Saturday Bird Walk at Ogunbil  27/9/25

Thornton’s Road was our first stop and we were a little doubtful about seeing too many birds as some of the trees and bushes had been cleared by flooding or intentionally.  The birds had different views and soon there were Honeyeaters, Silvereyes, Pardalotes and Thornbills among others.  Two Shining Bronze-Cuckoos were the highlight, while in the distance a Black-shouldered Kite and a Nankeen Kestrel were circling for prey.  Thirty-one species was a pleasant surprise after a slow start.

Next stop – Ogunbil TSR, a lovely spot with open grazing area, a babbling creek and very curious cows!  We followed the bank of the creek parallel to the road and soon heard the calls of a Rufous Songlark, multiple Little Corellas, a Red Wattlebird and a Noisy Friarbird.  Eric was keeping a watchful eye on us from the top bank of the creek.  After morning tea we wandered in the opposite direction spotting a Collared Sparrowhawk disappearing into the distance, while some White-winged Choughs were busy at the nest and Dusky Woodswallows flitted from tree to tree.  Our first Dollarbird for the season also put in a welcome appearance. The site total came to thirty-five by the time we packed up after lunch.  By this time, Joan had deserted us to go home to a sad defeat of the Geelong Cats!

Our final part of the day was spent along the Dungowan Dam Road which had been closed for long periods due to TRC work at the dam site.  We drove for about 3 kilometres from the foot of the Port Stephens Cutting junction and wandered along the road edges with a chat to the curious farmer who came to check us out.  The variety of birds along this area impressed us greatly and we all felt it will be worth return visits.  New birds for the day included Grey Shrike-thrush, Yellow Robin, Restless Flycatcher, White-throated Treecreeper, Striated Thornbills, Black-face Cuckoo-shrike and a bloody Grey Fantail with a total of thirty-four birds.

The total for this extremely enjoyable day was sixty-one species as listed below.

Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Little Black Cormorant, White-faced Heron, Black-shouldered Kite, Collared Sparrowhawk, Nankeen Kestrel, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dollarbird, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Striated Thornbill, Yellow Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Dusky Woodswallow, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, White-winged Chough, Jacky Winter, Eastern Yellow Robin, Rufous Songlark, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch, Red-browed Finch.

Terri

Eric by Terri

Tuesday Bird Walk around Calala  23/9/25

On Tuesday 23 September, 14 TBW members and 1 guest met at the IGA carpark at Calala to see what birds were around the area. Our guest was Betty Reed, a former member, who was looking forward to catching up with other members, and of course seeing the local birds. Our first stop was the new subdivision up from Goonoo Goonoo Creek, near the new roundabout on Calala Lane, and there James caught up with us, making the group a total of 16.

Along the creek, we could see Welcome Swallows and Tree Martins, as well as the perennial Rainbow Lorikeets and Willie Wagtails. We walked up Cormorant Ave, to see if we could find any Chestnut-breasted Mannikins, or indeed any finches, but sadly they were in hiding. However the Golden-headed Cisticola was happy to pose for photos, in his breeding colours, and others could be heard calling nearby.

On the way back down to the creek, we checked out (from a distance!) the local Mistletoebird’s nest, with the residents not far away. A White-necked Heron was flying overhead, and the Noisy Miners were vocal. We were then lucky to see a female White-winged Triller in the cedars near the creek – I had seen the male the previous week, so it was good to see the female as well. A Black-shouldered Kite flew over, and Mandy was lucky enough to see the Flame Robin, which I often record in the area.

As we walked back to Calala Lane, the Reed Warbler was calling, and a small group of us went across the bridges, still hoping to see the Mannikins, but only Superb Fairy-wrens were hiding in the brambles. White as well as Straw-necked Ibis were in the paddock, along with the Masked Lapwing. James rejoined us, and he had been lucky enough to see Red-browed Finches in their usual spot, so it was nice to know they hadn’t been frightened off by the group.

After morning tea in my backyard, we went to the end of Campbell Rd, to see what was at Calala Creek. It was great to see many large old trees there, with lots of nesting hollows, which were being utilized by Little Corellas and Eastern Rosellas, amongst others. An Australasian Grebe was floating down the creek, and an impressive number of Wood Ducks were on the banks and in the paddocks. Red-rumped Parrots were also around, and a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike was sitting on the fence. A quick glimpse of the local Whistling Kite put the finishing touch on a very enjoyable morning.

Birds recorded:

New subdivision: Welcome Swallow, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie-lark, Willie Wagtail, Little Corella, Pied Currawong, Mistletoebird + nest, White-plumed Honeyeater, Tree Martin, White-necked Heron, Noisy Miner, Crested Pigeon, Australian Magpie ,Australian Wood Duck, Superb Fairy-wren, White-winged Triller (female), Noisy Friarbird, White-faced Heron, Golden-headed Cisticola, Nankeen Kestrel, Black-shouldered Kite, Galah, Flame Robin, Eastern Rosella, Reed Warbler, White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, Masked Lapwing, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo,Pacific Black Duck, Red-browed Finch. (31 species)

Campbell Rd: Australian Magpie-lark, Little Corella, Noisy Miner, Spotted Dove, Common Starling, Masked Lapwing, Eastern Rosella, Australian Magpie, Australian Wood Duck, White-faced Heron, Crested Pigeon, Grey Butcherbird ,Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Raven, Red-rumped Parrot, Straw-necked Ibis, Willie Wagtail, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Whistling Kite, Indian Myna, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, House Sparrow, Brown Honeyeater. (26 species)

Total Species recorded: 42

Jan

Golden-headed Cisticola Terri M

Tuesday Bird Walk in Moore Creek Caves Reserve  9/9/25

Ten of us ignored the weather forecast and turned up for the Tuesday Walk, meeting at the dam on the end of Maysteers Lane.  Though outside the public reserve we like to check this dam out. Here we spotted 13 species.  The highlight was a group of 5 Australian Wood Ducks accompanying 9 baby ducklings.  Later we also spotted 2 Masked Lapwings with 4 juveniles.  Spring has begun.

On the reserve itself we walked up the main track, as usual, then returned to relax under the trees for morning tea.  Here we counted a huge flock of Straw-necked Ibis flying over from the comfort of our chairs.  After packing up we drove down the other track to a spot near Moore Creek.  Two Yellow-throated Gerygones were cavorting in a huge Pepper Tree and a flock of Musk Lorikeets flew overhead.  It was lovely to be able to walk quite a way along the creek as it’s not been possible for a few years. A very unexpected sighting was a group of 4 Figbirds, enjoying the fruit in a large Cedar Tree.

Though overcast – not good for bird identification, we recorded 30 species on the reserve.

Dam outside the Reserve (at the end of Maysteers Lane).

Wood Ducks with 9 ducklings, Galahs, Dusky Moorhen , Australasian Grebes, Tree Martins, Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Australian Magpie, Eastern Rosella, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater. Masked Lapwings, + 4 juveniles, Willie Wagtail, Rufous Whistler, Common Starling. 13 species

Moore Creek Caves Reserve

Striated Pardalote, Grey Shrike-thrush, Mistletoebird, White-plumed Honeyeater, Australian Magpie, Rufous Songlark, Rufous Whistler, Crested Pigeon, Yellow Thornbill, Eastern Rosellas, Galah, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Superb Fairywrens, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Grey Butcherbird, Laughing Kookaburras, Australian Raven, Straw-necked Ibis, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Pied Butcherbird, White-throated Gerygone, Musk Lorikeet, Pacific Black Duck, Yellow Robin, Olive-backed Oriole, Australasian Figbirds. 30 species

Jean and Margaret

Australasian Figbird  Jean

Saturday Bird Walk to Tarpoly and Borah TSR  30/8/25

On a freezing, blowy Saturday morning we were pleased to be joined by guest Linda who found us via the club website.  Perhaps she brought out the birds to greet her as we were lucky enough to see a great variety at the two sites.  No sooner had we pulled up than we saw two Australasian Shovelers on the dam, although they didn’t stay for long!  We headed up the hill to circle around the back of the dam but it was so windy that it was hard to see or hear anything with feathers.  Luckily it did ease off a little in time to spot a Brown Goshawk heading away from us.  After crossing the road down into the gully, we were delighted to find a pair of Hooded Robins, Turquoise Parrot and Joan’s favourite Crested Shrike-tit.

Morning tea was a little late as the birding had been excellent after the cold start. We continued to Borah TSR, sent Nat in to check the access road and took up our usual (slightly) sheltered parking spots.  It didn’t take long to add some to our list – Common Bronzewing, White-browed Scrubwren and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike. After lunch we left Joan hiding in the car and followed the creek downstream flushing out a group of Turquoise Parrots, a Speckled Warbler and a pair of White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike.  Another Crested Shrike-tit, a Fuscous Honeyeater and a Golden Whistler rounded off an excellent winter bird list.

Tarpoly list: Australian Wood Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Grey Teal, Australasian Grebe, Peaceful Dove, Brown Goshawk, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Musk Lorikeet, Red-rumped Parrot, Turquoise Parrot, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Brown Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, Speckled Warbler, Weebill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, White-plumed Honeyeater, Crested Shrike-tit, Grey Shrike-thrush, Dusky Woodswallow, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Magpie-lark, White-winged Chough, Jacky Winter, Hooded Robin, Rufous Songlark, Tree Martin.

Borah TSR list: Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Common Bronzewing, Little Pied Cormorant, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Turquoise Parrot, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Speckled Warbler, Striated Pardalote, Fuscous Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, White-bellied cuckoo-shrike, Crested Shrike-tit, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Dusky Woodswallow, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, White-winged Chough, Eastern Yellow Robin.

Terri

Tuesday Bird Walk at ‘Chough’s Roost’  26/8/25

‘Chough’s Roost’ is a wildlife sanctuary that has been developed by Baids McIntyre, a former member of our club.  She has planted thousands of native trees and shrubs and has turned bare paddocks with the occasional large tree into dense woodland.  The wide variety of plants provide shelter and food for a large number of insects, animals, reptiles and birds.  Baids has also enlarged a farm dam to become a U shaped lagoon which even attracts Pelicans at times.

We saw 39 species of birds but the highlight of the morning was the wonderful surroundings. There was birdsong all around us, the many wattles were in full bloom and I commented that you couldn’t see the birds for the trees!  We were shown one area under power lines where Baids had planted an absolute thicket of medium sized natives to demonstrate that it is quite possible to do so without causing a problem to the wires.

A lot of the birds were really quiet, including the Shrike-thrush nesting in one of the buildings. Baids puts out seed for finches. There were three varieties there feeding as we passed. At morning tea, Baids told us a little about all the work she has done and the groups that come to visit Chough’s Roost. She had a Grey Shrike-thrush and an Eastern Yellow Robin come and take meal worms out of her hand.

We visited the lagoon after that and we all had such a good time that we didn’t leave until well after midday.

The bird list:  Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Crested Pigeon, Noisy Friarbird, Brush Cuckoo, Fantail Cuckoo, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Red-winged Parrot, Australian King-Parrot, Superb Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Striated Pardalote, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Shrike-thrush, Dusky Woodswallow, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Magpie-lark, White-winged Chough, Eastern Yellow Robin, Rufous Songlark, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin, Mistletoebird, Diamond Firetail, Zebra Finch, Red-browed Finch, Double-barred Finch, House Sparrow.

Annabel

Tuesday Bird Walk around Windmill Estate  12/8/25

The first thing we noticed when we started our walk was the lack of the usual water birds.  After the recent heavy rain the water in the dam was very brown looking.  Terri was heard to remark that if she was a duck she wouldn’t swim in there either!

As we started, our list soon grew and we ended up with 38 species with 2 breeding records.

A Pied Butcherbird was calling and the Welcome Swallows were busy doing their usual graceful fly-by after their insects.  Magpie-larks were seen building their nests as were the Fairy Martins seen later on, all busy building their bottle shaped nests under the eaves of a nearby house.

After an extended morning tea spent lapping up the lovely warm sunshine we drove down to the 2nd part of our walk.  We were all disappointed to see a large tract of land already cleared and fenced off for the next phase of the housing estate.  It was in this area that the Fairy Martins were staking their claim to the best location overlooking the dams that hopefully will still be part of this lovely area.  It was in this area that we found the Zebra Finch (with young) and the Double-barred Finch all sitting together on the fence enjoying the sunshine.

Earlier in the morning a raptor was seen in the distance being seriously harassed by what we thought, by their calls, were a large number of Australian Ravens and one of the last birds listed was a Brown Falcon which appeared in the area where earlier the raptor was being attacked, also here we saw a White-faced Heron perched in a dead tree surveying its space and was later joined by a White-necked Heron.

The little dam here was cleaner and we found Grey Teal, Australian Wood Duck, Australasian Grebe and one little Black-fronted Dotterel.

Birds seen: Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Spotted Dove, Crested Pigeon, White- necked Heron, White-faced Heron, Straw-necked Ibis, Brown Falcon, Black-fronted Dotterel, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Fairy-wren, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, White-plumed Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Magpie-lark (nest building), Welcome Swallow, Fairy Martin (nest building), Common Blackbird, Common Starling, Common Myna, Zebra Finch, (yon), Double-barred Finch. House Sparrow.

