Vella
