Photo by Silva Vaughan-Jones Freckled Duck Photo by Silva Vaughan-Jones

Author: Peter West Produced by Hastings Birdwatchers Inc. www.hastingsbirdwatchers.org.au A wonderful place to go - to the Pacific beaches and There’s plenty of accommoda- watching, for beginners or the estuaries are stunning and well tion, in the coastal towns, or for more experienced looking for connected. something quieter, remote camps those special rarities. The habitats Consequently there are close in the mountain forests. Check out ranging from the Beech forests of to 300 to search for. our bird list for what you might (NP) find.

Our Key Biodiversity Regent Honeyeater Areas (KBA’s)

There are eleven thousand KBAs around the world; places of high biodiversity for and other biota; “nature’s hot spots” Pre- serve these to preserve most of the world’s biodiversity. Within the Hastings we have two KBAs, the Hastings Macleay between the and Grassy Head, east of the Pacific Highway and Werrikimbe NP. Photo Peter West Around There are many excellent birding other rainforest specials all year. walk. Ask the guides where to find special birds and nests. sites to keep you busy for at least Access: off Ocean Dr, PaT a day. Many have Swamp Ma- 2. Googik Track Birds: Rainforest specialists, in hoganies and Forest Red Gums, A lovely walk through a summer monarchs and Rufous favoured trees of the Regent swamp forest in Innes Fantail, also Powerful , Honeyeater and Swift , NR. Take a half-hour stroll or walk or longer if you have time. Pale-yellow Robin, Brush-, birds for which the KBA was Logrunner plus both Wompoo and proclaimed. The settling ponds at the north- ern entrance might be interesting. Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves. Access: from Lake Rd opposite 1 Kooloonbung Creek. 4. Tacking Point and the coast In the heart of the town, enjoy a Barton Cres near Ocean Drive. Pa on Lake Rd Strong onshore winds can give walk through littoral rainforest a great sea watch experience. Birds: Woodland birds, Forest and a boardwalk through man- Set yourself up in the lee of the , Sittella, crakes and groves and swamp. The large bushes beside the lighthouse and rails and perhaps any of the fruit bat colony is also of interest. enjoy. Access: via Lighthouse Rd Bitterns. Access: from the scout hall in off Ocean Drive. P Hollingsworth St. PaPi T at the Birds: Any time Sea-Eagle, Os- cemetery 3. Sea Acres Nature Reserve prey, Brahminy Kite, Reef Egret, Birds: In winter Pitta and – entry fee applies Sooty Oystercatcher, and Bassian Thrush plus Barred The largest patch of littoral rain- Gannets. During a blow, anything -shrike, while summer is forest on the north coast is well from rare terns, prions, petrels, good for monarchs, Rufous Fan- worth the fee for the rainforest skuas, and shearwaters to tail, with , Catbird and experience on a raised board- and boobies 5. Creek off Fern- bank Creek Road A top site for many swamp and grassland birds. Access: from Hastings Drive, turn south just before Fernbank Creek Bridge. After 500m left to an unsealed track then park 200m further at the mown area. Please keep the access free. Bird all the tracks to the locked gates. No facilities Birds: Red-backed Fairy-wren, Emu-wren, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin and Double-barred Finch, Pallid and Little-bronze Bar-tailed Godwits Photo by Silva Vaughan-Jones , Brown and King Quail, Lewin’s and Buff-banded Rails, if the waters right crakes, Birds: On the roost, terns, below. Walk the various tracks Spotted and Swamp Harriers, including Caspian, waders and into Limeburner’s NR. Heath- Baza, both trillers and many . In the mangroves, land, swamp, rainforest pockets, more. An evening visit may pro- Mangrove Gerygone is resident Swamp Mahogany woodlands. duce Grass, Barking and Barn and Leaden Flycatcher in sum- Access: Left off the ferry, after and even Ground Parrot. mer. Look for Osprey, Brahminy 3.5km right into Rd Kite, Sea-Eagle and Striated which goes 24km to Crescent 6. Settlement Point Heron. Head Rd. Good areas in order The roost at the northern end of heading north are, left at 9km Mundays Lane, right at 2km to Pelican Island can be viewed as Across the you take the ferry to the North the Quarry Track, left at 12km to The North Shore. shore at Settlement Point. See to the and at 1.5km the Take the ferry for the chance in the mangroves south of the rainforest pocket. No facilities; to see some fantastic birds in a carpark for specials. Access: go parking on the road beyond the ferry loading ramp to key part of the KBA, including Birds: Heathland and Tea Tree the car park. PaPiT the - in part areas have Tawny-crowned Hon- why the KBA was designated. eyeater, Lewin’s , Grass Owl