Joan

Tuesday Bird Walk near Woonooka  22/7/25

On a cool, but pleasant winter morning, a group of 10 birdwatchers met in Woonooka for our second visit to the area. Our first port of call was to a 5 acre property, which on our arrival, was alive with bird song and avian action! The garden is very bird friendly, with plenty of native vegetation, large and small, and containing sheltered areas for the smaller birds. 26 species were recorded, the most exciting being Red-winged Parrots, who appeared unfazed by our presence, and posed for us for a good while. A very fruitful visit and enjoyed by all.

Birds seen at Woonooka: Galah, Crested Pigeon, Apostlebird, Willie Wagtail, Superb Fairy wren, Double-barred Finch, Red-winged Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Noisy Miner, Australian Magpie, Magpie lark, Common (Indian) Myna, Australian King-Parrot, Striated Pardalote, Silvereye, Grey Shrike-thrush, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Grey Fantail, Pied Butcherbird, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow-rumped Thornbill.

We then set off down the road to Moore Creek, which bounds the northern side of Woonooka. After a relaxing morning tea, we set off to explore the area. We were greeted by some Laughing Kookaburras and Welcome Swallows, and a pair of Black-winged Kites ‘frolicking’ in a dead river oak on the riverbank. The resident Tawny Frogmouth eluded us, sadly, although a good number of species were observed, despite the weather closing in.

Birds seen at Moore Creek: Laughing Kookaburra, Welcome Swallow, Superb Fairy-wren, Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Australian Raven, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Black-shouldered Kite, Crested Pigeon, Noisy Miner, Red Wattlebird, Maned Duck(Australian Wood Duck), Straw-necked Ibis, Red-rumped Parrot, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Grey Shrike-thrush, Galah, Red-browed Finch, Rainbow Lorikeet, Eastern Rosellas, White-plumed Honeyeater.

Sue

Tuesday Bird Walk at Macpherson’s, Daruka Road  8/7/25

With a number of our members away, it was a smaller group who visited the Macpherson’s property for the third time. Our connection with this place goes back further however, as it used to be owned by a past President of our club and older members have pleasant memories of sitting on the veranda there, watching the birdbath.

We had a cold, mainly overcast day for this visit, but at least there wasn’t any wind. Honeyeaters abounded. It is a reliable site for Fuscous Honeyeaters and they were there in large numbers. We also recorded, Spiny-cheeked, Brown, Striped, White-plumed and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters as well as Noisy Friarbirds, Noisy Miners, Red Wattle-birds and an Eastern Spinebill.

There wasn’t a lot of other birds there. An immature Olive backed Oriole added interest and we enjoyed the pair of Superb Fairy-wrens that bustled around bushes at morning tea. The only parrots seen were a pair of King Parrots, a Crimson Rosella and a flock of Lorikeets that flew over – either Musk or Rainbow – too high to be sure. The other birds of note were a large number of Dusky Woodswallows. They hung around all morning. Two are pictured here.

The day’s bird list follows: Crested Pigeon, Lorikeet sp., Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, White-throated Treecreeper(h), Superb Fairy-wren, Yellow Thornbill (h), Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Noisy Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole (imm), Dusky Woodswallow, Pied Butcherbird (h), Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven (h), Magpie-lark, Eastern Yellow Robin.

Annabel

Saturday Bird Walk around Quipolly Dams  28/6/25

We had a good roll up for our visit to the Quipolly Dams, including one potential new member. A second new person couldn’t come because he tested positive to Covid. It’s lovely to find new people interested in what we do. It was a lovely day and at times there wasn’t even a ripple on the water.

Our first stop was at the big dam, but to our surprise there wasn’t the usual wealth of birdlife there. There were a few ducks and cormorants, a group of pelicans on the far shore and lots of Australasian and Great Crested Grebe. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters welcomed us and we saw two Eastern Yellow Robin as we left. The most interesting sighting was a male Musk Duck in full display mode. The accompanying photo is not all that clear, but it does show how he has inflated the pouch under his neck and brought his tail forward over his back, so that the tail feathers form a sort of “crown” on top. This was accompanied by vigorous splashing.

Not a lot of birds at the little dam either, but the 17 Blue-billed Duck we found there made up for that. Only a few other ducks – Musk, Black and Hardhead, some Coot, Grebes and a couple of Black Swans shared the water with them. There was one lone White Ibis in a tree. I guess there is not much need to gather at Quipolly when there is so much other water around.

Our final spot, a nearby creek crossing, was new to the majority of our group and made a good lunch spot. It is a lovely place that we used to visit regularly. It was good to find more bush birds including some very vocal Scarlet Honeyeaters. We also had the first look in a long time at some White-naped Honeyeaters.

Birds seen at Quipolly Big Dam: Musk Duck (displaying), Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Peaceful Dove, Australian Pelican, Australasian Darter, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican, Eurasian Coot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Fairy-Wren, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, White-plumed Honeyeater, Willie Wagtail, Australian Magpie, Eastern Yellow Robin, Welcome Swallow, Double-barred Finch.

Birds seen at Quipolly Little Dam: Black Swan, Musk Duck, Blue-billed Duck, Hardhead, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Eurasian Coot, Australian White Ibis, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Pied Currawong, Australian Raven, Welcome Swallow.

Birds seen at Creek Crossing: Wedge-tailed Eagle, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, Brown Thornbill, Yellow Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australian Raven, Eastern Yellow Robin, Mistletoebird, Red-browed Finch.

Annabel

Tuesday Bird Walk at the Mountain Bike Park  24/6/25

A lovely cold winter’s morning for a wander around the tracks at the Tamworth Mountain Bike Park. As is usual in an area opposite the tip, we were greeted by Black Kites soon followed by a noisy flock of Rainbow Lorikeets. The best spot in the area is always the gully at the start of the walking tracks and the first part of the higher area. A Fan-tailed Cuckoo was soon followed by thirty or more Dusky Woodswallows wheeling around, then huddling in groups in the upper branches but it was the calls of the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater that dominated the area.

We took the fork up to the top of the ridge where there is a lookout over Tamworth – well worth the extra effort. We were rewarded on the way by a good view (at least through the telephoto lenses) of hundreds of Silver Gulls hanging around for a feed on the opposite slope of the tip.

Returning to the fork, a couple of tired twitchers kept going to the picnic area, while the rest of us followed the track across the creek. The weather seemed to be closing in, so we adjourned for morning tea under cover.

Birds seen: Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, Black Kite, Silver Gull, Rainbow Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Eastern Rosella, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Superb Fairy-wren, White-plumed Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Dusky Woodswallow, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Magpie-lark, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird.

Terri

Tuesday Bird Walk around Calala  17/6/25

On a cool overcast morning, 15 TBW members met at Calala IGA, from where we went down to the end of Campbell Road to see what was around. The Masked Lapwings were first to be recorded, followed by the local Magpies. Wood Ducks were plentiful, as were the Rainbow Lorikeets and Little Corellas. Five Kookaburras were sitting in nearby trees, along with some Eastern Rosellas, Little Black Cormorants flew through, but then we saw 3 Pelicans flying low over the creek, the best sighting for that area.

We then drove to the end of Gordon Street. A pair of Nankeen Kestrels greeted us there, sitting on the power pole, one of their favourite perches. As we walked across the paddock to the new development off Calala Lane, Pied Butcherbirds were calling, and 8 Straw-necked Ibis were circling down to feed. A Collared Sparrowhawk was then seen, carrying quite a large grey bird in its talons, possibly a Noisy Miner or pigeon. It was being attacked by quite a few other birds, including Magpie-Larks and Magpies, and looked almost like it was hit by one of them, as it flew down behind the bank out of sight.

Walking quietly down Cormorant Avenue in the newly developed area, we were hoping to see the Chestnut-breasted Mannikins, or indeed any finch, but they were nowhere to be seen. There were many Welcome Swallows and Tree Martins flying overhead, and some Peaceful Doves in the trees by Goonoo Goonoo Creek, but it wasn’t until we went around the corner into the unfinished street aptly named Firetail Avenue that we started to see finches, including the Red-browed and Double-barred, and finally the Chestnut-breasted Mannikins. These perched quite obligingly so that everyone could get a good look, and some photos, before flying off into the paddock.

A quick walk up to Calala Lane yielded a Great Egret and a Yellow-billed Spoonbill, before we climbed the bank of the Water Treatment Works, to see what was on the dam. A pair of Wood Ducks with their 8 ducklings were a delight to see, as they made their way across the dam to get away from all the gawking people! A Torresian Crow could be heard calling, and a Brown Goshawk was briefly sighted, then finally a Golden-headed Cisticola was heard calling before we all headed back the way we came, to go back to my back yard for a welcome hot cuppa.

After morning tea, a smaller group of us went to the end of Graham Street, to do a circuit of the paddock, up past the olive grove and back along Myrl Street. This rewarded us with sightings of a Dusky Moorhen, Grey Teal, a Black Kite, and a Black-shouldered Kite hovering over the grasslands, and we ended with a further 8 species to add to our list. In all, 50 species were recorded, so a very good day!

Species seen

Campbell Road: Masked Lapwing, Magpie, Rainbow Lorikeet, Wood Duck, Spotted Dove, Little Corella, Noisy Miner, Starling, Eastern Rosella, Galah, Little Black Cormorant, Kookaburra, Magpie-lark, Australian Raven, Pelican, Musk Lorikeet, Red-rumped Parrot, Straw-necked Ibis.

Gordon Street to Calala Lane: Nankeen Kestrel, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Galah, Pied Butcherbird, Magpie-lark, Straw-necked Ibis, Magpie, Superb Fairy-wren, Collared Sparrowhawk, Crested Pigeon, Pied Currawong, Noisy Miner, Tree Martin, Welcome Swallow, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Kookaburra, Masked Lapwing, Peaceful Dove, Willie Wagtail, Red-browed Finch, Double-barred Finch, Mistletoebird, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Little Black Cormorant, White-plumed Honeyeater, Grey Shrike-thrush, Wood Duck plus 8 ducklings, Torresian Crow, Rainbow Lorikeet, Eastern Rosella, Black Duck, Great Egret, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Little Corella, Brown Goshawk, Golden-headed Cisticola.

Graham Street loop: Crested Pigeon, Magpie-lark, Eastern Rosella, Spotted Dove, Common Myna, Little Corella, Magpie, Rainbow Lorikeet, Straw-necked Ibis, Noisy Miner, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Pied Butcherbird, Grey Teal, Dusky Moorhen, Starling, Kookaburra, Superb Fairy-wren, Australian Raven, Tree Martin, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Currawong, Golden-headed Cisticola, Black Kite, Willie Wagtail, Brown Honeyeater, Nankeen Kestrel, Double-barred Finch, Torresian Crow, Blackbird, White-plumed Honeyeater, Sparrow, Black-shouldered Kite, Red-rumped Parrot.

Jan

Tuesday Outing in Kingswood Reserve  10/6/2025

A group of 10 hardy members (foolhardy?) and 1 visitor collected at the cricket ground on an overcast cold morning.  Our visitor, Kerry, was a local resident who had helped with the plantings in the reserve, turning open farmland into a bird-friendly refuge.  Fortunately, the wind was much reduced from yesterday’s chilly blast but it was still cold.  We were greeted by a flock of 26 Crested Pigeons feeding on the oval. This was to be the hallmark of the day, more larger birds recorded than the small birds usually seen here.

We were also greeted by some King Parrots feeding on berries on a shrub in the adjacent garden corner.  There were also a number of Noisy Miners while on the next-door field a flock of 12 Eastern Rosellas was feeding on the turf.  Red-rumped Parrots were there too.

We walked along the path into the open-woodland zone, here there were more Noisy Miners and not much else till we spotted a pair of Grey Butcherbirds.  Further along we walked beside the acacia thickets, normally home to lots of small birds but there were none there today.  Then we saw a couple of wrens and spotted two large black-and white birds flying over a nearby paddock.  One alighted in view and proved to be a White-necked Heron.  In the same area a flock of 12 Straw-necked Ibis flew away.

Up the gentle gradient we went and were rewarded by a small tree with active Yellow Thornbills, five in all.  A pond in a backyard gave us a pair of Masked Lapwings and a Willie Wagtail.  Then we found a eucalypt in flower where we saw a Red Wattlebird, a Little Friarbird and a pair of White-plumed Honeyeaters.  Another nearby backyard gave us five species, more wrens, at least eight, six Red-rumps, a pair of Magpie-larks, a pair of Sparrows and a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater.  On the other side of the mown area in a small shrub was a group of Superb Fairy-wrens with two males in full colour.

We took a short-cut back, along the houses’ fence line thinking that there was more food for birds in gardens than in the reserve.  However, we didn’t find much in the way of birdlife, only a lone pair of Grey Fantails and lots of assertive dogs.  Back at the cars there were more King Parrots, five were feeding in the scrub.  We had morning tea there, the wind had dropped and it wasn’t so cold now.  We were visited here by a friendly Magpie, he came right up to us and walked around the chairs and legs.  Obviously he was looking to be fed but went hungry.

In total we saw 30 species, we thought this was a good result for a poor sort of a day.  However we saw no finches, the first time I have been here without seeing any.  Also Yellow-rumped Thornbills are normally common here but not today, zero was the score.  The most common bird recorded was the Crested Pigeon with 38 followed by the Red-rumped Parrot at 25 and the Superb Fairy-wren with 22 seen.

