We have just had a week touring the north-west slopes of NSW and saw some
great birds.
The shop-keeper at Burren Junction still sells great bacon and egg rolls but
he reported that the Grey-headed Lapwing had last been seen in November.
People had looked for it in December and January without success to his
knowledge. He said that it had been very dry when it disappeared but it was
also harvest-time and there was a lot of disturbance from trucks delivering
grain to the silos. There are still a large numbers of Plumed-whistling
Ducks at the dam behind the silos and lots of Cockatiels about.
Our trip started at Coolah Tops National Park and one of our first birds was
a Spotted Quail-thrush. The threat of a thunderstorm didn't stop us from
spotlighting. As well as a lot a Greater Gliders, we also saw a Sugar Glider
and a boobook just as the rain started. The farmers are no doubt very happy
but the rain dogged us for rest of the trip, even back to Sydney. Other
highlights where c. 6 Superb Parrots just east of Coonamble.
It was sad to see the extensive damage by the fires to Goonoo and Pilliga
forests including around the Aloes and the Salt Caves in the Pilliga. Some
roads are still blocked by fallen trees in both forests but we were also
hampered by the wet conditions. Along the Coonamble-Pilliga road we saw the
only 2 Glossy Black-Cockatoos for the trip.
Our journey ended at a fantastic and reasonably-priced farmstay at the foot
of Mt Kaputar. We sat on the verandah and enjoyed sun-downers while watching
Little Friarbirds, Singing Honeyeaters and Spotted Bowerbirds drink at a
small garden-pond and King Parrots feed on the berries of a nearby white
cedar. The Nandewar Ranges created the background.
Regards,
Allan Richards,
Glebe
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