TRIP REPORT: CUSTOM TOUR

DATES: 29 SEPTEMBER – 6 OCTOBER 2014

GUIDE AND PHOTOS: NICK LESEBERG

The state of New South Wales is not the most popular birding destination in Australia – that mantle will always belong to locations like the Top End and the Wet Tropics – but in terms of variety, it certainly provides an exciting week for the visiting birder. With wonderful Australian endemics like the Plains-wanderer, the gorgeous little Splendid Fairywren, and a host of gaudy parrots among the possibilities, the return on investment for the long days in the field and the travel distances required is high. It also allows the visiting birder to cover a range of Australia’s unique habitats, from the stunted eucalypts of the inland’s dry ‘mallee’, to the wet forests of the Great Dividing Range and the barren heaths of the coastal southeast. This trip began in southern New South Wales searching for the enigmatic little Plains-wanderer, before spending a couple of days in the mallee searching for skulkers like Chestnut Quail-thrush and Southern Scrub-robin, before pushing across to the open woodlands of the Capertee Valley and western foothills of the Great Dividing Range to search for species like Hooded Robin and . After crossing the range we spent a couple of days birding the coastal heaths and forests south of Sydney, targeting species such as Eastern Bristlebird, Southern Emuwren and Beautiful Firetail, before finishing up in downtown Sydney with a fantastic Powerful Owl.

Mulga Parrot, just one of the many gaudy parrots on offer in New South Wales. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 1 of 38

Day 1: Monday, 29 th September 2014 – Arrival in Hay.

The small country town of Hay might seem like a strange place to begin a birding tour, until you realize that this region is the best place in the world to see one of Australia’s most sought after , the Plains-wanderer. After arriving in nearby Griffith on a late afternoon flight we headed straight for Hay, then south towards Wanganella, arriving right on dusk to meet our local guide Phil Maher. After a short break for dinner, we jumped in Phil’s four- wheel-drive and set out on our nocturnal search for this very special . It was nearly a record, when after only a couple of minute’s searching we spotted a diminutive male Plains- wanderer , who seemed only too happy to allow us to watch on. After a few minutes we spotted some movement nearby, and were excited to catch a stunning female who had been sitting quietly under a grass tussock at the edge of the spotlight’s beam. She then began calling to the male, a sure sign that breeding was on her mind. With our primary target already in the bag, we had time to search for some of the other species found on the vast Hay Plains, and it wasn’t long before we had found Stubble Quail , Banded Lapwing and Brown Songlark . We were also lucky to find a cracking Inland Dotterel , the first Phil had seen in the area for some months. On that note we finished up for the night, saying farewell to Phil and returning to Hay for the night.

This male Plains-wanderer was being courted by the female (in the background showing her black collar). The male is responsible for all nesting duties including incubation of the eggs and raising the young. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 2 of 38

Day 2: Tuesday, 30 th September 2014 – Hay to Griffith.

After our late finish last night we enjoyed a sleep in before having breakfast then hitting the road towards Griffith. We travelled via Darlington Point, picking up a few common species along the way including Galahs and a few small parties of Australia’s national bird, the Emu . At Darlington Point we soon found a couple of noisy mixed flocks of both Little and Long- billed Corellas , while a short stop by the Murrumbidgee River turned up a pair of straw- colored ‘ Yellow ’ Rosellas , currently considered a subspecies of the seemingly much different Crimson Rosella. We moved on to Leeton where we paid a visit to Fivebough Swamp, which after being bone dry last year was now filled with water. The water had brought the birds back, and over the couple of hours we spent wandering the trails we found both Baillon’s and Australian Crakes , Australian Shelducks , a small party of Black- tailed Native-hens , and a family group of Brolgas . The ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae, was well-represented, and we saw all five possible Australian species, with both Yellow-billed and Royal Spoonbills , and Straw-necked , Australian and Glossy Ibis feeding on the wetland. We also picked up a number of Australia’s more common waterbirds, including Purple Swamphens , Dusky Moorhens , Australian Pelicans and Black Swans .

We first spotted the female Australian Kite perched on this snag and calling. The male then appeared with the kite equivalent of a smile on his face and they got to business.