Birds seen today: White-necked Heron, Straw-necked Ibis, Masked Lapwing, Crested Pigeon, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Australian King Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Superb Fairywren, Yellow Thornbill, Red Wattlebird, Little Friarbird, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, White-plumed Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Australian Raven, House Sparrow, Welcome Swallow, Common Blackbird, Common Starling.

Euan

Saturday Bird Walk Wallaby Trap and Wandobah Reserve, Gunnedah 31/5/25

We had a great day birdwatching at the Wallaby Trap and along the Wandobah Road. For our morning bird watching we went to the Wallaby Trap. We had a lovely wander around the area, seeing and hearing a variety of birds. Some of the interesting sightings were 10 Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters and of course the female White-Winged Fairy-wren.  Another lovely sighting was a Yellow-rumped Thornbill which I hadn’t seen for ages.  Our total for the Wallaby Trap was 25.  Nice number for the morning and as we missed morning tea, we ate our lunch before moving on.

Birds seen: Noisy Miner Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Raven, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote, Galah, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, Grey Butcherbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Double-barred Finch, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Yellow Thornbill, Zebra Finch, Pied Butcherbird, White-winged Fairy-wren (F) (h), Purple-backed Fairy-wren, Brown Thornbill, Eastern Rosella. Singing Honeyeater, Mistletoebird, Crested Pigeon, Noisy Friarbird, Musk Lorikeet.

Our next stop was along the Wandobah Road.  We had a wonderful walk in amongst the trees and along the gully.  It was all lush and green after the rain, so it was looking very good.  There was a nice sighting of a Wedge-tailed Eagle and 10 Superb Fairy-wrens.  Wandobah Reserve GPS 34-59 South by 150-14-21 West.

Birds seen: Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Grey Fantail, Brown Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote, Crested Pigeon, Rainbow Lorikeet, Grey Butcherbird, Superb Fairy-wren 4 M 6 F, Yellow Thornbill, Galah, Common Myna, Red-rumped Parrot, Wood Duck, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Pied Butcherbird, Eastern Rosella, Australian Magpie, Mistletoebird.

Louise

Warren Campout – 28 April –2 May 2025

Nine members of Tamworth Birdwatchers enjoyed a campout in the Warren district at the end of April. The object of the trip was to visit local wetlands – the Tiger Bay wetlands in Warren and the Macquarie Marshes, about 100 kms north of Warren.

When organising the trip, I was told that this would be a good time to come because an environmental flow is usually sent down the Macquarie River in April. Unfortunately, this flow wasn’t ordered this year, so we arrived to find very little water and not many water birds. This didn’t stop us having a very enjoyable time, however.

Almost all of us gathered at the Macquarie Caravan Park on the Monday evening. Louise didn’t arrive until Tuesday morning thanks to mechanical problems and Maureen elected to meet us at Willie Retreat later in the week.

Tuesday was our best birding day as we spent it at the Tiger Bay wetlands adjacent to our caravan park. There are two circular tracks there on either side of the road with bird hides on each. We took the easterly one first, optimistically saying we would be back at the carpark by morning tea. Eric didn’t come with us because he felt it might be a bit far, so he had a long wait. It must have taken us over two hours to get back as we recorded 41 species of birds. The best were a pair of Cockatiels and a large gathering of Black-fronted Dotterels. A Whistling Kite oversaw everything from the top of a tree and there was a good cross section of both bush and wetland birds.

That continued when we took the second loop. Many of the same birds here, but a Striped Honeyeater at its nest took our eye, and the flock of Plum-headed Finches in a bush by the water nicely ended our time there. We had a very late lunch and a quiet afternoon, although four of us walked across to the
Macquarie River later. On the way back we came across the Spotted Bowerbird and Grey-crowned Babblers that live in the caravan park. Eric and I had seen the babblers the previous day, playing with the aerial on top of a car.

We moved camp on Wednesday, driving the 106kms up the Carinda Road to Willie Retreat in the Macquarie Marshes. There we had a lovely area to camp in, plus good showers and toilets. It is on a private property but is only a few kms from the Monkeygar crossing on Gibson Way where a viewing platform allows you to see over the thick reed beds. We visited this after setting up our camps. It was disappointing to see only a few birds but the large numbers of Shelduck caught our attention and there were a few Pelicans, Ibis and Egret. I heard a Little Grassbird and Zebra Finch were building a nest in the frame of the platform.

In the afternoon it was time to visit the Burrima Boardwalk, 26 kms to the north. A group of locals joined together to purchase this land which is adjacent to the Nature Reserve. The Reserve is not open to the public, so by constructing this boardwalk, people are now able to get to the edge of the Reserve. Once again there was very little water and few birds, but it is an interesting way to see the marsh ecosystem. Eric found a snakeskin at one stage, but we didn’t come across a real one luckily. The walk went for over two kms through trees, with pools here and there throughout. We saw a Grey Shrike-thrush and a Brown
Treecreeper as we walked. A viewing platform adjacent to the Reserve gave expansive views over reed beds.

On our final day, we spent the morning birding around Willie Retreat itself. Numbers of Jacky Winters and some Brown Treecreepers hung around our camp and Red-winged Parrots made a visit. We walked around the nearby paddocks seeing woodland birds such as Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, Striated Pardalotes, a Mistletoe bird, Rufous Whistlers and Australian Ringnecks. The best was a lovely, very colourful, Red-capped Robin and his mate. It proved hard to photograph though, due to all the nearby twigs confusing the camera’s focusing.

A final outing was to ‘The Mole’ – where the owners of Willie Retreat live. They very kindly gave us permission to bird in their paddocks. We went to two. One had swamps in the paddock, so choked with reeds, that the best we saw was a Purple Swamphen. Their Lake Paddock proved interesting. We walked through Bimblebox woodland, not realising there really was a lake until we saw a large flock of Black Duck coming in to land. On investigating, we found a delightful little lake with Black Swans, White-faced Heron, Black Duck and a distant Black-fronted Dotterel. A Restless Flycatcher, Rufous Whistler, and Fairy-wrens were nearby. The distinctive call of the White-winged Fairy-wren was heard, but no sign of the male.
It was a fitting end to our trip as most of us were leaving the next morning. We had a great group of people and the socialising over lunch and at our traditional Happy Hour added to the enjoyment. Thanks to Jean, Gary, Maureen, Terri, Gerry, Richard, Louise and Eric for being a part of it.

A list of all the birds seen during the campout follows: Emu, Australian Shelduck, Black Swan, Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Rock Dove, Crested Pigeon, Peaceful Dove, Australian Darter, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican, White-necked Heron, Great Egret, Plumed Egret, Cattle Egret, White-faced Heron, Australian White Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Black-shouldered Kite, Whistling Kite, Black Kite, Swamp Harrier, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Black-fronted Dotterel, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cockatiel, Eastern Rosella, Australian Ringneck (Mallee), Red-rumped Parrot, Laughing Kookaburra, Brown Treecreeper, Spotted Bowerbird, Superb Fairy-wren, White-winged Fairy-wren (heard only), White-browed Scrubwren, Weebill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Spotted Pardalote, Singing Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Yellow-throated Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Little Raven, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Apostlebird, Jacky Winter, Red-capped Robin, Little Grassbird (heard only), Australian Reed-warbler, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin, Common Starling, Zebra Finch, Plum-headed Finch.

Annabel

Tuesday Bird Walk Woolomin  22/4/25

What beautiful autumn weather we have in our area, and we all agreed on that as we enjoyed the sunshine out at Woolomin Reserve.

As usual here the Satin Bowerbirds were early on our list of 35 species.  The Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were calling, and we loved seeing the Superb Fairy-wren hopping all over the paths in front of us.

Down by the water we found two Robins.  First the Eastern Yellow Robin then a Rose Robin.  This one had to be checked on Terri’s camera to verify so we made this one our bird of the day.  Also down here, Annabel was finally able to verify that she had been hearing the Scarlet Honeyeater when one very obligingly sat out in the open so as we could all admire this brightly coloured bird.

Listed are the birds seen: Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Peaceful Dove, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Musk Lorikeet, Australian King Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Brown Thornbill, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Red Wattlebird, Scarlet Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Golden Whistler, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Magpie-lark, Rose Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Welcome Swallow, Common Starling.

Joan

Tuesday Bird Walk Bective TSR  25/3/25

Unfortunately, it was a very overcast Tuesday with a couple of light shower thrown in.  New member John Downie joined us for his second outing, Penny Turner was able to make it as well to this relatively new site for our Tuesday outings and we were happy to welcome Maureen Marshall’s granddaughter Zara to the group. As soon as we pulled up outside the entry gate, we were greeted by a flock of Little Corellas – they followed us for the whole morning.

We parked above the river and started off along the banks of the Peel where the highlights were four Red-winged Parrots and fifty Tree Martins wheeling overhead. It didn’t take long before somebody gleefully pointed out a Grey Fantail for my enjoyment!

After morning tea, we made our way down the steep slope to the flatter area a little upstream where four Black Kites put on a great aerial display – wheeling and soaring in and out of the treetops.  There appeared to be a nest nearby but none of them approached it, so it was not possible to know whether it was connected. They also did not appear to be looking for prey – perhaps they were just enjoying themselves. We spectators certainly did too!

Birds seen:  Pacific Black Duck, Crested Pigeon, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, White-faced Heron, Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, Black Kite, Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon, Dusky Moorhen, Galah, Little Corella, Red-winged Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Fairy-wren, Noisy Miner, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Tree Martin, Common Starling, Double-barred Finch.

Terri

Tuesday Bird Walk at Dungowan Sports Ground  11/3/25

Tuesday morning, following Cyclone Alfred, started overcast, gloomy and with odd light showers around the area.  Eight members and two visitors met at the gate to the Dungowan Sportsground where the gate had to be opened to allow us all to enter and then closed again.  One of the resident horses has taken to jumping the ramp and escaping.

We headed off up along the Peel River wearing rain gear and sure enough, a small shower moved across but lucky for us it didn’t last long.  The birds were out in good number.  When we returned to the cars for morning tea, we had quite a list and we added a few more on the walk downstream and back.  As we packed up and left, again opening and closing the gate, a number of small showers were again approaching down the valley and across from Loomberah.

It was a very successful morning with 36 birds spotted and with not being washed out.  Highlights were the Kingfishers – one Azure Kingfisher and three or four Sacred Kingfishers.  Unfortunately, the platypus did not make an appearance.

Our list is: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Corella, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Superb Fairywren, Australian Raven, Welcome Swallow, Galah, Eastern Rosella, Red Wattlebird, Red-rumped Parrot, Straw-necked Ibis, Azure Kingfisher, Wood Duck, Little Black Cormorant, Crested Pigeon, Peaceful Dove, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Grey Butcherbird, Noisy Friarbird, Musk Lorikeet, Dusky Moorhen, Satin Bowerbird (F), Restless Flycatcher, Sacred Kingfisher, White-faced Heron, Bar-shouldered Dove, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Magpie Lark, Pacific Black Duck, Redbrowed Finch, Grey Fantail, Brown Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, White-necked Heron.

Mandy

Tuesday Bird Walk Bendemeer  25/2/25

Ten Tamworth Birdwatchers had a pleasant walk along the Macdonald River riparian zone in the Memorial Park area continuing upstream into the Showground area.  When we arrived, the ground cover was saturated with dew and there were few birds around.  As the morning warmed, the birds started to show themselves. 

From the Memorial Park, we walked downstream close to the MacDonald River, seeing some water birds.  We veered from the river onto a mown tack where we found a pair of Black-shouldered Kites, our birds of the day.  One was on a power pole while the other was on the power line.  The one on the pole was enjoying a meal while the other flew off the wire, to presumably find a meal.

Black-shouldered Kite Jan Hosking

We walked back to the river, heading upstream.  On a River Oak, we found a pair of Musk Lorikeets who appeared to be looking for potential nest sights.  Are they early or late?  Pizzey and Knight have them breeding from August to December. Maybe they are super organised!?

              Musk Lorikeet Jan Hosking

As always, it was wonderful to see the beautiful Superb Fairy-wrens flitting here and there amongst the plants growing in the riverbed.  They are such a delightful little bird.

As we walked further upstream, we finally found what was making a racket in some trees on the opposite bank – Flying Foxes – and there were heaps of them!  Although looking for birds, we also saw an endangered Bell’s Turtle – Myuchelys belli.  Phil Spark has verified this photo. A couple of Water Dragons were also seen traversing the river.

Bell’s Turtle Annabel Ashworth

We had two cultural hits for the day.  A sculpture by the name of ‘Chopin’s Loop’ is located near the river – interesting.  And the Bendemeer Hotel – where some of us had lunch!

Back to the birds.  All up, we saw 31 different species.

Bird list: Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Little Pied Cormorant, White-necked Heron, White-faced Heron, Black-shouldered Kite, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Dollarbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Red Wattlebird, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Welcome Swallow, Common Myna, Red-browed Finch.

Gerry

Saturday Bird Walk Trip Report for Teamster’s Rest and Crawney Pass 22/2/25

On a warm morning, 13 Tamworth Birdwatchers and 1 guest met at Nundle, to go out to one of my favourite spots, Teamster’s Rest.  It was lovely to welcome Joe, our new member, and Fran and Geoff who both made the effort to come across from Gunnedah.

