Marnix - many years ago (8 or so) we found Rock Warblers on the very top
of Pigeon House Mountain, west of Ulladulla - very tame, almost hopping
around our feet midday when we had our picnic.
I went on a long roundtrip (350 kms) yesterday along the Cooma-Braidwood Rd
in south-east NSW. I had several targets - to look for the reported
Pheasant Coucal reported by Mike Jarman and to walk to the top of Badja
Trig in Deua National Park, hopefully to find a Rockwarbler.
I dipped on the Coucal and couldnt find what I thought would be considered
suitable habitat, at least along the road anyway. As in previous trips out
this way I had to stop twice for Spotted Quail-thrush leisurely crossing
the road. A surprise was coming across a pair of Diamond Firetails at
Jinden 7 TSR deep in the valley nestled below the mountains.
>From the summit of Badja Trig (1362m) I could hear a Cicadabird in a valley
far below while White-eared Honeyeaters and Satin Bowerbirds were present
in the dense flowering tea-tree scrub covering the rocky summit. On a clear
day Montague Island is visible off the south coast. I had close up views
of several Superb Lyrebirds and a Wedge-tailed Eagle soared on the winds
above the peak putting a pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos to flight. Other birds
seen included Grey Currawongs. I was hoping to find Rockwarblers but
dipped. There didnt seem to be enough exposed rock to suit them. I suspect
if there are any left down in Deua the place to look would be Euranbene
Mountain, but this is a much further walk (or 4WD only), or Tabletop and
Mother Woila Mountains. Does anyone know what the current status of this
isolated Rockwarbler population is?
A brief stop along Badja Forest Rd in Badja State Forest yielded Rufous
Fantail, Crescent Honeyeater and Eastern Whipbird. There were several Tree
Martins near the start to the Slap Up Fire Trail in Gourock NP and along
Jinden Creek I found many Water Dragons and a Dollarbird.
Cheers
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