FOLLOW THAT BIRD TOURS OUTING TO WATAGAN MOUNTAINS & LAKE MACQUARIE 4
FEBRUARY 2006
32 keen birders, including many new birdwatchers, headed for the Watagan
Mountains, located west of Lake Macquarie, on the NSW Central Coast on an
overcast but sunny morning, including two guides and drivers in two coaches
to sample the birding in the Lake Macquarie LGA. First stop was the Gap
Creek Road, in the Watagan NP section of the Mountains. Unfortunately once
we gained some height in the mountains the mists embraced us but plenty of
birds were calling and we soon located a number of Topknot Pigeons roosting
in some of the high rainforest trees. Bellminers were present all around us
and for some people this became the first time that they had seen such birds
up close. White-browed & Large-billed Scrub-wrens were seen and Brown
Cuckoo-Doves called and flew past us, while Lewin's Honeyeater, Rufous
Fantail, King Parrots and Wonga Pigeons were also located.
We moved onto the Gap Creek picnic area for morning tea where we had great
views of a family of Red-browed Treecreepers which could be viewed along
side a pair of White-throated Treecreepers. Other interesting birds here
found in the tall Blue Gums and rainforest trees were Yellow-faced
Honeyeaters, Golden Whistler, Black-faced Monarch, Brown & Striated
Thornbill, Grey Fantail, Eastern Spinebill and an obliging family of Crested
Shrike-tits that enabled all the relevant features of the different plumages
to be noted!
We moved onto the Pine Plantation in the State Forest section of the Ranges
and at the Pines Picnic Area, despite the now heavy mist and drizzle we were
able to participate in some good birding. Although the Superb Lyrebirds
could not be seen, the damp overcast weather had them singing about good
things to come and they gave a great audio background for our bird watching
and later during our lunch. Many of the species that they included in their
repertoire were observed in the vicinity including Yellow-tailed Black
Cockatoo, Pied Currawong, Eastern Yellow Robin & Black-faced Monarch. Other
birds seen here included Rose Robin, Rufous Fantail, Brown Gerygone,
Our final point of call was at Wood Point, on the western shores of Lake
Macquarie and within the Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area, where we
left the mist behind us but the weather had become generally overcast and
hot. However there were plenty of birds in the mangroves and casuarinas
along the banks of Pourmalong Creek and in the adjacent Forest Red Gum
woodland where both the Red Gums and Bloodwoods were in flower. Rainbow and
Scaly-breasted Lorikeets were moving and calling between flowering trees,
and overhead Welcome Swallows and a few White-throated Needletails were
feeding. In the woodland were Fantailed Cuckoo, Eastern Whipbird, Variegated
Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Yellow & Brown Thornbill, Rufous &
Golden Whistler and Dollarbird. Along the banks of the creek both Azure and
Sacred Kingfishers were located, Darters, Black Duck & Chestnut Teal, and
both Little Pied & Little Black Cormorants were roosting and feeding. Satin
Bowerbirds must have had a bower nearby as there were much coming and going,
and just as were leaving some protesting Noisy Miners and Grey Butcherbirds
led us to a pair of roosting Southern Boobooks in a dense grove of
casuarinas and gum tree saplings. Altogether a great days birding, many
people experienced close up views of species not seen before and it was a
good time of fellowship as well. 72 species were seen for the day (Alan
Morris).
--------------------------------------------
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
--------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message:
'unsubscribe birding-aus' (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
