COG’s long week-end trip was to the Holbrook area on the western slopes of southern NSW. The weather was a bit ordinary at times – wet and very cold – but everything else was fantastic, largely due to the excellent organisation by David McDonald. Our group of 10 stayed 3 nights in the extremely comfortable Glenfalloch shearer’s quarters, a property about 20km north east of Holbrook.
On the first day we ventured half an hour to the west to spend some time exploring Nest Hill Nature Reserve. While the drizzle was a little disappointing we came across a lot of birds as soon as we went through the gate. Straight away we could hear Stubble Quail calling from the adjoining wheat field however they weren’t going to show themselves. It also took us some time to decide the flycatcher call belonged to Restless Flycatchers. We then moved into the centre of the forest where we walked some of the tracks finding Buff-rumped Thornbills and Red-capped Robins. Our lunch stop and afternoon walking was in the southern end of the nearby Livingstone National Park. This was quite different habitat and included a lot of colourful wildflowers.
Sunday’s outing was to Benambra National Park to the west of Holbrook. Public access is not normally available to this park, however COG were given permission by NSW National Parks to spend a day birding in there. While crossing half dozen private paddocks (each with its own style of gate) getting to the park boundary we encountered some more Stubble Quail on the track as well as lots of both Brown and Rufous Songlarks. Again, the edge effect gave us our biggest rewards. While walking along the fence line Hooded Robins, Diamond Firetails, White-browed Babblers, Crested Shrike-tits and many other species were seen. A Yellow-footed Antechinus was also seen by a fortunate few near the entrance gate. We spent the remainder of the day exploring other areas of the park with many stops in different habitat types. Painted Button-quail slowly crossing the road was particularly exciting for those that were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. Orchids were prolific in this Park with around seven species being identified by the group. There were so many wildflowers in bloom in all the areas we visited that it was easy to be amused whenever there was a lull in bird calls.
On our way home on Monday we stopped at Kyeamba Travelling Stock Reserve for a couple of hours followed by another couple of hours at Mates Gully TSR near Tarcutta. These were dynamite birding spots – they are both large blocks with interesting bush and easy access. Highlights included Cockatiels and Brown Quail in the first and a Black-eared Cuckoo and Varied Sittellas on a nest in the second.
Overall we saw around 100 species. Other notable birds included Horsfields, Fan-tailed and Pallid Cuckoos, Fuscous Honeyeaters, White-winged Trillers, White-browed, Masked and Dusky Woodswallows, Jacky Winter, Flame and Eastern Yellow Robins, Leaden Flycatcher and Brown Treecreepers.
Thanks to David McDonald for organising an interesting, varied and full weekend.
— John Goldie