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