Once we got out to the camping area at Teamster’s Rest, the birds were calling from all over the place!  Sulphur-crested Cockatoos were making their raucous calls over the creek, Magpies were on the grasslands, and White-throated Treecreepers were also making their presence known.  Our group wandered along the road back out toward the bridge, and were continually stopping to see the birdlife in among the trees.  White-browed Scrubwrens were in the bushes, and Crimson Rosellas were flying up high.  Yellow as well as Brown Thornbills were around, along with Grey Fantails.  And the lovely call of the White-throated Gerygone was also heard frequently.

Our bird of the day then made itself known, as half a dozen Red-browed Treecreepers were seen hopping up nearby trees.  At least some were juveniles, which was lovely to see.  As we kept slowly wandering, a group of Musk Lorikeets flew overhead, and a couple of Sacred Kingfishers were sitting over the creek.  As it was almost time for some morning tea, we gradually made our way back to the cars, to sit in the shade for a while and enjoy a cuppa.

After morning tea, we jumped into the 4 WDs to go up to Crawney Pass. Right on the Pass is a little spot to park, and from there we walked east up Ridge Rd, to see if we could locate any Lyrebirds. Sadly not!  However, we could hear some Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos calling further around the hill, and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and Noisy Friarbirds were in the trees above us.  Geoff also spotted a Wedge-tailed Eagle.  Everyone enjoyed the spectacular views and the beautiful surroundings, even if there weren’t as many birds around as down at Teamster’s Rest.  And in spite of the dryness of the Pass, a few of us were found by some hopeful leeches, who managed to get latched on, sometimes without us even knowing!

Back down at Teamster’s Rest, those who hadn’t taken off enjoyed a quiet lunch, and speculated about a nest found on the ground near a tree.  Possibly a Red Wattlebird’s nest?  They were certainly in the area.  After lunch, a few of us walked down to the old creek crossing, and were rewarded with the sighting of a juvenile Olive-backed Oriole and some Yellow-rumped Thornbills.  Finally, after a leisurely wander, it was back to the cars for home.  A lovely day!

Red Wattlebird’s nest Photo Jan Hosking

Birds recorded at Teamster’s Rest (30): Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Magpie, Striated Pardalote, Red Wattlebird, Australian Raven, White-throated Treecreeper, Crimson Rosella, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Grey Fantail, Galah, White-throated Gerygone, Grey Shrike-thrush, Red-browed Treecreeper, Musk Lorikeet, Noisy Friarbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Sacred Kingfisher, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Pied Currawong, Grey Butcherbird, Kookaburra, Willie Wagtail, Olive-backed Oriole, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike.

Birds recorded at Crawney Pass (17): Magpie, Red Wattlebird, Australian Raven, White-throated Treecreeper, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Mistletoebird, White-browed Scrubwren, Noisy Friarbird, Grey Fantail, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Eastern Spinebill, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Kookaburra, Weebill, Brown Thornbill.

Jan

Tuesday Bird Walk Schofield’s property, Moonbi  11/2/25

Warwick met us at the “Big Chook” at Moonbi and guided us up to “Montana” where he gave us a brief talk on the history of their lovely hilly property with its restored homestead build c 1930.  He pointed out the adze marks on the supporting poles still doing their job after all these years. 

Most of the group under the guidance of Margie took to the hills while a couple of us stayed around the homestead garden and surrounds.  This lovely planted native area was alive with Double-barred Finch and babies with almost as many Red-browed Finch and their young.  Some still had young in their nests that we saw being fed. 

In a lovely big Grevillea a pair of Eastern Spinebill had their nest with young tucked away safely.  The pet skink came out to be fed when it heard Warwick about, had a quick feed and scuttled back into its hiding hole.  Not interested in strangers.   We also saw a large Swallow-tailed Butterfly. We listed 14 species in the garden including Brown Treecreeper, Peaceful Dove, Silvereye and Superb Fairy-wren.

Eventually the hill climbers arrived back with a list of 18 different species including Varied Sittela, White-throated Treecreeper, Wedge-tailed Eagle and 20 Dusky Woodswallows.  That gave us a total of 34 species with 3 vulnerable and 4 breeding records.

Our thanks go out to Margie and Warwick for allowing us to spend time birding and hearing so many interesting stories.

Varied Sittella by Annabel

Birds seen: Crested Pigeon, Peaceful Dove, Brown Goshawk, Wedged- tail Eagle, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Eastern Rosella, Sacred Kingfisher, White- throated Treecreeper, Brown Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, Yellow Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill YIN, Yellow- faced Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, Spiny- cheeked Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Varied Sittella, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriel, Dusky Woodswallow, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Silvereye YON, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch YON, Red-browed Finch YON.

Joan

Annual Outing to Sheba Dams 11 January 2025

Having completely ignored the weather reports predicting thunder, storms and rain we all arrived in dribs and drabs for our annual January trek up to Sheba Dams.  After misty rain most of the way we were surprised to occasionally see patches of blue sky and a few light showers which encouraged us to leave the shelter shed and head off up the track.

As usual one of the first birds listed was the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo and we heard them calling all day.  Terri spotted our ‘bird of the day’ a Red-browed Treecreeper which was sitting quietly way up in the tree. We always look for this allusive species in this spot but don’t always succeed!

What with four-wheel drives and barking dogs the bush was pretty quiet bird wise as we reached the top of our climb, however we did see White-browed Scrubwren and the Satin Bowerbirds again and the King Parrots kept on putting in an appearance. The Dollarbirds were vocal along with the Yellow-faced Honeyeater for which we were thankful as it was difficult looking into the grey sky and seeing wet birds!

After a late morning tea Nat and Mandy showed us the track down to the back of the little dam which yielded a Darter perched on a dead limb over hanging the water in the company of three Little Black Cormorants.  A lovely Nankeen Night Heron was perched on his overhanging branch all very upright and regal and completely ignored the silly people in the rain oohing and arring!  This was our second ‘bird of the day’.  He had a huge Water Dragon for company who was stretched out to his full length, well camouflaged on his dead branch.

Nankeen Night Heron by Jean

The rain was getting a bit heavier so we thought it was time to leave this pretty little spot in the bush with the lovely tree ferns and the sound of trickling water and head back to the shelter for lunch and a cuppa to warm us.

Some of our group started off to walk the rough track around the big dam and they added Redbrowed Finch and a Wedge-tailed Eagle.

On such a damp grey day we ended up with a list of 35 species with four breeding records which kept nine slightly damp birdwatchers happy.

Birds seen: Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead, Australasian Grebe (yon), Australasian Darter, Little Black Cormorant, White-faced Heron, Nankeen Night Heron, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Eurasian Coot (yon), Yellow-tailed Black -Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Dollarbird, White-throated Treecreeper, Red-browed Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Red Wattlebird (aon), Grey Shrike- Thrush, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail (aon), Australian Raven, Restless Flycatcher, Australian Reed Warbler, Red-browed Finch.

Joan

Tuesday at ‘Ravensfield’  10 December 2024

It was a lovely, not too hot with a nice breeze, morning when 11 of us met at Ravensfield for the final outing for 2024.  We started in the garden where about 20 or 30 Welcome Swallows and/or Fairy Martins lined the power line to show off.  Superb Fairy-wrens flitted around on the ground while Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters flitted from bush to bush.  From here we headed off along a tree corridor to the river where the water birds were rather scarce.  We then followed the river up until we reached the tree where our morning tea and chairs awaited occupation.  It was so nice sitting in the shade chatting, eating and watching birds in their morning activities that no-one wanted to go any further.

Thank you everyone for coming and making it such a lovely finish for the year.

The list: Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Crested Pigeon, Australasian Pelican, White-faced Heron, Whistling Kite, Nankeen Kestrel, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian King-Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Dollarbird, Superb Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Shrikethrush, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie (YON), Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Magpie-lark, Australian Reed-Warbler, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin, Common Starling, Zebra Finch, Double-barred Finch, Red-browed Finch, House Sparrow.

Eric

Saturday visit to the Limbri district  30 November 2024

On a day that was threatening rain, nine birdwatchers headed out for a day’s birding around Limbri.  The main object was to re-visit a site that the club hadn’t been to for years. It is on Danglemah Road north of Limbri, opposite “Maryvale” property.  The site is a small area backing up to the railway line where the road crosses Jamieson Creek.  It had been known in the past to produce good birds.  We recorded 22 species there and enjoyed seeing a nest with three young Willie Wagtails close to leaving the nest.  They had to sit on top of each other to avoid falling out and one was continually exercising its wings.

Young Willie Wagtails on nest by Annabel

After morning tea, we headed back and spent some time birding around the bridge on the northern side of Limbri which crosses Swamp Oak Creek.  There didn’t seem to be much happening there, but we recorded 20 species including 6 Speckled Warblers.

We moved on to the Limbri camping area on the Cockburn River for lunch, a place we often visit. You could sense that rain was imminent by the time we got there, but it held off long enough for us to find good birds such as Brown Treecreeper, Turquoise Parrot and Diamond Firetail.  With the rain starting to spit we decided to visit an area on the Mulla Creek Road where Spring Creek Road turns off.  It is a good site for Red-capped Robins and despite drizzling rain, we found quite a few birds, including a brilliant male robin.  A good end to an enjoyable day.  So glad we didn’t let the weather stop us from going birding.

Bird lists

Jamieson Creek near “Maryvale”: Black Duck, Great Cormorant, White-faced Heron, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Eastern Rosella, Dollarbird, Striated Pardalote, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Eastern Koel, Laughing Kookaburra, Rufous Whistler, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Rufous Songlark, Welcome Swallow, Fairy Martin, Tree Martin, Common Myna, House Sparrow.

Swamp Oak Creek Bridge: Pacific Black Duck, Great Cormorant, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Eastern Rosella, Eastern Koel, Laughing Kookaburra, Dollarbird, Spotted Pardalote, White-plumed Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Rufous Whistler, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Rufous Songlark, Welcome Swallow, Fairy Martin, Tree Martin, Common Myna, House Sparrow.

Limbri Campground: Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Peaceful Dove, Galah, Eastern Rosella, Redrumped Parrot, Turquoise Parrot, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, White-throated Treecreeper, Brown Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, White-plumed Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Dusky Woodswallow, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Australian Raven, Restless Flycatcher, Eastern Yellow Robin, Rufous Songlark, Welcome Swallow, Red-browed Finch, Diamond Firetail.

Spring Creek Road: Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Fairy-wren, Speckled Warbler, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, White-plumed Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Red-capped Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin.

Annabel

Tuesday Calala  26 November 2024

On a very warm Tuesday morning, 12 TBW members and 2 guests met at the Calala IGA, before driving to our first stop, at the end of Campbell Rd Calala.  This is where I had seen both the Buffbanded Rail and the Nankeen Night-Heron recently, and it is a lovely open area next to Calala Creek, maintained by a nearby resident.  Although the Rail failed to show, the Night-Heron posed beautifully for us in the morning light.  We wandered up next to the creek, which still had plenty of water in it, supporting Wood Ducks, Black Ducks, and Grey Teal.  Other birds seen at this site were Dollarbirds, and a Grey Butcherbird feeding its young.  Before leaving, a Channel-billed Cuckoo was heard calling across the flats.

We then drove to Myrl Street, and were going to all park in that street, but some of us drove down the hill to the end of Graham Street to park.  From there, we followed a track in the paddock along another stretch of Calala Creek.  Here 3 Little Black Cormorants were posing in a tree, and we also saw a Plumheaded Finch in the long grass.  A Brown Goshawk was sighted, and the Golden-headed Cisticola, and then a pair of White-winged Trillers put in an appearance.  Dusky Woodswallows were around, with Tree Martins as well as Welcome Swallows.  A Rufous Songlark was calling, and before leaving a Little Friarbird was spotted.

Our final stop was in the new sub-division down near the new roundabout on Calala Lane.  A pair of Mistletoebirds had nested in one of the street trees, and as they had finished using it (raising one young male), we all had a look at it – such a lovely little nest, like a little sock hanging in the tree.  As we walked toward Goonoo Goonoo Creek, all 3 Mistletoebirds put in an appearance, and a Spinycheeked Honeyeater and Brown Quail were heard.  Then a White-necked Heron flew over, followed by 16 Straw-necked Ibis, 6 White Ibis, and 4 Pelicans, which all spiralled majestically above us – a wonderful sight!  Then it was back to the shade of the Liquid Amber in my backyard for morning tea, and to check out the 3 different nests in it – sadly by now abandoned.  The Magpie-larks had raised one chick, but the Noisy Friarbird’s and the Crested Pigeon’s nests had been raided the week before by the local Pied Currawong, which had been raising 2 young in a nest down the road.  It was lovely to sit in the shade, listening to the Brown Honeyeater, as the morning was now quite hot!  In spite of not having a cake for Joan, we all wished her a very happy birthday, and the 55 bird species recorded made it a very satisfactory day!

