Seven COG members enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Capertee Valley in mid October. We stayed in a comfortable cottage on a cattle property close to the sandstone ramparts that mark the western edge of Wollemi National. Park. The Capertee Valley’s poor soils have limited pastoral development of the area so a lot of scrubby bush remains. This vegetation, and its proximity to the Wollemi wilderness area, means that the valley remains a very “birdy” place. A flock of fifty doublebars constantly fluttered around the cottage while the nearby olive grove was home to Jacky Winters, Rainbow Bee-eaters, and many Diamond Firetails. A short walk brought us to a creek line where Turquoise Parrots vied with Hooded Robins for our attention. One group, out for a morning stroll were lucky enough to see two Channel-billed Cuckoos, a very rare vagrant to the Capertee Valley. Plum-headed Finches and Scarlet Honeyeaters were other notable sightings. I particularly enjoyed the many pairs of White-Browed Woodswallows, which we found throughout the valley. Only the Painted Honeyeater eluded us – an invitation to return some day.
The real prize was the Regent Honeyeater. Jenny Bounds had arranged for our group to do the October Regent Honeyeater surveys and this gave us access to sites on private land where most of the honeyeaters are to be found. Even then it was often only Jenny’s hearing acuity and knowledge of the birds that enabled us to locate them high in the trees. The result was “quality viewing” for all the party as the birds fluttered between clusters of blossom in big Yellow Box trees or clambered elegantly over the mistletoe, which festooned the she-oaks along the Capertee River. I found them surprisingly quiet and unobtrusive for a brightly coloured midsize honeyeater. The number of Regents seen was low but there were also few Red Wattlebirds and Noisy Friarbirds, perhaps a reflection of the dry winter just past.
The trip was most ably organised and catered for by Jenny Bounds. Thanks Jenny.
Tom Green