Little Black 7. North Shore rainforest A nice spot with the usual birds. Access: Right off the ferry, drive to the beach road, right to North Wall Rd, park on the right after 500m.Walk the footpath. P Birds: Rainforest birds includ- ing; Wompoo, Rose-crowned (and if you’re lucky) Superb Fruit-Doves plus others, Mon- archs, Rufous Fantail and Yel- low-throated Scrubwren.

8. Maria River Road & Lime- burners Creek NR This good unsealed road offers many good birds, stopping as

Photo Peter West Photo Peter West and Australasian Bittern. At dusk the Quarry Track could also yield Ground Parrot, White-throated Nightjar, Owlet Nightjar and in daytime Little Lorikeet. The Swamp Mahoganies are surveyed between May and August for Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater. Raptors could be anywhere, Brown Falcon, all accipters, Square-tailed Kite, Little Eagle and others. Finally the swamps for bitterns, , Black-necked and Forest Kingfisher.

Crested Photo Peter West

White-cheeked Honeyeater lake shores. In Lake Cathie; bellied Cuckoo-shrike and lori- first right is Dirah St; search keets. Around the lake, Osprey, the trees here, the playing fields Brahminy & Whistling Kite and and Cathie Village track to the Sea-Eagle, Striated and Nankeen- lake. Further south, over the Night Herons. On the sandbar, bridge, turn left to view the terns including Caspian, White- roost on the sand. Also right fronted, Common and Little plus into Tallong Dr and right to Double-banded and Red-capped Kenwood Dr and right to Lake- Plovers. side estate and beyond. Winter can be great for honeyeaters in 10. Henry Kendall Reserve, the flowering Swamp Mahoga- Queens Lake and Dooragan NP nies. PaPiT At Laurieton, to the west is good Birds: April to August the rari- for a range of water, forest and ties such as Regent Honeyeater rainforest birds. Dooragan, at

Photo Silva Vaughan-Jones and Swift Parrot in the gums; 476m has a different range of heathland birds, White-cheeked birds. Access: Laurieton is 16km and Brown Honeyeaters, White- south of Lake Cathie. Right at South to The Camden Haven Head south to the villages of the Camden Haven for a wonderful day’s birding. Round trip 120kms.

9. Lake Cathie & Perch Hole The waterways and heathlands hold the range of birds one would expect plus the KBA species, Regent Honeyeater and Swift Par- rot if you are lucky. Try the sand spit roost at the estuary of Cathie Creek for terns and waders. Ac- cess: head 7km south from Port’s boundary along Ocean Drive. The Perch Hole, to the right 1km before entering the village, drive to the end of the track and the

