Early morning in the Capertee ValleyI've just spent another weekend car-camping in the Capertee Valley. Jarrod and Paul joined me on this occasion as the search continued for the Regent Honeyeater and the other rarities associated with the area. Although quite chilly, the weather was good and the birding even better. Over the two days I managed to pick up a remarkable four new species for the list.
Sulfur-crested Cockatoos
The
Southern Whiteface #377 is a little brown bird of the fields so great to see a few on a fence and get them out of the way.
Southern Whiteface
The main target was the Regent Honeyeater which is pretty rare now and only found in a few locations in the country. They have been seen relatively frequently in the Capertee this season and an internet tip-off led us to a bridge over a stream down some small dead-end track. Jarrod and I staked out some likely looking eucalypts while Paul went for a walk down by the river. After waiting a while with nothing doing we decided to move elsewhere and found Paul sitting by the creek appreciating the sounds of Nature. One of these sounds came from a few feet above his head and turned out to be the
Regent Honeyeater #378. Turns out it had been sitting above him for ages and he hadn't realised what he'd found!
Regent Honeyeater
Restless Flycatcher
Red-rumped Parrot
Back near the campsite we came across a flock of
Turquoise Parrots #379 which are the brightest parrots I've ever seen. They're also pretty unusual and to find a big group of them was outstanding. Darkness was approaching so pictures were difficult. I managed to get one impressionist shot....
Turquoise parrotsOn the way back to Sydney we stopped off at the Lithgow sewage treatment works and as reported online, there were several
Blue-billed Ducks #380 present which rounded off a very pleasant trip.
Lithgow sewage ponds
Wobbegong
Port Jackson Shark
Nice hot brunch in Coogee to warm up
