Touring Australia (1 Viewer)

[Maroon Jay]

Today we are cleaning and packing the camper, doing laundry, etc. Getting ready to head out on our tour of Australia tomorrow morning. Running a few days behind schedule due to problems with buying a vehicle. Had planned to leave by the 17th. Also added Capertee, Barren Grounds and Jervis Bay to my itinerary. Will have to make up a few days along the way someplace.
So ends my birding in the Sydney area. Got a total of 49 birds of which 30 were lifers. (when I list birds they are lifers unless I specify otherwise that I have seen them before). I had set a goal of 500 birds in total but I expected a higher percentage of lifers. 30 out of 49 is about 40% repeats that I have seen before in other countries.
The key species that I was looking for in Sydney area were Rockwarbler, Powerful Owl, Superb Lyrebird and Green Catbird. Did not see any of those.
The first leg of our trip will take us to the Blue Mountains, Capertee, Barren Grounds, Jervis Bay and Canberra. Not sure how often I will be able to get internet. Not as often as I have now in Sydney for sure. Will get on when I can.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

The key species that I was looking for in Sydney area were Rockwarbler, Powerful Owl, Superb Lyrebird and Green Catbird. Did not see any of those.
The first leg of our trip will take us to the Blue Mountains, Capertee, Barren Grounds, Jervis Bay and Canberra. .

all four of those still possible within the first two of those sites, but you'll need to be very lucky to get the owl.

 

[Maroon Jay]

Will be several days behind in posting info here due to travelling and lack of internet. Here is my first report from the Blue Mountains, first day.
50. Galah
51. Red Wattlebird
52. House Sparrow (seen these in every country I have been to)
53. Crimson Rosella (beautiful bird)
The photo I think is a female or juv Aust Golden Whistler.

 

[Maroon Jay]

Second day at Katoomba, Blue Mountains.
54. Regent Bowerbird. (a nice find but saw only the mottled female. The yellow and black male and his bower were nowhere to be seen.
55. One of the Thornbills. (I am thinking Yellow Thornbill but not sure.)

 

[Si Clayton]

Hi, looks like Grey Shrike-thrush, related to Whistlers

 

[Si Clayton]

Second day at Katoomba, Blue Mountains.
54. Regent Bowerbird. (a nice find but saw only the mottled female. The yellow and black male and his bower were nowhere to be seen.
55. One of the Thornbills. (I am thinking Yellow Thornbill but not sure.)

Maybe Buff-rumped Thornbill?

 

[Maroon Jay]

Thank you Simon. I agree.
55. Buff-rumped Thornbill
56. Grey Shrike-thrush

 

[Maroon Jay]

Second day at Blue Mountains in the evening:
57. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (the only black cockatoo I have seen so far.)
58. Eastern Spinebill.

 

[Maroon Jay]

First day at Capertee. Not many birds. Hot as hell. 42 degrees C when I was there. I spite of the heat, I did manage to find a few new birds.
59. White-winged Chough
60. Eastern Yellow Robin
61. Dusky Woodswallow
62. Brown Treecreeper
63. Australasian Pipit (seen before in New Zealand)
64. Black-fronted Dotterel. ( bad photo as setting sun was on the other side.)

 

[Maroon Jay]

We camped at Glen Davis campground in the middle of town. Free. Even has showers with hot and cold water. Cleanliness is not of the highest standard but very good for a free place. If you go here, try to pick up a brochure called Capertee Valley Map and Guide to Birdwatching. It has a map and marks all the best spots for birding in the valley. I got mine at the Glenbrook Vistor's centre at the entrance to the Blue Mountains. The guide book says that there are no services in the area but there is a fuel station and small store in Capertee Village. Perhaps it is new. I got up early the second morning to avoid the heat. Lots of birds about but unfortunately no Regent Honeyeater to be seen.
65. Red-rumped Parrot
66. White-plumed Honeyeater
67. Striped Honeyeater
68. Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
69. Plum-headed Finch
70. One unknown little grey bird. All grey with no distinctive marks. Any ideas on this one?

 

[MJB]

70. One unknown little grey bird. All grey with no distinctive marks. Any ideas on this one?

Jacky Winter? They were common when we were there in 2011. Check your Red-rumped Parrot flocks, especially apparent females, for strangers...

Rock Warbler could be on the track just in the woods behind Oska's Cottage (the yellow bungalow) about 350m from the bridge into Glen Davis village, about 55km from Capertee Village. Excellent birding area. The track called Noika Street on Google Maps continues 10km or more up Glen Davis.
MJB

 

[Maroon Jay]

Jacky Winter it is. Thank you MJB. The picture in my book shows Jacky Winter with a big white eyebrow but after I looked for images in the internet I saw that there are many without the white eyebrow. Thanks.
70. Jacky Winter.
I have now moved on to the Barren Grounds so cant look for any more birds at Capertee. Time ran out.

 

[Maroon Jay]

Had better luck at the Barren Grounds. Did not see as many birds but I did see the Bristlebird. Best place to look for the Bristlebird is on the first two kilometres of the eight km loop when going in a anti-clockwise direction from the parking lot.
71. Bristlebird.
Also saw two unidentified little birds. Hope someone can ID them for me.

 

[ianreid]

1. White-browed Scrub-wren
2. Rufous Whistler (imm)

Cheers, Ian

 

[Maroon Jay]

Back. Have not had internet access for several days. Thank you very much Ian.
72. White-browed Scrub-wren
73. Rufous Whistler (Imm)

 

[Maroon Jay]

Some incidental sightings:
74. Great Cormorant (near Kiama) (seen before in New Zealand)
75. Grey Butcherbirfd (at Jervis Bay)

Mammals
2. Eastern Grey Kangaroo
3. Rabbit (is there only one kind of rabbit in Australia?)

Reptiles
1. Australian Water Dragon
2. Jacky Dragon
3. Land Mullet

 

[Maroon Jay]

Found another place for Bristlebird. On the road from Jervis Bay to Hyamms Beach. There is even a Bristlebird crossing sign although there is a lot of traffic and nobody slows down for it. I saw one run across the road between traffic. Why would it do that instead of flying across?

 

[Maroon Jay]

At Khancoban in the Snowy Mountains:
76. Sacred Kingfisher (seen before in New Zealand)
77. Some type of raptor (see photo) (long-distance photo. not too good but hopefully enough to ID)

 

[Maroon Jay]

I am now at the south coast of Australia in the state of Victoria. I seems like I will have to pass on going to Tasmania as the ferry is all booked up until June. I could go but not get back. I could go with a small car but not with my camper van. Very disappointed. It seems they have only one ferry and it gets booked up months in advance. I was prepared to wait a little while but I cant wait for two months.

 

[DMW]

Why not just fly from Melbourne to Hobart and hire a car for a week? My flights were cheap, and pre-booked rental car was < A$25 per day.