Striated Heron Photo Peter West Bold St and Ocean Drive, then right after 400m to Henry Kend- all and then 2km to Queens Lake sailing club on the right. These sites are connected by a good track to see the birds. Dooragan is to the left between these, 5km drive up the forested mountain. There are several tracks on the way and a magnificent view from the top. PaPiT Birds: In the woodlands along Queens Lake, birds include thousands of at times plus Glossy-black Cockatoo, Azure Kingfisher, Varied Sittella, Cicadabird and White-naped Beach Stone-curlew Photo Peter West Honeyeaters. Nesting Osprey, plus Brahminy & Whistling Kite on the lake side. On Doora- Oystercatcher and Herons from and keep right, the park is 2.5km gan Red-browed Treecreepers, the cliffs. With onshore winds, with many walking and dirt driv- Wonga Pigeon, Yellow-throated at Perpendicular Point, one can ing tracks. The circular walk from Scrubwren and Boobook and per- see pelagic birds, though Tack- Diamond Head to Kylies Beach haps Masked and Powerful Owls. ing Point is better. has wonderful coastal scenery and good birds. PaPiT 11. Kattang NR and Googleys 12. Sunnyvale Road at Kew Birds: Several raptors including Lagoon There are dry forest, wet for- Square-tailed Kite. Many hon- Find 50 species in an hour walk- est and open wet grasslands eyeaters especially in winter and ing the shores of Googleys along this rural road beside the spring including Tawny-crowned, Lagoon and heathland birds in , with Brown & Blue-faced, also Glossy Kattang NR. Access: go south the normal suite of birds. Ac- Black-Cockatoos, four lorikeets on Bold Street through Laurieton cess: South of Port turn off the including Little & Musk, Dusky towards . Left after highway at Kew, head south on Woodswallow and other migrants. you cross the river then 5km on Nancy Bird Walton Dr and right Ground Parrot and Grass Owl are The Boulevard / Camden Head to Sunnyvale Rd at the rounda- recorded but hard to find. Rd. Down the hill is the beach bout. After 1 km the dry forest and then left along the southern drops to the flood plain. Further White-breasted Woodswallow break- wall to views over the under the freeway and along the lagoon. Or enter Kattang and river is a wet forest. T at Kew walk to the Headland and round Birds: Honeyeaters, Sittellas the flower Bowl. PaPiT and bush birds in the forests. Birds: Along the river, raptors, Raptors include, harriers, Reef Egret & Striated Heron, Wedge-tailed Eagle. Black- Beach Stone-curlew is possible necked Stork, Latham’s Snipe, plus terns, herons and bush birds; both rails and wetland birds the mangroves have Mangrove when the area is wet. Gerygone and Azure Kingfisher. Kattang is heath and some 13. Crowdy Bay NP – Dia- rainforest with fruit pigeons, mond and Indian Heads Regent and Satin , Huge and scenic dominated plus heathland birds including by heathland on the headlands Glossy Black-Cockatoo, many and behind the wooded dunes. honeyeaters, plus raptors includ- Access: South from Laurieton ing Peregrine at Camden Head, on Bold Street, cross the bridge Photo Silva Vaughan-Jones 16. Boorganna NR & Com- boyne Boorganna is a top spot for rain- forest specials and holds birds not seen on the coast. A walk down to the waterfall lookout should yield most of these. Access: from Wauchope turn left after 10km to Comboyne Rd. At Comboyne, continue through the village a further 2.7km and turn right down Innes View Rd. After a further 3.7km you reach the reserve en- trance. PaPiT Birds: In Comboyne, Crimson Rosellas & bowerbirds. In spring and summer the paddocks along the road may hold Songlarks, Tawny Grassbirds and Cisticolas. At the NR check out the car- Peregrine Falcon Photo Silva Vaughan-Jones park for common birds, a Satin

