HBW hangs out at Royal Briagolong, Peach Flat

Thirteen birders "braved" a beautiful, sunny day with a zephyr breeze to visit the beautiful property of Rod and Michele at Peach Flat. It was a stunning day which could not be bettered for birding. After introductions and orientation, we all set off over the creek, through the paddock and over the swing bridge to the back section then either up the hill with tremendous views of the water and buildings or straight back to the morning tea spot past the lakes and their attendant waterbirds - European Coot, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, a Little Pied Cormorant, a lone White-faced Heron and loads of grebes. Now, were they Australasian or Hoary-headed, that was the main question over a cuppa. Out came the apps and it was decided we had some of both. But they are so hard to tell apart.

After smoko, most of the company walked up and over the hill to the grassy flat on George Creek whilst Peter G and I quietly walked back to the lakes, I hid behind a 2 metre-high Black Wattle with camera and scope and Peter continued on around the lakes eventually "driving" the waterfowl close to me. Here are the results.

The images above are of an adult Hoary-headed Grebe in full breeding regalia of "brushed-back grey 'hair' streaked black, a silver eye and a black chin with cream to buff-white forelock and breast" Pizzey & Knight

The two HHGs in the foreground show the variation in head colour but the angle of the light makes quite a difference. Additionally, the bird on the left may be an adult going into the winter plumage OR an immature coming into breeding plumage but it is a bit late in the year for that so probably an adult.

These two images above show an adult and an immature bird. Note that the immature bird has the  border between the grey head and the white cheeks going along the lower border of the eye.

A great family picture with youngster in the middle.

This image has an Australasian Grebe in between two Hoary-headed Grebes. I think the Aussie is an adult going into his/her winter plumage because the cheek has lost it's black colouration and the yellow/gold "tear" in front of the eye running from the eye to the commissure of the beak has lost it's colour too. However, note that the border between the black head and the pale cheek passes through the eye.

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We did see other birds including Eastern Yellow and Scarlet Robins, Jacky Winters, a Restless Flycatcher, Golden Whistler, about 30 Red Wattlebirds in a flock, a Satin Bowerbird [female or immature male], a Nankeen Kestrel, Azure Kingfisher and 21 Australian Wood Duck.

Red Wattlebirds

Jacky Winter

After lunch Rod and Michele introduced us to the Royal Briagolong Croquet Club and its new croquet court which we subsequently christened. After two rounds of garden croquet with all having a turn, Rod and Deirdre got serious and showed the assembled fans just how a game is played and won [by Rod].

We had a great day in delightful company in superb surroundings.

Magic. f8 and be there!

Wandering Dutchman eats Regent Honey

Or does he?

After our Culburra Beach experience we went searching for Rockwarbler in nearby Bomaderry Creek Reserve with a three kilometre walk through a gorge of beautiful environment but no Rockwarbler. A big dip. But did manage to spot a Brown Cuckoo-Dove on the way out.

Brown Cuckoo-Dove

An overnight stop with my cousin Edwina meant we were refreshed for the next couple of days in Capertee Valley looking for ... Regents Honeyeater. There were some Birdline NSW reports with an exact location where they had been seen in the last two days. We camped for two nights at Glen Davis; in the "village" itself with showers and shelters. Nice spot. Capertee Valley is very well set up for birding with info sheets available from the internet [click here] and locally. They have established 18 birding sites within the valley with advice on what birds are likely to be seen and visible roadside markers at these points. An excellent job indeed. Here are some of the birds we saw on our way in to the valley.

Brown Thornbill

Sacred Kingfisher with a BIG meal

Fan-tailed Cuckoo

The Regents had been seen 1.1 km beyond a locked gate going into the Capertee National Park. So we parked and walked. Lots of bird activity. Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters everywhere, Brown-headed, Yellow-faced, Striped, White-naped, White-plumed, Spinebills, Noisy Miner, Bell Miner but no Regent's. However, in the big tree at the nominated spot we saw Little Lorikeets. Boy, do they move fast. We were able to observe them for many minutes but it was a hard job. Taking photos was even harder.

Little Lorikeet

The next day we went back for another look. No luck again finding Regent's but here is what else was about.

Australian Hobby

Collared Sparrowhawk

Diamond Firetail

Grey-crowned Babbler

Red-rumped Parrot, male

Dutchman twitchy about twitching megas

Pronounced meguz i.e. the plural of mega. In The Netherlands Robert is a bit of a dedicated twitcher chasing rare vagrants [which the Dutch call megas] across the country at the drop of a hat. Remember The Netherlands is not that big so three or four hours will put you from one border to the other.

So after Merimbula we headed north without Heath who had taken the second car to visit mates in Sydney. We wouldn't see him for 4 or 5 days. We went to Cape Jervis to bird the Eastern Bristlebird - a mega although not a vagrant. Just hard to observe due to secretive nature and rarity. We set up our camp then, with not much daylight left went to check out the potential spot for the bird at Cape St George. Well, we hadn't gone 400 metres and had just turned south at a main intersection when we spotted the aforesaid bird on the verge. Instant stop and a great view of the bird with juvenile in tow for about 5 minutes but we were so close [5 metres] that I dared not move to get camera for photo as I had hopped out of the car [Robert had a great view from the passenger seat] and was looking over the bonnet. Hence no image but a mega and life tick x 2 birders.

Next day we moved on to Lake Wollumboola at Culburra Beach near Nowra to twitch the Hudsonian Godwit. Alas, we dipped but there were plenty of other birds there. Highlights were Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, Fairy and Little Terns, Lesser Sand Plover and Sanderling [2 x life ticks for me but common as Starlings to a European!].

Lesser Sand Plover

Robert in typical pose

White-winged Black Tern, non-breeding

Little Tern, breeding plumage. Black lores goes to bill. 

Little Tern, non-breeding

Rear: Fairy Tern, breeding plumage. Black loves does not extend to bill.

Red-necked Avocet

Sanderling