The Canberra Day long weekend was celebrated in style by 18 campers, including three young adults, on the banks of the Goobarragandra River outside of Tumut. A combination of open forest, riverine and woodland habitats was explored from here.
This camp site, the Thomas Boyd Trackhead on the Hume and Hovell Walking Track and on the edge of Kosciusko National Park, was large and spacious. Most of the campers were lucky enough to get a riverside site except for the couple who parked their caravan up the slope so they could look down and keep an eye on proceedings. The site, while not having showers, was well appointed with hot and cold running water, a clean ablutions block and washing up facilities. For those who wished to, it was easy enough to have a bucket shower in the block.
The site and surrounding area did not give a huge bird list with 46 species being recorded. The ability to observe some of these species up close was one of the beauties of the spot. From our camp alone we observed over a dozen species with Golden Whistlers visiting with begging young, Brown and Striated Thornbill, Eastern Yellow Robins, flocks of King Parrots, Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Satin Bowerbirds and others all flocking to the trees above the camp site where one could sit in one’s chair with a cup of tea and see all of the collection of avian fauna without the need of optical devices or indeed moving. The views of Superb Fairy-wrens that had lost half of their blue were interesting and the ability to observe them closely was wonderful.
Crested Shrike-tits, Eastern Whipbirds, Shining Bronze-cuckoo, and New Holland Honeyeaters were all seen within the confines of the camp site.
This camp’s location on the Hume and Hovel trail allowed good walking in both directions through a variety of habitats. The trails covered some hilly sections and provided good views of many juvenile Satin Bowerbirds, juvenile Olive-backed Orioles with their distinctive bronze patterns on the wings, Rufous Fantails and a pair of Mistletoebird males having a to do over the attendant female. The other track followed the river and was flatter though through many different habitats. Once again good views were had of Rufous Fantails, White-browed Scrubwrens, Red-browed Firetails, an albino Laughing Kookaburra and an Australian Hobby. The camp was a wonderful way to spend the weekend among good company, great views of some common birds that we all enjoy looking at closely and leisurely and some other walks that allowed the viewing of birds that will soon depart for more northern climes. The companionship was good and enjoyed around the camp fire. The area was well stocked with fig and apple trees offering fruit for the picking. Some of the group set up a spotting scope and had views of Saturn and its rings during the evening. One of the group made and cooked a damper in the camp oven and then shared this delicacy with the group when it was ready. This made an excellent hot dessert.
For a camping spot only three hours from Canberra this is a spot to be enjoyed with its river and the riparian vegetation and the ability to observe closely its avian fauna. Combined with the walks and different habitat this was indeed a camp that provided everything.
John Cummings