Reedy Lakes, Kerang

Brown Treecreeper

Headed west along the Murray River we stopped at a picnic area on Middle Reedy Lake near Kerang. Middle Reedy is recognised as the largest breeding ground in the world for ibis, and in spring more than 100,000 birds gather here to breed. It would be great to see the sunrise/sunset flight to or from the roosts. There is an elevated hide, walking tracks and good facilities. But in mid-winter there were no waterbirds.

The shrubs around our picnic table however brought in a good number of bush birds.

Striated Pardalote

White-plumed Honeyeater

Wee Jasper Reserves

Brown Treecreeper

Willie Wagtail and friend

The Wee Jasper Reserves are a series of camping areas near the town of the same name, along the Goodradigbee River, The reserves are managed by a Trust, a group of volunteers funded by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, and the small camping fees charged. Camping is 'primitive', with minimal facilities, and campers have to be fairly self sufficient. The Stables Tavern in Wee Jasper sells booze and ice, but the general store is now closed and Yass is 50km away.

Noisy Friarbird fledgling

Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike

Rufous Songlark

Rylstone Weir

Rylstone Weir is a large lake on the Cudgegong River that supplies water to
Rylstone and Kandos. The track to the weir is on the northeastern edge of Rylstone. From central Rylstone, take Louee St to the north edge of town just before the bridge. Turn right into Dabee St, then left into Tongbong St which turns right and becomes Rylstone Dam Rd. Take this to the top of the rise and park along the side of the road near the locked gate. The pedestrian gate gives access to the track that winds up to the weir, and continues on to the headland on the far side.

A pair of raptors were circling and calling in the distance, and White-Browed Scrub Wrens and Superb Fairywrens scolded from the scrub. Rabbits broke from cover as we passed, and Wombat scat littered the path.

On the near side of the lake thick reeds and high grass made it difficult to see birds close by, but out on the water were Great Crested Grebe, Musk Duck, Darter, Black Swan, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Purple Swamphen, Eurasian Coot, Maned Duck and Pacific Black Duck. Reed Warblers could be heard, but not seen.

Tree Martins and Welcome Swallows buzzed the water in a search for insects.

Paddling across the stream in bare feet, we headed up the hill where we were more on a level with the treetops. There were many White-plumed Honeyeaters, one tending a neatly woven nest.

Eastern Yellow Robin were also plentiful, and similarly seemed to be tending nests in the low shrubs.

A Brown Treecreeper circled the tree trunks.

In the distance a Little Eagle soared, harried by smaller birds, but never coming close.

Birds that we saw, but only managed record shots, or no shots at all were an Azure Kingfisher, a flash of blue over the river; a pair of Sacred Kingfishers investigating a hollow high in a dead tree, an Olive-Backed Oriole resting briefly in high branches; two White-browed Babblers who called from within the blackberries before fleeing to the far side of the fence line; a Fuscous Honeyeater hawking for insects; Willie Wagtails; Noisy Miners; White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike and Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike; Rufous Whistler; Laughing Kookaburra; Crested Pigeon; Grey Shrike-thrush; Australian Magpie; Magpie-lark; and Peaceful Dove.

Wambina Nature Reserve

Brown Thornbill

Brown Gerygone

Silvereye

Red-browed Firetail

White-throated Treecreeper

The 53 hectare Wambina Nature Reserve  protects the headwaters of Erina Creek. It covers a variety of habitats from ridges of open forest to deep rainforest gullies. The reserve provides habitat for flying foxes, powerful owls and southern angle-headed dragons.

It is one of a series of reserves and parks stretching along coastal New South Wales, which provide habitat for a range of migratory and nomadic animals. It is also provides a link to other reserves on the Central Coast, such as Katandra and Rumbalara, which are managed by Gosford City Council. The vegetation includes warm temperate rainforest with sub tropical elements; and open forests of Blackbutt Eucalyptus pilularis, Spotted Gum Corymbia maculata and Sydney Blue Gum Eucalyptus saligna. Twelve animal species found in the reserve are listed as Vulnerable.

It was a day for little brown birds when we visited. Many Superb Fairywrens, Eastern Yellow Robins, and White-browed Scrubwrens as well as those pictured above.