Bowerbird’s bower, and if you’re West up the 15. Ellenborough Reserve and It’s a long day’s birding through beyond lucky, Noisy Pitta, Catbird, Pale- Wauchope to Ellenborough and The reserve is a paradise for yellow Robin, Yellow-throated beyond, but there is whole new weeds but birds are good and Scrubwren and fruit doves. On suite of birds to discover. The for- it’s a nice spot to stop. Going the forest trail you could add ests of the mountains are stunning further west to Forbs River Rd Crested Shrike-tit, both thrushes, and the rainforest at Boorganna on teh right at Yarras Keep your monarchs, Rufous Fantail, Log- NR not to be missed. eyes open for Spotted Harrier, runner and if you’re very lucky Brown Falcon and try Costigans Paradise Riflebird. There may be Rd for Stubble Quail, Triller and 14. King Creek dam & Common a Peregrine at the Waterfall and Suburban encroachment has others. Access: 35km along the Oxley Highway from Wauchope Bell Miners are also here. detracted from the birding experi- is the village of Ellenborough. ence at the dam but good birds Take the signposted right turn to are still to be found that are hard the reserve, 500m. PaPiT Shining Bronze-Cuckoo to find elsewhere. Access: head Birds: An anticlockwise circu- towards Wauchope and 6km from lar walk from the end of the re- the highway turn left into King serve, down to the river should Creek Rd. You reach the dam give you a good range of small after 1.2km. The common is down birds: thornbills, wrens, Red- Narran Close on the right a further browed Finches, bowerbirds, 500m. Pa beside the road White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Birds: and Mag- Brown Quail and others. In pie Goose,. Jacana, Azure King- spring and summer cuckoos in- fisher and Latham’s Snipe plus cluding Brush are found. Going other ducks, herons and water- further west to Forbes River Rd birds. Thornbills, various wrens on the right at Yarras keep your and honeyeaters can be found at eyes open for Spotted Harrier, the Common Brown Falcon and try Costigans Road for Stubble Quail, Triller and others. Photo Peter West Eastern Koel / Little Wattlebird

The Western Forests and Fantail, cuckoos and perhaps Ranges . This is a long drive on dirt roads and you need to beware the log- 18. Wilson River NR ging trucks. You could camp at You continue to climb but then Brushy Mountain to break the trip drop down to the subtropical and there are owls and mammals rainforest of this NR on the Wil- to spotlight if you’re so inclined. son River. It’s a delightful spot There are special birds here in the and another chance for rainforest mountain forests. specials. There are a couple of tracks and walking the road can 17. Bellangry be good as well. Access: Con- The forest around the #1 watch- tinue another 14km on Hastings tower has been logged but close Forest Way and take the signed to the tower there are still good right turn to the reserve and birds. The lookout is stupendous, drive a further 6km. PaPiT with views 50km to the coast. Birds: Good for rainforest birds, Access: from Wauchope take the Pitta, monarchs, Pale-yellow road to Beechwood to the right Robin, Rufous Fantail, scrubw- west of the town centre. At Beech- rens, thornbills, and others. Photo Peter West wood follow the signs and turn Keep an eye open along the right on to Bellangry. Follow this forest roads for Painted Button- for 19km to the dirt and a further quail. birds including the Rufous Scrub- 8km on Hastings Forest Way to bird for which the KBA was the sign for the look out. PaPiT 19. Werrikimbe NP – Brushy recognised. You could drive the Birds: Many small birds in the Mountain and Plateau Beech roads and stop at likely spots; shrubbery and forest, thornbills, You’ll be going in to the heart the smaller tracks can be rough wrens and honeyeaters. Sum- of the Werrikimbe KBA, home and only for 4WD or walk the mer migrants, monarchs, Rufous to several rare and threatened several trails in the area through Antarctic Beech and wet forests. Access: return to Hastings Forest Noisy Pitta Way, turn right and after 14km keep right at the intersection with Cockerawombeeba Rd, to Brushy Mountain. A further 2km and you will see the camping area sign- posted. PaPiTC You could also visit Mt Banda Banda, signed to the right be- fore Brushy Mt. Or Plateau Beech, take the left fork onto Cockerawombeeba Rd and after 7km follow the sign to the right. PaPiTC Birds: The Rufous Scrub bird is more often heard than seen. Its loud reverberating call is heard from time to time. The habitat is dense and the birds very shy but you may be lucky. Olive Whistler, Red-browed Treecreeper, Striated Thornbill, Bassian Thrush, New Holland Honeyeater, Rose, Scarlet & Flame Robins, Green Catbird, Crimson Rosella and King-Parrot. Photo Silva Vaughan-Jones Greater Sooty Owl at night. Jacky Winter