Track at end of Graham Street by Jan

Birds recorded: Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Spotted Dove, Crested Pigeon, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican, White-necked Heron, White-faced Heron, Nankeen Night-Heron, Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, Brown Goshawk, Nankeen Kestrel, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Eastern Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Dollarbird, Superb Fairy-wren, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Brown Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, White-winged Triller, Dusky Woodswallow, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Golden-headed Cisticola, Australian Reed-Warbler, Rufous Songlark, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin, Common Blackbird, Common Starling, Common Myna, Mistletoebird, Zebra Finch, Double-barred Finch, Plum-headed Finch, House Sparrow. Jan

Nankeen Night-Heron by Jan

LAUNCH “Significant Roadside Environment” Sign Rangari Road – 28 October 2024

This “Significant Roadside Environment” sign …… is more than “just a sign”.

• It celebrates a Significant threatened ecological community of Weeping Myall Woodland and a Significant group of threatened native bird species.
• “Threatened”means they have been listed by the NSW Scientific Committee and are at risk of extinction in the near to medium term future.
• At this location Weeping Myall Woodland sweeps on both sides of Rangari Road across Watercress Gully.
• In this Weeping Myall Woodland, TBW has recorded 140 different native bird species
  12 of these species have been recorded breeding.
  10 of these species are listed as threatened with extinction.
  This sign aims to educate the community and protect these natural resources.
  Our children, grandchildren and great, great grandchildren, must be able to enjoy these natural resources and not just have photos and other people’s memories of them.

This project represents a Significant Collaboration involving State Government, Local Government and our enthusiastic community group, TBW. It demonstrates that compromise, and coming to the table with solutions not problems, results in a win – win – win for everyone.

Tamworth Birdwatchers wishes to thank the other collaborators.
Kevin Anderson – for listening to the concerns of our community group and advocating on our behalf.
Angela McGrath and her team (at Transport for NSW) – for approving and funding the 2 “Significant Roadside Environment” signs as part of the “Rangari Road Upgrade Project”. (Yes 2!).
Christie Galloway and her team (at Allsopp Signs) – for presenting Tamworth Birdwatchers ideas with creative flair.
Gunnedah Shire Council – for supporting the erection of the 2 signs on the roadside corridor managed by Council.
Matt and Mel Carter – for being custodians of the Weeping Myall Woodland and its birds at this special location AND for generously allowing TBW access to their property for bird surveys. Recording of robust data on distribution and abundance is vital for making informed conservation decisions for our native bird species. TBW enters our bird surveys from Rangari into Birdlife Australia’s database, Birdata.

The sign was launched by the “untieing of the big red ribbon” by myself and the official guests. This was followed by an enjoyable morning tea and bird walk in the Weeping Myall Woodland near Watercress Gully. We were delighted to hear Painted Honeyeaters calling. Observations of two new breeding records, for Striped Honeyeater and Pied Butcherbird, were also recorded.

This project is an example of Tamworth Birdwatchers actively promoting the conservation of birds and their habitat through research and education.

Denise Kane

Gunnedah Galahs Twitchathon 2024  26 October 2024

The Gunnedah Galahs (Jan Hosking, Denise Kane and Frances Wright) recently participated in the 2024 NSW/ACT Twitchathon on the 26th October 2024.  The Team entered the 3hr “Birdathon” section with the aim of beating their last year’s best score of 73 birds in 3 hrs.

It was a nervous start for Frances who had been suffering severe hayfever over the previous month but armed with a never-ending supply of tissues and hayfever medications and sprays the team hit the ground running and commenced their Twitchathon from Jan’s house in Calala.  The team followed one of Jan’s morning walk routes along urban streets, Calala Creek and overgrown empty residential allotments.  We quickly added all the exotic birds you could think of and then started adding native birds such as the Dollar Bird, Golden Headed Cisticola and the Sacred Kingfisher along the riparian areas.

We left Calala with a total of 44 birds and very happy with our tally.  We were well on our way to beating the goal of 73.  The next stop was Limbri along the Cockburn River.  With the area to ourselves we added birds such as the Brown Treecreeper, Black-fronted Dotterel and Diamond Firetail.  Unfortunately, the Turquoise Parrot and Little Lorikeet eluded us.  At Limbri we added a further 22 new birds to our tally.

So, with the 66 birds seen and with one site to go we were closing in on our total to beat of 73.  We next headed up the mountain to Dangars Lagoon, outside Uralla to pick up some waterbirds.  It was a bit quiet at Dangars Lagoon but we managed to see Musk Ducks, a Great Egret, lots of Coots and Black Swans, Australasian Grebes, Hoary-headed Grebes and the Great Crested Grebes.  We were able to add a further 15 new birds at this site.  After a count and a re-count to make sure we confirmed that we had 81 birds, our best total yet!

As part of the Twitchathon we were asked to nominate our rarest bird and our biggest dip of the day.  After much discussion, we decided our rarest bird was the Diamond Firetail’s courting and with nesting material and our biggest dip was the Nankeen Kestrel.

This year’s Twitchathon raises funding to assist research by University of Sydney into new sensory tools to protect beach-nesting birds from introduced predators such as foxes. Thank you to everyone who has donated to Gunnedah Galahs or the Twitchathon. If you are interested in donating head to the NSW/ACT Twitchathon website www.twitchathon.comn.au

Gunnedah Galahs and Twitchathon Organiser (Frances Wright)

Saturday at Tarpoly and Borah Creek TSRs  26 October 2024

What a beautiful day for birdwatching – 27° and sunny!  The migrants have definitely returned to their summer pastures as we reached a total of sixty-one species over three sites.  Our first stop was at Tarpoly just short of the grid near the dam, with 9 of us all heading in a different direction.  Nat quickly spotted a couple of Turquoise Parrots in a gully, the Koel called incessantly in the distance, Whitebrowed and Dusky Woodswallows wheeled overhead and down at the dam, a Diamond Firetail chased away a Black-fronted Dotterel.  Also of note were a Speckled Warbler, White-winged Triller, numerous Rufous Songlarks and of course a Grey Fantail!  All in all, we saw thirty-four species at Tarpoly.

Our next stop was the so-called Chat Corner where a visiting birdo once saw a Crimson Chat – no-one has been so lucky since.  Try as we might, there was no flash of red anywhere to be seen but Joan was delighted with the flash of gold provided by her favourite bird the Crested Shrike-tit.  Other birds not seen at our other sites were Red-rumped Parrots, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater and Noisy Miner – we saw sixteen species here.

After a morning tea break in the shade, we continued to Borah Creek.  Borsh Creek would have to be one of the most enjoyable sites to visit – plenty of shade, water (admittedly not much flow) in the creek and plenty of birds!  I know there are always plenty of Grey Fantails whenever I lead, but this time I think there was a population explosion of Rufous Whistlers.  Having parked the cars in the shade, we wandered up the creek like Brown’s cows – early sightings were Common Bronzewing, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dusky Moorhen and a Fan-tailed Cuckoo.  After lunch, we left Joan to guard the camp and wandered down stream where sightings included four Dollarbirds, White-throated Scrubwrens, a White-throated Gerygone, Golden Whistler and a Restless Flycatcher – a total here of thirty-eight species.

Bird List for the day:  Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Common Bronzewing, Peaceful Dove, Little Black Cormorant, Great Cormorant, White-faced Heron, Dusky Moorhen, Black-fronted Dotterel, Dusky Moorhen, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian King-Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Red-Rumped Parrot, Turquoise Parrot, Eastern Koel, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dollarbird, White-throated Treecreeper, Brown Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, Whitebrowed Scrubwren, Speckled Warbler, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, White-winged Triller, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Crested Shrike-tit, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, White-browed Woodswallow, Dusky Woodswallow, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, White-winged Chough, Jackie Winter, Eastern Yellow Robin, Rufous Songlark, Welcome Swallow, Fairy Martin, Tree Martin, Red-browed Finch, Diamond Firetail. (61)

Terri and Joan

Campout at Dorrigo  15-18 October 2024

The weather was not looking very promising for our second campout of the year – rain predicted for all three days!  Margaret and Bill Crisp together with son Richard and I left the Moonbi Chook at 8.30 on Tuesday 15th and met Ros Leslie at Dumaresq Dam.  We were soon joined by Gerry and Richard Austin as well as Jean and Gary Coady.  It was good to see the major improvements council have made to the venue – new toilets, great picnic shelters, improved foreshore and free camp area.  After morning tea, we followed the dam edge – not too many water birds were seen but the bush birds were much kinder – by lunchtime we had seen forty birds including Joan’s favourite Crested Shrike-tit (newly named the Eastern Shrike-tit).

Birds recorded at Dumaresq Dam: Maned Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead, Crested Pigeon, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Australasian Swamphen, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Whitefaced Heron, Australian Ibis, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Galah, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Superb Fairywren, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Fuscous Honeyeater, Bluefaced Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote, Brown Thornbill, White-throated Gerygone, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, Varied Sittella, Eastern Shrike-tit, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, Dusky Woodswallow, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Willie-wagtail, Gray Fantail, Magpie-lark, Australian Raven, Welcome Swallow. 20 Species not at Dorrigo

After a sometimes-misty drive to Dorrigo, we met Mandy and Nat at Dorrigo Riverside Reserve and were very pleased to see that both Annabel and Eric had joined us as there had been a few hiccups!  This enjoyable stroll accompanied by a friendly talkative local dog did not yield many birds but was a good way to stretch the legs after the drive.  The caravan park luckily had an indoor area where we convened for “Happy Hour” – the weather still was not looking favourably upon us.

Wednesday morning we left at 8.15 for the short distance to Dorrigo Rainforest National Park to be greeted by a Bassian Thrush and three Welcome Swallow chicks in a nest waiting to be fed. Approximately twenty Topknot Pigeons flew over while we were on the treetop walk, a couple of us saw the female Paradise Riflebird but the highlight of our day for those lucky enough to be on the spot, was an amazing concert by a Superb Lyrebird on the forest floor – birdsong, camera shutters and who knows what else was in there!  Eastern Whipbirds and Green Catbirds were calling but it wasn’t till Friday morning that any of us saw them.  Unfortunately, the forest floor was so damp that the usual giveaway rustling sounds were not to be heard.  Best bird of the day was a Spectacled Monarch.  We had lunch at the Glade Picnic Area and walked the boardwalk where we usually spot quite a few birds but unfortunately the rain seemed to have set in so we called it a day.

Umbrellas were the dress code for Happy Hour on Wednesday night but luckily it cleared in time for us to leave for our Thursday outing. Dangar Falls on the edge of Dorrigo was our first destination on Thursday – plenty of water going over them as a result of the previous day’s rain. Eastern Whipbirds were calling again but still didn’t want to be seen, the Golden Whistler was singing and Richard Crisp was telling us how he jumped off the falls but lived to tell the tale while Richard Austin found a barbecue for an early morning snack. On the nearby hillside the cows were playing hosts to a large to group of Cattle Egrets.

We headed north-west through Megan to a little locality called Cascade – a busy timber-mill town on the Glenreagh-Dorrigo steam railway – there is still an old waiting room and a platform name board.  Brown Cuckoo-Doves, New Holland Honeyeaters and a Black-faced Monarch appeared in time for morning tea.  Unfortunately, this site was also a happy hunting ground for leeches so we were not reluctant to be on our way! 

We continued along Moonpar Forest Drive and checked out the Tramline walking track in an area of giant brushbox trees but it had been damaged by bad weather since I was last there, so we gave it a miss.  It was lunchtime when we arrived at Platypus Flat, a pleasant campsite which is also a starting point for river rafting etc.  Fan-tailed Cuckoos, Golden Whistlers, Eastern Whipbirds and the ubiquitous Grey Fantails made their presence heard but the best sighting of the day was a pair of Spangled Drongos.  On our way back to Dorrigo we made a brief stop at Little Murray River Bridge and added Bell Miners to our list.

Before heading home most of us made a last visit to the Rainforest as it was so close – Richard Austin was lucky enough to be entertained by a pair of Whipbirds calling right before his eyes. Annabel heard the Noisy Pitta and I saw a Green Catbird.

Birds Recorded at Dorrigo: Maned Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Australian Brush-turkey, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Crested Pigeon, Wonga Pigeon, Topknot Pigeon, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Little Pied Cormorant, Eastern Cattle Egret, White-faced Heron, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Yellowtailed Black-Cockatoo, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Pitta, Superb Lyrebird, Green Catbird, Satin Bowerbird, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairywren, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Bell Miner, Little Wattlebird, Red Wattlebird, New Holland Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Striated Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Brown Gerygone, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, Eastern Whipbird, Grey Shrike-thrush, Rufous Shrike-thrush, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Willie-wagtail, Australian Rufous Fantail, Grey Fantail, Spangled Drongo, Paradise Riflebird, Black-faced Monarch, Spectacled Monarch, Magpie-lark, Australian Raven, Forest Raven, Eastern Yellow Robin, Pale-yellow Robin, Welcome Swallow, Fairy Martin, European Starling, Bassian Thrush, Mistletoebird, Red-browed Firetail – 67 Species + 20 from Dumaresq = Toal 87

Terri

Saturday at Quipolly Dam 28 September 2024

On Saturday, 28th September, Tamworth Birdwatchers returned to a favourite water birding site, Quipolly Dam.  From the bird hide on the smaller dam, we enjoyed a very spirited display from 3 Bluebilled Ducks, with the 1 female quickly disappearing into the reeds.  Their bills appeared to become a brighter blue as the interaction escalated.  Luckily there appeared to be no injuries.  With the help of pairs of eyes and 2 scopes, 5 different species of ducks were identified, as well as Eurasian Coots, Crested and Australasian Grebes and Black Swans.  That was just on the water.  In the reeds around the edges lurked a Dusky Moorhen, a Purple Swamphen and several Australian Reed-warblers.

