About 16 people spent a very pleasant three days exploring the birding delights of the Griffith area whilst based at a quiet campsite in Cocoparra National Park. Revelling in the fine and mild winter weather, COG members from as far away as Chiltern and Mittagong saw approximately 100 species whilst visiting Pulletop Nature Reserve, the Griffith sewage ponds, Wyangan Lake and Binya State Forest.
The highlight of the weekend, to my mind, was the delightful Binya State Forest, a Mugga Ironbark/White Cypress Pine/Buloke forest, which backs onto the SE edge of Cocoparra. Whilst overcutting of Ironbarks have left almost a Callitrus monoculture in some parts of the forest, and continuing cattle grazing has stuffed much of the understorey, the area was still unexpectedly rich with birds. The area is little-known as the only confirmed present occurrence of the (likely now) isolated southeast population of the White-browed Treecreeper, a small outlier population which may be ecologically and genetically distinct from other WBT populations further north and west in NSW. Most of the party was lucky to obtain very good views of a single bird. Grey mistletoe was heavily in flower on Yarran, and we managed to see eight honeyeater species in Binya including White-fronted (a bit east of their usual range), Striped, Singing and Spiny-cheeked. A couple of Major Mitchell's flying over the forest gladdened the hearts of those lucky enough to catch a glimpse. Not so the Emu-with attitude- that attacked our cars as we were leaving!
Cocoparra NP itself was fairly quiet bird-wise, with little vegetation in flower. Everyone was delighted to see many Splendid Fairy-wrens in Jack's Creek gorge. Mulga Parrots, Mallee Ringnecks and Blue Bonnets were readily seen, as well as both White-browed and Grey-crowned Babblers, and many woodland birds including: Brown Treecreeper, Hooded and Red-capped Robin, Jacky Winter, Southern Whiteface, Varied Sitella, Inland Thornbill and Speckled Warbler. The Park's Callitris and Acacia species were thick with Yellow Thornbills.
Pulletop NR, a small area of remnant mallee with some Eucalypts in flower, provided a couple of interesting hours. Highlights were many Yellow-plumed and Brown-headed Honeyeaters, a brief glimpse of a shy Crested Bellbird, a 70-80 strong flock of White-winged Chough, and again many small insectivores.
Wyangan Lake, an empoundment north of Griffith, had many waterbirds including dozens of Little Black Cormorants and White Ibis, Darters, the more common duck species and a couple of Black-fronted Dotteral. We had higher hopes of something unusual at the Griffith Sewage Ponds, having been tipped off by a local birdo that Freckled Duck had been in residence there for quite a while. While we had no luck on the FD front, the Ponds had a large flock of Pink-eared Duck, a few Hardhead, Shoveler, Musk and Blue-billed Duck, as well as the more usual suspects, and is well worth a visit. Look out for the resident goat herd that patrols the pond surrounds though - their overly friendly attention cut short our visit.
Many thanks to leader Kathy Walter for a great weekend. Thanks and commiserations go to absent co-leader David McDonald: the WBTs will still be there next time David.
Julie McGuiness