Further afield As well as these wonderful sites there are still more if you are pre- pared to travel a little further. Going West, there are some great places for birds. At 11km beyond Forbes River Rd (see site 15) is the turn off to Mt Seaview Resort. From here for a further 51 kms, there are many places to stop, HASTINGS VALLEY DISTRICT MAP particularly Knodingbul Rd and Stockyard Creek rest area. There are Scrub-bird, Riflebird, Olive Photo Peter West Whistler, Spotted Quail-thrush and many others to find. For both guides see on which birds are migrants and when they may be here. Kangaroo flat Rd to Mooraback www.hastingsbirdwatchers.org. au camp site in Werrikimbe NP can • Remember water levels of wet- also be very productive. lands and the state of the tide can How to get the best from North the Macleay Valley hosts How to get the best from impact when best to see birds. this guide many of the same birds plus fur- • Early morning particularly and ther upstream from Kempsey there • These sites have public access, late afternoon are the best times to are birds normally seen over the please don’t trespass. look for birds. mountains. See the Bird Watch- ing Guide to the Macleay Valley. • Directions: in general these • Keep the birds’ well-being in are from Port Macquarie and mind at all times. If you’re dis- distances are additional to those South is the Manning Valley already covered. turbing them then leave them in where similar species can be peace. found. Farquhar Inlet at Old Bar is • Binoculars and a field guide will help you get the most out of Rufous Songlark excellent for waders and Terns and your experience. is the site of the discovery of the Aleutian Tern in 2017. See Bird- • Go quietly in search of birds; you will see more. ing Locations of the Lower for other sites. • The bird list gives information

Photo Peter West Red-browed Finch This brochure is produced by Hastings Birdwatchers based in Port Macquarie. They hold regular field trips and other activities. For details see www.hastingsbirdwatchers.org.au

For birding South of the Hastings go to the Manning Great Lakes Birdwatchers - www.nabiac.com Then go to clubs.

For national Parks brochures and Apps see www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au Photo Peter West Field Guides: Field Guide to Australian LEGEND • Pa Parking Field Guide to the Birds of Birds Michael Morcombe. • Pi Picnic table , Graham Pizzey and Available as books or apps, • T Toilet • C Camping Frank Knight. which include bird calls.

2668 Hastings Birdwatchers Map - proofv3 22-09-2019 Rob KyteHASTINGS 0420 821 460 VALLEY DISTRICT MAP Birds of the Hastings & Camden Haven Valleys Summer migrants seen between Winter migrants seen between September and April March and October Rare vagrants and sea birds that are truly pelagic such as, albatross and petrels etc, are not listed