We had lunch at the main Dam and added more water birds to the list, including cormorants, darters and pelicans.  Several bush birds were seen in the bush surrounding both dams.  A beautiful Sacred Kingfisher and several raptors were noted, but the birds of the day were two majestic White-bellied Sea-Eagles who waited until the last minute to fly over.  Only a lucky few of us saw them.

A total of 57 species were recorded after a very enjoyable outing.

Species: Blue-billed Duck, Musk Duck, Black Swan, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead, Australasian Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Crested Pigeon, Australasian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Australian Pelican, White-necked Heron, Whitefaced Heron, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Whistling Kite, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Australian Hobby, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairywren, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Grey-crowned Babbler, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Dusky Woodswallow, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Magpie-lark, Australian Reed-Warbler, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch.

Leader and Report: Jean   Bird Recorder: Margaret

Tuesday at Woonooka 24th September 2024

On Tuesday 24th September, 10 keen birdwatchers gathered to explore an as yet uncharted area bordering Woonooka.  The weather was perfect for meandering in the mainly white box and cypress pine forest. Many birds could be heard but proved elusive initially.  Spotting them in the high canopy was tricky, but we were regaled by several very vocal Rufous Whistlers most of the way.  However, perseverance paid off, and all in all, 25 species were identified overall.  We enjoyed watching the friendly Eastern Yellow Robins, and a nesting pair of Yellow Thornbills close by.  The bird of the day was the Scarlet Robin, not often seen in the Moore Creek area.  One very interesting (non-avian) find was an old harvester, long abandoned among the trees (this was later identified by Annabel, with Eric’s help, as a Sunshine Header, circa 1922!!)  There was evidence of agricultural practice 100 years ago, but the area has since regenerated to forest.  An interesting and very enjoyable morning was had by all.

Birds identified in order of sighting were: Pied Butcherbird, Grey Fantail, Eastern Rosella, Olive-backed Oriole, Willie Wagtail, Rufous Whistler, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Yellow Thornbill, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Eastern Yellow Robin, Scarlet Robin, Striated Pardalote(h), Australian Magpie, Rufous Songlark (h), Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Butcherbird, Australasian Grebe, Noisy Miner, White Throated Gerygone, Crested Pigeon, Nankeen Kestrel, Apostlebird, Red Wattlebird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike.

Sue

Tuesday at Windmill Hill 10 September 2024

On our first spring outing for 2024 a group of eight enjoyed the sunshine and the birds at this great spot so close to town.  After the recent rain the surrounding countryside was as “green as grass”.  The native plants in this area have started blooming and the nests were many.

Five Little Black Cormorants standing with wings outspread were seen as soon as we arrived and they hung around all morning as did the four different species of ducks.  Straw-necked Ibis were gathered at the bottom dam in large numbers and we listed three different species of preying birds including two Nankeen Kestrel who were very obliging for the photographers and posed nicely for them.  Surprisingly we only saw four Crested Pigeons, they are usually everywhere at this site.  The Zebra Finch were found in their usual favourite spot and were seen feeding their young and a female was on her nest.

After an enjoyable cuppa sitting in the sunshine the Golden-headed Cisticola, Rainbow Bee-eater, Australian Hobby, and Rufous Songlark were added to our list of 46.

Birds seen:  Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Spotted Dove, Crested Pigeon, Little Black Cormorant, White-necked Heron, White-faced Heron, Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon, Australian Hobby, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Superb Fairy-wren, Striated Pardalote, White-plumed Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Golden-headed Cisticola, Australian Reed-Warbler, Rufous Songlark, Welcome Swallow, Fairy Martin, Common Blackbird, Common Starling, Common Myna, Zebra Finch (yon and aon), Double-barred Finch, House Sparrow.

Joan

TBW Tuesday Walk at Lynchwood Scout Camp 27 August 2024

Welcoming the warmer weather, 15 members enjoyed a Tuesday morning walk at Lynchwood, the scout camp at the end of Moore Creek Road.  Here, Moore Creek runs through a serene, healthy eucalyptus/cypress forest, a great habitat for birds.  We hadn’t visited this location for eight years, so we were keen to see how many we could find.  We could hear many birds, but spotting them in the dense canopy was not so easy.

We knew there were several White-throated Gerygones (pronounced Jerrig-onies).  Their distinctive call drops down the scale, a loud call for such a little bird.  As this bird is often heard but not seen we were pleased to spot several.  We also saw both the Spotted and Striated Pardalotes, birds that are also more often heard than seen.

Always eager to spot raptors, we were stumped by one until Natt solved its identity with a photo – a Brown Goshawk.  Two Wedge-tailed Eagles were much more easily identified.

Despite the presence of the creek, Pacific Black Ducks and Wood Ducks were the only water birds seen.  We did enjoy the morning and hope that we can visit that site more often.

Species: Willie Wagtail, Kookaburra, White-throated Gerygone, Rufous Whistler (male and female), Grey Fantail, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Wood Duck, Superb Fairywren (male and female), Australian Raven, Olive-backed Oriole, Brown Goshawk, Red Wattlebird, Pacific Black Duck, Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Fantail Cuckoo, Magpie-lark, Striated Thornbill, Eastern Yellow Robin, Noisy Friarbird, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Restless Flycatcher, Galah, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Mistletoebird.

Leader: Greg    Recorder: Margaret    Report: Jean

Tuesday Walk Along Peel River Tamworth 13 August 2024

On Tuesday 13 August, 6 members walked along the Peel River from the car park next to the Brisbane Street Bridge to the Baseball fields and back, then after morning tea in the car park, across the main bridge, up to and across the walk-bridge and back to the car park.  We were lucky with the weather, fine and not too cold.

There were lots of Rainbow Lorikeets, Tree Martins and Starlings but other birds were in small numbers and spread out over the whole walk. It was only near the end of the walk that we saw our first Black Duck, much to Terri’s delight, as she had thought we were not going to see any.  The total of 36 was a great reward and bird of the day would have been the Great Cormorant flying over and not usually seen here.

Birds seen: Galah, Magpie, Crested Pigeon, Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Common Starling, Great Cormorant, Welcome Swallow, White-plumed Honeyeater, Australian Wood Duck, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Little Pied Cormorant, Noisy Miner, White-faced Heron, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Spotted Dove, Dusky Moorhen, Superb Fairy-wren, Indian Myna, Rainbow Lorikeet, King-Parrot, Pied Currawong, Rock Dove, White-browed Scrubwren, Fantail Cuckoo, Tree Martin, Grey Shrike-thrush, Peaceful Dove, Little Corella, Barshouldered Dove, Noisy Friarbird, Straw-necked Ibis, Pacific Black Duck.

Mandy

Tuesday at Austin’s Daruka Road 16 July 2024

Eight brave souls turned up on 16/7/24 to a shocker of a day to go for a bird walk! It was postponed from the previous week because of rain.  However, the day was over-cast, cold and windy, and at one stage, the temperature ‘felt like’ -1.0 degrees C at the airport!  But birds have to eat and we saw quite a few, some of which were impossible to identify because of the poor light quality and nearly-frozen rain droplets on our binoculars! 

The White Box, Eucalyptus albens, was flowering on some trees while some had finished flowering and others appeared that they wouldn’t be flowering at all.  There were quite a few different Honeyeaters busying themselves in the top of a couple of the flowering White Box trees.  The light quality made seeing their colours very difficult.

The bright part of the morning was the bird of the day – a Scarlet Honeyeater – and that we managed to identify 20 different species, which was rather remarkable.  Oh, and a warm spot for morning tea!

Birds recorded: Nankeen Kestrel, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Eastern Rosella, Superb Fairy-wren, Weebill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Fuscus Honeyeater, Noisy Minor, Red Wattlebird, Scarlet Honeyeater, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Australian Raven, Magpie-lark and Double-barred Finch.

Gerry

Saturday Outing to Manilla 29 June 2024

A group of 11 Tamworth birdwatchers attended Manilla on the 29/6/2024 for an 8:30 morning start.  Thirty different types of birds were counted at the Namoi River between the two weirs.

Birds seen: Australian King-Parrot, Sulphur crested Cockatoo, Little Corella, Eastern Rosella, Galah, Red-rumped Parrot, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Australian Raven, Pied Butcherbird, Willie Wagtail, Whistling Kite (nest nearby), Nankeen Kestrel, Noisy Miner, White-plumed Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater (+juveniles), Crested Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-browed Finch, Masked Lapwing, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Darter, Pacific Black Duck, Australian Wood Duck, Australasian Grebe, Dusky Moorhen, Straw-necked ibis.

The group then moved on to Manilla Sewage Treatment Plant.  The wind had picked up causing rippling and with sun glinting on water surface, it made things a bit harder to see the 25 birds seen here.

Birds seen: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Corella, Galah, Australian Magpie (+juvenile), Magpie-lark, Australian Raven, Pied Butcherbird, Willie wagtail, Black-shouldered kite, Starling, Superb Fairy-wren, Masked lapwing, Cattle Egret, White-faced Heron, Australasian Grebe (with young), Hoary-headed Grebe, Australian Coot, Dusky Moorhen, Pink-eared Duck, Hardhead, Australian Wood Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Grey Teal, Straw-necked ibis, White Ibis.

Late morning-tea and lunch were on a property about 7 kms Tamworth side of Manilla on the Manilla Road. The property has a deep soil gully that was partly revegetated with a mixture of eucalypt trees for several kilometres in the 1980s. This gully cuts through sheep grazing and oat / canola cultivation paddocks.

The group dropped down into a wide shallow timbered grassed depression (about 200 metres wide) with occasional waterholes, and with the wind blowing strongly in the high canopy of trees.  Birds could be heard and briefly glimpsed but it proved hard work to identify them.  This was attributed to the high winds, the middle of the day, minimum undergrowth shrubs, no plants flowering, and maybe the possibility the crops had been sprayed for pests as no insect activity noted.  A total of 18 birds were recorded within the gully and the open area just beside the gully.

Birds seen: Red-rumped Parrots, Eastern Rosella, Magpie, Willie Wagtails, Black-shouldered Kite, Noisy Miner, White-plumed Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Rufous Whistler, Eastern Yellow Robin, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Shrike-thrush, Woodswallow, Superb Fairywren, Crested Pigeon, Apostlebird, Australian Wood Duck.

Highlights of the day were the Pink-eared Ducks and my surprise of seeing 18 Masked Lapwings standing peacefully side by side on a bank.

Mafa

Tuesday Walk at Ballantines Bridge and Limbri Reserve 25 June 2024

We were expecting a lovely warm day thanks to the balmy forecast of a 19 degree maximum.  What we found out at the bridge was a freezing cold wind that caused us to rug up in all the warm clothing we could find!  There were eight of us there and the birds weren’t very obvious – probably trying to keep warm too. The first to arrive out there saw the majority of the birds for this site and together we managed to record 21 species.  There were lots of Welcome Swallows and White-plumed Honeyeaters and we enjoyed a group of 6 colourful King Parrots, but the best birds here were a pair of Fan-tailed Cuckoos that sat together in a tree quite near us for some time.  They were calling their usual call, but we also saw them make a shorter, quite different call that most of us did not recognise.  Very interesting!

Birds identified, in order of sighting were: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Welcome Swallow, Galah, Pied Currawong, Red-rumped Parrot, Magpie-lark, Eastern Rosella, Little Corella, House Sparrow, Spiny- cheeked Honeyeater, Rock Dove, Willie Wagtail, White-plumed Honeyeater, Red-browed Finch, Grey Shrike-thrush, Superb Fairy-wren, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Australian Wood Duck, Raven sp., Australian King Parrot, Pied Butcherbird.

The group then moved on to the Limbri Reserve, a well-known spot for Brown Treecreepers and Turquoise Parrots.  It was more sheltered but still chilly.  Joan put in an order for Turquoise Parrots as soon as we arrived, however it was Little Lorikeets that seemed most prevalent to start off with.  There was little of note as we walked along the track through the bush, however things improved when we went down to the river level.  A quick sighting of a Turquoise Parrot cheered Joan and we were able to add Brown Treecreepers, Peaceful Doves, a Brown Goshawk and a number of smaller birds such as a Brown Thornbill, Eastern Yellow Robin, and Golden Whistler.  Pacific Black Ducks were the only birds using the river, but Red-browed Finches and Superb Fairy-wrens were prevalent nearby.  However, the best was saved to the last.  We disturbed a ground feeding flock of Turquoise Parrots.  There were at least twenty birds there, probably more, and we got good views of their bright colours in the sunlight as they flew up into a nearby tree where they totally disappeared in the Casuarina’s foliage.  You would never have known so many birds were hiding there.  A lovely end to our walk.

Birds identified at Limbri were: Grey Shrike-thrush, Willie Wagtail, Raven sp., Eastern Rosella, Australian King Parrot, Little Lorikeet, Noisy Miner, Superb Fairy-wren, White-plumed Honeyeater, Brown Treecreeper, Turquoise Parrot, Peaceful Dove, Red-browed Finch, Eastern Yellow Robin, Tree Martin, Laughing Kookaburra, Australian Magpie, White-browed Scrubwren, Golden Whistler, Brown Goshawk, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Brown Thornbill, Welcome Swallow, Pacific Black Duck, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater.

