A full bus group of 18, plus leaders Ian Fraser and Margaret McJannett, set off south under brooding skies for our long awaited trip to the wet forests of northeastern Victoria. With Ian Fraser's dire warnings about unpredictable weather in this area 1000 m up, it did not look promising at Cooma where a rainstorm flooded the park and then grey, drizzling skies greeted us at our cabins by the Delegate River, just inside Victoria. Saturday dawned cold, grey and drizzling, but by the time we got to Errinundra National Park the sun was out and stayed out for one of the best weekends I've had in a long time.
This is a little known, magic place, the largest stand of cool, temperate rainforest and old age tall eucalypt forest left in Victoria. Of particular interest was the Errinundra Shining Gum, some more than 500 years old, extensive treefern understorey, and rainforest patches dominated by Southern Sassafras and Mountain Plum Pine, plus the fabulous Gippsland Waratahs, a tall species, (Telopea oreades), truly spectacular in full bloom and with large numbers of Crescent Honeyeaters feeding on the flowers.
Olive Whistlers were calling everywhere from the thickets; Jack Holland even found a nesting Olive Whistler. There were several sightings of Pink Robin, the species we were seeking, including one pair around our lunch spot where we also enjoyed a wonderful rainforest boardwalk - and a few leeches tried to enjoy us! Pink Robins could be heard calling in most places; this area is certainly a hot spot for them. Our final list of 78 species for the area also included Satin Flycatcher, Pilotbird, Crescent Honeyeater, Rose Robin and Black-faced Monarch. Pat Williams and Pam Swaffield shared the honours for guessing the correct number of species on the trip list. Another highlight was watching the local platypus in the river next to our cabins as we sipped wine in the evening. [I also visited the area over Christmas, where I recorded Forest Bronzewing, Brush Cuckoo and Red-browed Treecreeper which we did not get on the November trip.]
We are doing another bus tour to Errinundra on the last weekend of November 2000 (24-26), leaving mid-afternoon on Friday and returning Sunday evening. The cost needs to be worked out as it will include GST this time, but should be in the ballpark of $200 per person. Bookings are open now and must be confirmed with a deposit of $100 (cheques made out to Environment Tours). Contact Jenny Bounds for bookings etc (62887802 ah). Members who were on the wait list for the 1999 tour but missed out have a special opportunity to reserve a seat for the 2000 tour provided they contact Jenny before the 8 February meeting.
Jenny Bounds