Magpie Goose Australian Owlet-nightjar Black-browed Albatross Plumed Whistling-Duck White-throated Needletail Shy Albatross Wandering Whistling-duck Fork-tailed Swift Fairy Prion Pink-eared Duck Lewin’s Rail Providence Petrel Black Swan Buff-banded Rail Grey-faced Petrel Hardhead Australian Spotted Crake Wedge-tailed Shearwater Pacific Black Duck Baillon’s Crake Short-tailed Shearwater Grey Teal Spotless Crake Sooty Shearwater Chestnut Teal Purple Swamphen Flesh-footed Shearwater Freckled Duck Dusky Moorhen Fluttering Shearwater Eurasian Coot Black-necked Stork Australian Wood Duck Brolga Australian Brush-turkey Beach Stone-curlew Australasian Bittern Stubble Quail Australian Pied Oystercatcher Australian Little Bittern Brown Quail Sooty Oystercatcher Black Bittern King Quail Pied Stilt Nankeen Night-Heron Australasian Pacific Golden Plover Striated Heron Hoary-headed Grebe Red-capped Plover Double-banded Plover White-necked Heron Rock Dove Black-fronted Dotterel Great Egret White-headed Pigeon Masked Lapwing Intermediate Egret Spotted Dove Red-kneed Dotterel White-faced Heron Brown Cuckoo-Dove Comb-crested Jacana Little Egret Wonga Pigeon Whimbrel Eastern Reef Egret Common Bronzewing Eastern Curlew Brush Bronzewing Bar-tailed Godwit Straw-necked Ibis Crested Pigeon Ruddy Turnstone Peaceful Dove Great Knot Australasian Gannet Bar-shouldered Dove Red Knot Little Pied Cormorant Brown-capped Emerald-Dove Latham’s Snipe Wompoo Fruit-Dove Grey-tailed Tattler Superb Fruit-Dove Wandering Tattler Pied Cormorant Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Painted Button-quail Australasian Arctic Jaeger Osprey Coucal Pomarine Jaeger Black-shouldered Kite Eastern Koel Brown Skua Square-tailed Kite Channel-billed Cuckoo Silver Gull Pacific Baza Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Little Tern Wedge-tailed Eagle Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Australian Gull-billed Tern Little Eagle Little Bronze-Cuckoo Caspian Tern Swamp Harrier Fan-tailed Cuckoo Whiskered Tern Spotted Harrier Brush Cuckoo White-fronted Tern Grey Goshawk Pallid Cuckoo Brown Goshawk Tawny Frogmouth Crested Tern Collared Sparrowhawk White-throated Nightjar Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross White-bellied Sea-Eagle Whistling Kite Noisy Friarbird Pied Butcherbird Brahminy Kite Little Friarbird Grey Butcherbird Black Kite Brown Honeyeater Masked Woodswallow Eastern Grass Owl New Holland Honeyeater White-browed Woodswallow Greater Sooty Owl White-cheeked Honeyeater Dusky Woodswallow Masked Owl Blue-faced Honeyeater White-breasted Woodswallow Barn Owl Brown-headed Honeyeater Spangled Drongo Powerful Owl White-naped Honeyeater Willie Wagtail Barking Owl Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Rufous Fantail Southern Boobook Eastern Spinebill Grey Fantail Rainbow Bee-eater Lewin’s Honeyeater Torresian Crow Dollarbird Little Wattlebird Forest Raven Azure Kingfisher Regent Honeyeater Australian Raven Forest Kingfisher Red Wattlebird Leaden Flycatcher Fuscous Honeyeater Satin Flycatcher Laughing Yellow-faced Honeyeater Restless Flycatcher Nankeen Kestrel Bell Miner Magpie-lark Australian Hobby Noisy Miner Spectacled Monarch Brown Falcon Spotted Pardalote Black-faced Monarch Peregrine Falcon Striated Pardalote Paradise Riflebird Glossy Black-Cockatoo Brown Gerygone Rose Robin Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo White-throated Gerygone Flame Robin Galah Mangrove Gerygone Scarlet Robin Long-billed Corella Yellow-throated Scrubwren Jacky Winter Little Corella White-browed Scrubwren Eastern Yellow Robin Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Large-billed Scrubwren Pale-yellow Robin Australian King-Parrot Yellow-rumped Thornbill Mistletoebird Crimson Rosella Yellow Thornbill Chestnut-breasted Mannikin Eastern Rosella Striated Thornbill Red-browed Finch Swift Parrot Brown Thornbill Double-barred Finch Ground Parrot Australian Logrunner House Sparrow Varied Sittella Australasian Pipit Little Lorikeet Barred Cuckoo-shrike European Goldfinch Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Golden-headed Cisticola Scaly-breasted Lorikeet White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Brown Songlark Noisy Pitta Cicadabird Rufous Songlark Superb Lyrebird White-winged Triller Tawny Grassbird Rufous Scrub-bird Varied Triller Little Grassbird Green Catbird Spotted Quail-thrush Australian Reed-Warbler Regent Bowerbird Olive Whistler Fairy Martin Rufous Whistler Tree Martin White-throated Treecreeper Golden Whistler Welcome Swallow Red-browed Treecreeper Grey Shrike-thrush Silvereye Variegated Fairy-wren Crested Shrike-tit Superb Fairy-wren Eastern Whipbird Common Myna Red-backed Fairy-wren Australasian Bassian Thrush Southern Emu-wren Olive-backed Oriole Russet-tailed Thrush Scarlet Honeyeater Pied Currawong Striped Honeyeater Australian Magpie The 278 species on this list represent all resident and regularly occur- ring migrants, plus birds that occur in the valley from time to time