While most folks were in rather cold and rainy Canberra, 13 COG members and I made our way to the ANU accommodation at Kioloa (about 30 km north of Batemans Bay) to enjoy a mild weekend on the coast. We met for Saturday lunch, and were greeted by a pair of Nankeen Kestrels, which set the tone for a most enjoyable birding weekend. After lunch we headed for the woods, to hear the Superb Lyrebirds calling, and saw Lewin's Honeyeater, Rainbow Lorikeets and Eastern Whipbird amongst others. The birding low-light was seeing several Common Mynas!! A local power failure during dinner preparations did not dampen the spirits - it meant a candle-lit dinner was in order.
On Sunday morning five of us went to the forest early, the highlight being a Scarlet Honeyeater - unfortunately, it 'got away' before we could all have a look at it. After breakfast we trooped out with the caretaker resident, to see the long-established White-bellied Sea-Eagle nest. The large nest has been at the top of a large eucalypt for 20 years or more and is still used each year. With lunch on hand, we made our way to the nearby beach, to see Australasian Gannets, Sooty Oystercatchers, a great view of a young sea-eagle soaring overhead, and a group of five Australian Pelicans flying purposefully south. The birding highlight for the day was seeing a couple of Little Penguins frolicking in the surf while we had lunch at Kioloa Beach. On the return walk, we were teased by various thornbills.
On the Monday we packed up and made for the 200-m high Bundle Hill. It was a steepish climb, but the views of the coast on this bright sunny day were well worth the effort. The sharp breeze kept most birds out of sight, except for a Brown Falcon. The last walk for the weekend was just before lunch - to the beach again, the birding highlight being three Double-banded Plovers. Another highlight for the day (although not feathered) was two humpback whales cavorting in the wind-swept ocean.
During the weekend we saw between us 63 species of birds, which have all been noted for the atlas. My thanks to Jenny Bounds for organising the trip - it was a great success.
Alistair Bestow