I have just returned from a trip to Brisbane when I spent a couple of
days birding in the Rainforests of the NSW border country on the way
up from Armidale.
Best spot for birds turned out to be the Murray Scrub walk in the
Toonumbar NP. The birds were very shy, perhaps because the place sees
relatively few visitors -- though it was Saturday, I had the walk
entirely to myself. There were plenty of giant fig-trees in fruit and
there were good numbers of pigeons -- many more calling than could be
glimpsed satisfactorily, of course. But I had good views of Wompoo
and Topknot Pigeons, Emerald and Brown Cuckoo Doves; there were
Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves calling, one of which I managed a sighting
of, and others that I believe were Superb Fruit-doves, though I saw
none and am not familiar with the calls. Plenty of Figbirds, Orioles
and Bower Birds around (Satin and Regent), Pale Yellow Robin, as well
as most of the commoner rainforest species (3 species of Scrub-wren,
Catbird etc).
The Border Ranges NP (next day) is a spectacular place to be, if the
birding is difficult in rainforest so dense. The Albert's Lyrebirds
were calling in many spots, but impossible to see -- as I gather they
usually are. Along the Brindle Creek Track there seemed to be few
trees in fruit, and few pigeons were calling -- I never heard a single
Wompoo. Catbirds were plentiful and I found Logrunners at one spot. I
also got a glimpse of a male Riflebird, and two very good views of
females -- possibly the same bird twice.
Finally, at the Moore Park NR (at Old Grevillia) the rainforest had
been virtually taken over by a huge colony of Fruit-bats, and only the
Orioles and Cuckoo-shrikes seemed willing to compete. However at the
shrub-level I found an immature Spectacled Monarch (I was quite
mystified by its white lores until I consulted the field-guides
subsequently). It was very confiding and gave me excellent views. It
may of course have been hatched in the Border Ranges NP just up the
valley, rather than in the NR itself.
John Clifton-Everest
==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
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