Twelve plus Ian and Margaret were on the bus for this tour through the New South Wales plains to south-east Queensland. It yielded 152 bird species, half a dozen native mamals and many fungi, orchids, etc. We visited 10 national parks, state forests and reserved areas and four water environments. The centrepieces were the varied ecological contrasts provided by the islands in the plains.
The tour began with a little gem, Gilgandra Flora Reserve, saved for a rare plant, but the presence of Glossy Black Cockatoos made our day. And we had a rare opportunity to see the Pilliga forests shortly after big fires.
Through snow gums and silver wattles we glimpsed the 1500 m peak of Mount Kaputar-the first of the islands. On through the brigalow, with Mistletoebirds and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters. At Lake Broadwater Conservation Park we had perfect views of Red-winged Parrots and Pale-headed Rosellas, the beautiful people of the plains.
At Bunya Mountain we confronted the relics of the ancient past-Bunya and Hoop pines. What a magnificent island. In the morning we looked out to see Topknot Pigeons searching the edge of the canopy, while King-Parrots zipped along the near side of the rainforest. Brown Gerygones made an appearance and we heard (what else?) a Wonga Pigeon. In the rainforest itself we searched the inside of the canopy and saw a female Paradise Riflebird and a Green Catbird.
At 1100 m it did get slightly cool, but we managed quite a few walks. The park does have non-rainforest ecological zones and I have a memory of walking through wall-to-wall Lewin's Honeyeaters at one point.
At Yarraman luck deserted us but at Crows Nest Falls we had excellent views of Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies. Then to Main Range (the last island). At Cunningham Gap we saw a Green Catbird in the eucalypt forest until it realised it was in the wrong place and flew back to the rainforest around the corner. The following day at Girraween we observed a White-eared Honeyeater taking fur from the back of kangaroos and delivering it to trees nearby. Here too we practised recognising Striated and Brown Thornbills-thank you to Richard Allen for his recent talk on thornbill identification.
Views of a White-bellied Sea-eagle at Inverell Weir brought home how these creatures range far inland. After all-night rain in Coonabarabran we headed for Gum Swamp at Forbes, where we saw Australasian Shoveller, and Pink-eared, Blue-billed and Freckled Ducks. You wouldn't often find those four in the same place.
Through all this excitement we were doing the bird of prey watch as we journeyed along. Black-shouldered Kites, Nankeen Kestrels and Wedge-tailed Eagles were often our companions. Thanks to Ian and Margaret for a great tour. Now for the Wet Tropics.
Alan Ford