Annabel

Tuesday Walk to Bective Reserve 28 May 2024

To my knowledge, this is the first time Tamworth Birdwatchers have visited Bective Reserve for at least sixteen years – I’m sure it will not be as long as that before we come here again.  We had hardly started driving from the access gate towards the river, when Joan and I spotted a largish bird in a tall tree – we pulled up as it looked more interesting than the Galah or Magpies we had seen near the gate.  With binoculars, it was obviously a raptor enthusiastically demolishing its breakfast – feathers flying everywhere.  Much discussion ensued re its identity – Peregrine Falcon or Hobby?  (After viewing the larger images on the big screen, it was clear that it was an Australian Hobby.) 

We parked overlooking the river and wandered through some lightly timbered bush above the bank with a good variety of birdlife including Tree Martins, both Whistlers and the ever-present White-plumed Honeyeater. Going lower along the river edge, we spotted a pair of Black-fronted Dotterels and quite a few Grey Teal, while a flock of fourteen Great Cormorants did a fly-past overhead.  Heading back for morning tea, we spotted a Restless Flycatcher, Red-browed and Double-barred Finches and of course, a Grey Fantail.

After morning tea, we drove back towards the entrance and then followed a second track to another river access area but unfortunately the birds there were not as cooperative – we only added a Kookaburra to the list.  As we were returning towards the main road, Euan and Gai spotted three Brown Quail on the verge and there was another raptor which eluded our attempts to identify it.

Birds seen: Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Crested Pigeon, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Straw-necked Ibis, Australian Hobby, Dusky Moorhen, Black-fronted Dotterel, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eastern Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Fairy-wren, Yellow Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Tree Martin, Common Starling, Double-barred Finch, Red-browed Finch.

Terri

Saturday at Gunnedah to Mullibah Lagoon and Namoi River west of Donnelly Fields 25 May 2024

We had seven members come along having a lovely walk around Mullibah Lagoon which took the whole morning.  We walked along the new walking track seeing a variety of birds and some Flying Foxes.  We then came back on the other side giving us a different view of the lagoon.  We had a great selection of birds – 43 in total at Mullibah and 48 for the day.  The special sighting of the day was an immature male Rose Robin by a couple of the group.  We saw about 15 Muscovy Duck on a lagoon just beyond Mullibah.  They ranged in colour from White to Black and White.  One was almost completely Black.  After lunch we had a leisurely walk along the Namoi River adding a few more birds to the list, including one lone Muscovy Duck.

List for Mullibah Lagoon: King Parrot, Great Egret, Crested Pigeon, Noisy Miner, Pied Butcherbird, Pacific Black Duck, White-faced Heron, Dusky Moorhen, Australian Wood Duck, Magpie-lark, Common Myna, Common Starling, Eastern Rosella, ROSE ROBIN, White-plumed Honeyeater, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Black Kite, Rainbow Lorikeet, Purple Swamphen, House Sparrow, Spotted Dove, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Brown Thornbill, Galah, Striated Pardalote, Rock Dove, Musk Lorikeet, Little Black Cormorant, Restless Flycatcher, Noisy Friarbird, Straw-necked Ibis, Superb Fairy-wren, Australian Raven, Red-browed Finch, Red-rumped Parrot, Grey Teal, Masked Lapwing, Little Lorikeet, Muscovy Duck.

List for Namoi River Gunnedah west of Donnelly Fields: Pied Cormorant, Noisy Miner, Welcome Swallow, Magpie-lark, White-plumed Honeyeater, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Striated Pardalote, White-faced Heron, Willie Wagtail, Common Starling, Double-barred Finch, Grey Shrike-thrush, Muscovy Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Weebill, Rufous Whistler.

Louise

Tuesday Walk at Calala 14 May 2024

On a very foggy morning, 12 Birdwatchers gathered at my place in Calala, and set off to walk to one of my favourite areas, the paddock north of the subdivision called “The Outlook”. As we walked along Myrl Street, quite a number of birds were seen, including Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters, Magpie-larks, and Crested Pigeons.  In a large Lemon-scented Gum at the end of Graham Street, Red Wattlebirds and Rainbow Lorikeets were feeding, and a White Ibis flew out of the mists right over our heads.  Further along the track next to Calala Creek, Wood Ducks, Black Ducks and an Australasian Grebe were seen on the water, and Red-browed Finch were hiding in the grasses.  But the birds of the day then appeared, a pair of Chestnut-breasted Mannikins on one side of the track, and Golden-headed Cisticolas on the other. 

A little further on, Red-rumped Parrots were in the River Red Gums, and as the fog finally started to lift, a single Straw-necked Ibis was out in the farmer’s field with some kangaroos. As we climbed the hill toward the olive grove, a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike was sitting on the fence, and Silvereyes and Grey Fantails were flying in and out of the olive trees.  Chestnut-breasted Mannikins then put in another appearance, and as by this time the fog had disappeared, their colours could be clearly seen.  A young Nankeen Kestrel was sitting on the telegraph pole, and three White-faced Herons were in their favourite place in the paddock between Myrl and Gordon Streets.  The group then made our way back to my house, and seven members stayed to have morning tea in my backyard, serenaded by the local Brown Honeyeaters. A total of 39 species were seen over the morning, in spite of the fog.  And finally, when nearly everybody had left except Denise and Gerry, we saw our 40th bird, a Yellow-rumped Thornbill in my front tree.  A very good morning’s birdwatching!

Species seen: Magpie-lark, Crested Pigeon, Rainbow Lorikeet, Galah, Blackbird, Magpie, Brown Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Common Myna, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Red Wattlebird, Eastern Rosella, Little Corella, Pied Butcherbird, White-plumed Honeyeater, White Ibis, Kookaburra, Noisy Miner, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Willie Wagtail, Pacific Black Duck, Australian Wood Duck, Australasian Grebe, Red-rumped Parrot, Golden-headed Cisticola, Red-browed Finch, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Superb Fairy-wren, Straw-necked Ibis, Tree Martin, Silvereye, Grey Fantail, Double-barred Finch, Nankeen Kestrel, Spotted Dove, White-faced Heron, Welcome Swallow, Sparrow, Starling. (plus one Yellow-rumped Thornbill!)

Jan

Campout at North Haven 30 April till 4 May 2024

Day 1 – April 30. Tamworth Birdwatchers’ North Haven/Port Macquarie campout began with a walk along a section of the Grant’s Beach trail on the afternoon of the first day.  The walk literally started with a bang in the form of a thunderstorm.  The trail starts conveniently next door to the caravan park and traverses through a small wetland, some sandflats, littoral forest and heathland. White-cheeked Honeyeaters were recorded, as well as Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos and Eastern Spinebills.  The thick heathland made it difficult to identify birds as the bush was quite thick in some parts. 

As the caravan park was close to North Haven beach, the group then wandered up to the NH beach and around to the breakwall, where two Brahminy Kites flew over.  Once back at camp everyone was provided with maps of the intended locations for the next two days.

Day 2 – May 1. The day began with an early start at North Haven foreshore reserve to observe birds at the offshore sandflats during low tide.  We then drove a few kms to Bonny Hills Wetlands to meet Alan Morris, a member of the Hastings Bird Watchers.  Alan gave a brief talk about his previous employment with National Parks and Wildlife Service in varying locations around the state including Coonabarabran.  In the lead-up to the campout the entire region had received a LOT of rain, so any trails that were not on a cement path were soggy or slippery.  Australasian Pipits were seen in a slashed paddock next to the wetland.  Some of the birds seen include: Great Crested Tern, Australasian Figbird, Yellow-faced Honeyeater and Great Cormorant (all from Alan Morris’ eBird entry).  The weather held off for most of the BHW walk but on the way back to the car the entire group could not escape the rain. We were all drenched by the time we actually got into our cars!

Morning tea was to be at Lake Cathie foreshore reserve, but by this time the rain was bucketing down.  We hastily changed plans and drove to Lighthouse Beach in Port Macquarie for morning tea at our (Matt and Gail Pickett’s) house.  Due to the heavy rain continuing we abandoned the next location (which would have been the Googik loop), so instead we drove briefly to the nearby Tacking Point Lighthouse and on to Sea Acres Rainforest Centre (because it was undercover!).  The Ranger there did tell the group that a juvenile Noisy Pitta had been photographed along the nearby coastal walk only a few weeks prior.  Powerful Owls frequent the SANP and are often seen from the boardwalk, but not at this time of year.  From here we then drove to nearby Shelley Beach – another improvised location.  The rain had eased off and the group was able to observe some shorebirds in only lightly sprinkling rain.

Lunch was at the planned location of Kooloonbung Creek Nature Park, near Port Macquarie CBD.  This location has a high population of bats but is also a good birding location.  The group walked along the raised boardwalk in the nearby mangroves, as well as the historic cemetery next to Kooloonbung.  With the weather improving somewhat we then drove to Settlement Point and were able to observe shore birds at Pelican Island – and saw blue skies for the first time that day.  On the way back to camp the group called in to a small lookout near the PMQ water supply, Rosendahl Reservoir, where we saw Hoary-headed Grebes, Australasian Grebes and Great Crested Grebes.

Day 3 – May 2. Everyone’s spirits were lifted seeing better conditions for the third day’s outing to Cattai Wetlands and Harrington.  Eddy Louey, another member of the Hastings Bird Watcher’s group, offered to join us for the day.  We met Eddy in the CW carpark at 8.30 and it was immediately clear that we all had to use LOTS of repellent and cover up as much as possible.  The mozzies were incessant!  Due to the heavy rain over the previous few days, there were sections of the trail underwater.  Walking carefully was the name of the game.  It was around a kilometre along before we made it to the bird hide, with some challenging, soggy sections of trail along the way.  In between swatting mosquitoes, we were able to spot some beaut birds though.  Everyone was excited when a lone Comb-crested Jacana was spotted on distant lily pads almost straight away.  A little while later a small group 3-4 of CCJ were also seen in another section of the wetland.  The original plan was to walk as a group around the loop of the wetland, but given the extremely wet conditions leading up to the bird hide, we decided just to back track the way we came in.  Russet-tailed Thrush were spotted on the way back to the carpark.  Again, we changed plans and rather than have morning tea at CW (where we would have been eaten alive) the group drove to Harrington and enjoyed morning tea near the breakwall. 

After morning tea, we set off along the breakwall opposite Harrington lagoon.  Several members set up their spotting scopes to better view the shorebirds.  There were Red-capped Plovers, Double-banded Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits, and five endangered Eastern Curlews.  It was thought that there were also Whimbrels among the birds, however Eddy was able to identify those birds with a noticeably shorter beak as being juvenile FEC, not Whimbrels.  Other birds to note included a Wedge-tailed Shearwater which flew right over the beach and an Australasian Gannet.  Walking along the breakwall towards the beach the group also spotted a Striated Heron.  It was hoped we’d see Sanderling, but unfortunately strong winds whipped up and we hastily headed back to our cars. The final destination was a pocket of rainforest on Crowdy Head Rd, some 500m long leading towards the beach.  A Spectacled Monarch was observed on the trail in, and in an open grassy area three members of the group were fortunate enough to see a brief flash – a Southern Emu-wren.

Day 4 – May 3. Blue skies met some members of TBW on their way home.  A few people met to check out the settlement ponds and a brief walk along the Googik Track, before heading back to Tamworth.

EDIT * Some interesting birds were seen by a few members just before or after the campout – Glossy Black Cockatoos seen at North Haven by Mandy and Nat. Black-necked Stork seen from the Urunga boardwalk by Terri. Pacific Golden Plover and Greater Sand Plover seen in Harrington by Annabel and Eric.

Bird List: Australian Brush-turkey, Black Swan, Australian Wood Duck, Hardhead, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Australasian Grebe, Hoary-headed Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Spotted Dove, Crested Pigeon, Bar-shouldered Dove, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Wedge-tailed Shearwater (M), Striated Heron, Great Egret, Plumed Egret, White-faced Heron, Little Egret, Australian Pelican, Australasian Gannet, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australasian Darter, Australian Pied Oystercatcher (E), Sooty Oystercatcher (V), Red-capped Plover, Double-banded Plover (M), Masked Lapwing, Comb-crested Jacana (V), Far Eastern Curlew (CE) (M), Bar-tailed Godwit (M), Greater Crested Tern, Osprey (V), White-bellied Sea-Eagle (V), Whistling Kite, Brahminy Kite, Sacred Kingfisher (M), Laughing Kookaburra.

Gail

Saturday Outing to Plumthorpe TSR 27 April 2024

Twelve of us made our way out past Barraba to this stock route that we have been visiting for many years.  Though we were sad to see the loss of trees from the drought several years ago, after several good rain seasons, the habitat is now healthy.  Grass is abundant and there is new tree growth.  The autumnal weather was perfect for birdwatching and we covered quite a bit of the reserve, recording 38 species over the 5 ½ hours.  We were delighted to see Plum-headed Finches, considering the name of the place (and we don’t see them often).  We were also pleased to not encounter any feral species.

