Following on from Chris and Deane's photos and notes from our recent trip to
Cessnock, Wollongong, Ulladulla and Barren Grounds, I thought others may be
interested in a very snippets. My 100-400mm lens started playing up, so I
didn't get too many photos...Chris and Deane will (hopefully) put more shots on
BA though.
I would recommend to anyone to try and get onto the pelagics organized by SOSSA
from Wollongong and Ulladulla. The winter day trips from the Gong always
deliver albatrosses......we had dozens of wandering type albies...many banded
on the Sandra K....this is a highlight seeing thgese amazing birds so closely.
You get to help if you want also. I think Deane took a pic of Jack holding a
14kg exulans (Snowy Albatross) .The Ulladulla boat is very comfortable and a
live aboard boat ideal for the purpose. Accommodation and food is excellent
also. Janice is organizing 4 per year now I think, so feel free to contact
SOSSA through their website for future bookings. Jack's new bird for tghe
Ulladulla leg was White-faced Storm-Petrel.
Cessnock was amazing...more specifically Werakata NP (Kitchener
section)....Jack will have the full report on www.mywidebay.com shortly but
honeyeaters were amazing......3 Regent Honeyeaters...best, but heaps of
Yellow-tufted, Yellow-faced etc also. I think that I got reasonable shots of
Regent HE but they are still on the camera. Met Alan Morris , the legend
himself, at Kitchener which was ahighlight in itself.
But better still was Budderoo NP adjacent Barren Grounds near Wollongong. On
the advice of Peter Marsh, we focussed on there rather than BG. Excellent
advice. The heath is lower at Budderoo and the birds more prolific. Jack's new
birds included Pilotbirds (first fire track); Ground Parrots (2 seen
brilliantly in perfect morning light...second view for over 2 seconds...even
turning around showing it's red cere!) ; Southern Emu-Wrens (10 plus and showed
well...Jack's bird of the trip);
Eastern Bristlebirds (7....one pished for a photo op...Deane's pic!); Gang
Gangs (2 only though feeding above us on the second fire track); Crescent
Honeyeater (surprizingly hard and only 1 female seen ...from 3 metres away
though)
The non-birding highlight undoubtedly was a Brush-tailed Phasogale near the
entrance to Jamberoo Lodge near Barren Grounds. It ran across the road about
20m away from us....fantastic. The non-wildlife experience of the trip was snow
at Armidale NSW...even had a snowball fight!
Thanks to Jack, Deane, Peter Marsh, Lindsay and Janice from
Wollongong........brilliant 3000km roadtrip from Bundaberg. Jack is now on 669
Australian birds.
Cheers,
Bill
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