Species recorded: Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Australian White Ibis, Yellow Thornbill, Grey Shrike-thrush, Little Pied Cormorant, White-necked Heron, Galah, Speckled Warbler, Rufous Whistler, Australian Raven, Striated Pardalote, Mistletoebird, Willie Wagtail, Wedge-tailed Eagle, White-plumed Honeyeater, Brown Treecreeper, White-throated Treecreeper, Australian Magpie, Weebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Musk Lorikeet, Dusky Woodswallow, Noisy Friarbird, Grey Butcherbird, Superb Fairywren, Double-barred Finch, Pied Currawong, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eastern Rosella, White-faced Heron, Plum-headed Finch, Black-fronted Dotterel, Red-browed Finch, Pacific Black Duck, Laughing Kookaburra, Red-rumped Parrot, Golden Whistler, White-browed Scrubwren.

Jean and Margaret

Tuesday Outing in Kingswood Reserve 23 April 2024

As I unlocked the entrance to the reserve, I noticed right in front of us quite a few Crested Pigeons (later I counted 31 on the oval) with at least 12 Red-rumped Parrots.  A good start I thought.  The members gathered next to the cricket ground, 12 in all.  It was a clear sunny morning and after some discarded their jackets we headed off along our usual route. 

A variety of birds were being identified, some common species and some unusual ones.  For example, Grey Fantails and King Parrots are generally seen in this area whilst a pair of Red-winged Parrots may not have been recorded at this locality before.  Then a handsome male Mistletoebird was observed.  We were treated to some specials which included a Collared Sparrowhawk being chased by at least ten Noisy Miners plus two Magpies.  Then we found a male Golden Whistler in a nearby small tree posing in his resplendent glory.  Such a handsome bird with his glowing yellow breast.  He stayed in the tree long enough for us all to enjoy the display.  A bit further along we found a female of the same species and then another male.  Was it the same bird or another?  We weren’t sure but suspicious it was another.

Along the track ahead we saw some thornbills then we noted some wrens hopping around, busy as usual.  None were coloured but we presumed they were Superbs.  Closer examination revealed a number of Double-barred Finches there as well.  Then someone noticed a Diamond Firetail with them.  More small birds were seen nearby including Zebra Finch and Silvereyes. Another Diamond Firetail was found sitting high on a dead tree.  And a small waterhole in a nearby backyard hosted seven Wood Ducks. 

We started on the separate return track.  Some more small birds were seen along here.  This included Wrens, Silvereyes and Diamond Firetails.  One of the latter had a downy feather in its beak, it was thought to be nesting.  Were these the same birds we saw on our way out or were they new to us?  Again, we couldn’t tell, the two tracks aren’t far apart here although the scrub is fairly dense.

We sat in the shade and had morning tea. We noticed quite a few Yellow-rumped Thornbills feeding in the grass nearby.  Then six of them flew into the tree above us.  A Grey Fantail did the same, it appeared to be just curious.  A Nankeen Kestrel flew in to sit on a power pole over the road, easy to identify unlike the raptor seen circling shortly before.

A bird call showed we had identified 35 species, judged a good result for this locality.  We thought the Golden Whistler was a highlight of the day.  The high species numbers is helped we think by the provision of water in the reserve for the birds.  People walking their dogs through the reserve keep the water troughs filled.  As it is a popular walking route maybe the little birds are somewhat habituated to humans.  If so, it is to our benefit as birdwatchers.

Birds recorded: Australian Wood Duck, Crested Pigeon, Collared Sparrowhawk, Nankeen Kestrel, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Red-winged Parrot, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Superb Fairy-wren, Yellow Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, Golden Whistler, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Common Blackbird, Common Starling, Common Myna, Mistletoebird, Zebra Finch, Double-barred Finch, Diamond Firetail, House Sparrow.

Euan

Outing Report – ‘Yarrawallai’ north-east of Walcha 31 March 2024

After an early start from Tamworth, 6 birdwatchers met at the park in Walcha on Saturday, 31/3/24.  Two members had had breakfast at Woolbrook and counted 26 birds there!  We headed out to ‘Yarrawallai’ – place of the flowering gums – to Donna and Bruce’s bush block.  The thick fog had lifted just before we arrived, and we found 4 Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos preening themselves while perched on dead trees near the track in.  Bruce greeted us with a billy of boiling water, so we sat down at his campfire and had a cuppa.  Bruce gave us a run-down on ‘Yarrawallai’ with the 2019 fire having had a major effect there. Bruce estimates that only 10% of the mature trees at ‘Yarrawallai’ are still alive since the fire.  The fire preceded 3 years of above average rainfall.  This caused the bush to explode with native plants.  The Eucalypts and Casuarinas saplings have become so thick and Hardenbergia violacea and other vines have covered the ground and are growing up the saplings so that the bush is now impenetrable by people.  This resulted in us hearing quite a few birds but not seeing them. There are several dozer tracks through the property and a clearing around the cabin and fireplace that allowed us to see some birds.  A female Scarlet Robin was seen before lunch along with Red-browed Finches and Grey Fantails.  There were other small birds that disappeared into the bush before they were identified. Some of us saw 4 different species of Thornbills. We walked a short distance along a rock-bottomed creek until it became too slippery when one of our number had a good look at the sky!  This was near the White-throated Gerygone sighting.

After lunch, most of us went for a 4-wheel drive to check out the Hillgrove Spotted Gum – Eucalyptus michaeliana.  These trees not only managed to survive the fire but were covered with new leaves and growth 3 months after the fire.  This species likes to live on dry ridges and appears to tolerate drought.  One of the trees we saw had hollows in it.  Bruce is keen to grow more of these trees because of their attributes.

After another cuppa, we returned to where the female Scarlet Robin was sighted to see if we could find the male.  We weren’t disappointed!  What wonderful little birds they are.      

Bruce had told us about the Lyrebirds he sometimes sees.  At first light on Sunday morning, Richard and I could hear occasional bird calls from different directions.  Then, what we assumed to be the Lyrebird, started!  A range of different bird calls all from the same place!  Over the next hour, this was repeated about 4 times.

Although we only saw 21 bird species, it was eye-opening to learn about the habitat of the area.  The fire had a drastic impact on the environment and it may take a century for the bush to return to what it was.  This is Australia.

Our thanks go to Bruce and Donna for welcoming us to go onto their property.

Birds seen:  Fork-tailed Swift, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Australian Raven, Forest Raven, Scarlet Robin, Welcome Swallow, Red-browed Finch.

Gerry

Moore Creek Caves Reserve Tuesday 12 March 2024

Ten of us enjoyed a pleasant walk through the Grassy White-box reserve on Maysteers Lane. Mandy arrived first and already had quite a list from the area just outside the reserve. It was a fairly hot day for autumn, but thankfully there is a healthy canopy in this area, throwing plenty of shade over the track.
Morning tea was, as usual, a good time to chat about bird news and upcoming events. Some of us then headed down the track towards the creek but didn’t go far. The heat was too discouraging for both humans and birds.

We spotted 23 species, including the pretty Eastern Spinebill. We may have seen several of these, or perhaps the same two kept finding us! Thankfully we didn’t see any feral birds within the reserve.

Species seen: Welcome Swallow, Eastern Rosella, Galah, Nankeen Kestrel, Magpie-lark, Superb Fairywren, Double-barred Finch, Crested Pigeon, Mistletoebird, White-plumed Honeyeater, Australian Magpie, Yellow Thornbill, Australian Raven, Willie Wagtail, Little Corella, Grey Fantail, Noisy Friarbird,
Brown Honeyeater, Eastern Spinebill, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Grey Butcherbird, Noisy Miner, Yellow-rumped Thornbill.

Report: Jean Bird List: Margaret

Tuesday Walk at Dungowan Tip Reserve 27 February 2024

Eleven birdo’s spent an overcast morning at this little reserve at Dungowan and listed 26 different species. The bird of the day would have been the two little Plum-headed Finches found hiding in the long grass by the roadside.  Once again, the White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike was seen here but this time with a young one.  That was the only breeding record for the day. 

We spent the morning tea break (and longer) hopefully waiting for the platypus that shows up occasionally but not this time.  As we wandered up the hill, we were attacked by the meat ants so we decided it was time to go home!

BIRDS SEEN: Australian Wood Duck, Crested Pigeon, Peaceful Dove, Black-shouldered Kite, Galah, Musk Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Eastern Rosella, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Blackfaced Cuckoo-shrike, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike (YON), Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Eastern Yellow Robin, Welcome Swallow, Double-barred Finch, Plum-headed Finch, Red-browed Finch.

Joan

Teamsters Rest Trip Report 24 February 2024

On the last Saturday in February, 14 members and 1 extra met at the Nundle Pub, to travel out to Teamsters Rest.  As we drove out along the road from Nundle, we could see a beautiful cloud waterfall coming over Crawney Pass, but luckily there was no rain when we got to the campground.  Binoculars were quickly reached for, as we saw Brown Thornbills and Superb Fairy-wrens along the creek.  Grey Fantails were also in evidence, as were the White-browed Scrubwrens.  As many of us had had an early coffee and donuts at Nundle, morning tea was put off as we walked along the road to the bridge near the entrance.  Red-browed Finches were sighted, along  with Rufous Whistlers and we could hear the ever-present call of the White-throated Treecreeper.  

After the proper morning tea, most of the group walked back along to the entrance and up an access road to the top of the rise.  Crimson Rosellas and Galahs were seen, and Kookaburras and Olive-backed Orioles heard, but the bird of the day was Fran’s hearing of a Cicadabird.  Coming down the hill, some members tarried, and were rewarded with the sighting of Varied Sitellas, a lovely little bird.  As we sat around after lunch, rumbles of thunder started to be heard, and it was decided a swift exit may be necessary.  Sure enough, black clouds came over the hill, and everybody was packed up and in the cars before down came the rain, which followed us all the way back the valley.  Some members stopped at Woolomin briefly on the way home, but it started raining there too, so an end to the day was called.  In spite of being cut short, a good day was had by all.  

Birds recorded: Spotted Pardalote, Superb Fairy-wren, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, White-throated Treecreeper, Galah, Grey Fantail, White-browed Scrubwren, Magpie, Brown Thornbill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Red-browed Finch, Rufous Whistler, Yellow Thornbill, Musk Lorikeet, Crimson Rosella, Mistletoebird, White-throated Gerygone, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Cicadabird, Pied Butcherbird, Noisy Friarbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Kookaburra, Magpie-lark, Eastern Spinebill, Varied Sitella.

Jan

Tuesday Walk at Garthowen 13 February 2024

We are very lucky to have generous landowners in our region who are happy to host Tamworth Birdwatchers on their property. We went to one such place on 13th February, on the Garthowen Road near Attunga.

Fifteen of us parked around the fruit trees and set off on a very pleasant walk. It was a fine morning, not too hot and we were soon spotting lots of small birds as well as the usual bigger ones.  We enjoyed morning tea on the veranda, watching Double-barred Finches flying to and from their nest in a garden arch. Our host exceeded expectations by baking us a cake to sustain us as we continued our walk.  Thanks goes to our host.

We recorded 30 species including an Olive-backed Oriole and a Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring above us.  The bird of the day was the Crested Shrike-tit.

Species Identified: Noisy Friarbird, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eastern Rosella, Apostlebird, Double-barred Finch, Superb Fairy-wren, Australian Magpie, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Willie Wagtail, Pied Currawong, Pied Butcherbird, Grey Butcherbird, Galah, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Rufous Whistler, Australian Raven, Silvereye, Crested Shrike-tit, Yellow Thornbill, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Crested Pigeon, Striated Pardalote, Peaceful Dove, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Olive-backed Oriole, Red-browed Finch, Jacky Winter, Eastern Spinebill, Mistletoebird.

Jean and Margaret

Annual Outing to Sheba Dams Saturday 13 January 2024

On our annual outing to Sheba Dams 25 birdwatchers enjoyed the day in this beautiful bush setting quite a bit cooler than Tamworth was!

Our list started off with the usual water birds plus a Spotless Crake with the Australian Reed Warblers very vocal as usual plus the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo that always seem to appear each time we visit this place.

We saw the Red Wattlebirds busily feeding their young and the Crimson Rosella seemed to be everywhere. Our list grew as we wandered up the hill hoping to find the Red-browed Treecreeper but alas not this time. Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were very prolific along with the Grey Fantail and King-Parrots. The Satin Bowerbirds weren’t where we expected them to be but we didn’t see any bowers.  We do enjoy all the bush birds that we find up here including the Grey-shrike Thrush, both the Golden and Rufous Whistler and a Leaden Flycatcher to name a few.

After a leisurely lunch break back at the shelter we walked down to the smaller dam and added two female Bowerbirds, Eastern Yellow Robin and Superb Fairy-wren.  After more chatting and a final bird call it was the end of another great time out birding again with good friends including Ashley who had come up from the coast for a visit.  Our final count was 45 species with 4 breeding records.

Birds seen on both walks: Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead, Australasian Grebe, Tawny Frogmouth, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Spotless Crake, Eurasian Coot (yon),Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Koel, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill (yon), Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird (yon), White-naped Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Blackfaced Cuckoo-shrike, Golden Whistler (yon), Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Leaden Flycatcher, Eastern Yellow Robin, Australian Reed-Warbler, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Red-browed Finch.

Joan