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After a late lunch in Leeton and our first lamington experience (sponge cake covered in chocolate and dipped in coconut – a national specialty!), we headed over to Griffith where we would be staying the night. On the way we had great views of a pair of Australian Kites preparing to breed, then after checking-in to our accommodation we made our way out to nearby Binya State Forest for the late afternoon. This forest is an area of mixed open woodland, and is a great spot to find a small pond, sit back, and watch some of Australia’s unique parrots and pigeons come by to drink at dusk. We arrived in time to go for a short wander through the woodland before settling down at the waterhole, and were rewarded with great views of a stunning male Splendid Fairywren , and a pair of gorgeous little Red- capped Robins . Back at the waterhole we settled in to enjoy the show, and were treated to a steady procession of some of Australia’s most beautiful birds, including several Mallee Ringnecks, Mulga Parrots, Common Bronzewings and Peaceful Doves. As the light faded and we prepared to head home for dinner, we also spotted a couple of inquisitive Eastern Gray Kangaroos visiting for a quiet drink before heading out to feed for the evening.

Red-capped Robins are delightfully common in inland Australia, and we found a pair of these gorgeous birds in woodland in Binya State Forest.

Day 3: Wednesday, 1st October 2014 – Griffith to Lake Cargelligo.

An early start saw us back at Binya to see if we could pick up a few species we still needed. On the way out we spied a Painted Honeyeater that we watched calling from the top of a tall snag, our only sighting for the trip. Arriving at the waterhole we saw many of the same species we had seen yesterday, with the welcome addition of a stunning male Turquoise www.tropicalbirding.com Page 4 of 38

Parrot , plus a few Red-rumped Parrots . Moving out into the surrounding woodland we found a nice mix of , including Southern Whiteface , White-browed and Gray- crowned Babblers , Yellow-rumped and Yellow Thornbills , the strikingly patterned Speckled Warbler , and a party of nuthatch-like Varied Sitellas . Honeyeaters were also well- represented, and over a couple of hours we found White-plumed , White-eared and Striped Honeyeaters . Leaving the waterhole we moved to another area of the forest, picking up a pair of beautiful Pink Cockatoos on the way, before finding Spiny-cheeked and Singing Honeyeaters to complete our birding for the morning.

Common Bronzewings are beautiful pigeons that are only fully appreciated when the sun catches the iridescent panels on their wings.

After a successful start to the day we returned to Griffith for morning tea before getting on our way north, heading for the mallee of central New South Wales. We made a couple of short stops on the way, finding a very dapper White-backed Swallow and our first multicolored Rainbow Bee-eaters . Arriving at Round Hill Nature Reserve we headed straight for Whoey Tank, an area of mixed woodland with some scattered Eremophila in flower. When in full bloom, these shrubs bring in honeyeaters from far and wide, but with only a few plants flowering things weren’t particularly busy. Still, we managed to find White-eared and White-fronted Honeyeaters , along with quite a few Spiny-cheeked and Striped Honeyeaters . We moved into the mallee proper for the last hour or so of daylight and were rewarded with great views of a female Chestnut Quail-thrush wandering through the clumps of spinifex, plus fleeting glimpses of an aptly named Shy Heathwren skipping through the undergrowth. We had a break for dinner as the light faded, trying www.tropicalbirding.com Page 5 of 38 unsuccessfully for Spotted Nightjar after dusk; we heard a bird giving its strange gobbling call from close by, but unfortunately couldn’t entice it any closer.

Day 4: Thursday, 2nd October 2014 – Nombinnie, Round Hill and Lake Cargelligo.

We left early again to get out to the mallee in time for the dawn chorus and morning activity. Being an open habitat, the mallee warms up very quickly, so it is important to make the most of the first few hours of the day. Our first stop by a small waterhole wasn’t especially productive, but our second session was much better, with repeat views of Chestnut Quail-thrush , this time a striking male, along with Gilbert’s Whistler , Gray-fronted Honeyeater and a couple of very cute Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters . Southern Scrub-robin is a mallee specialty, but it was giving us some grief with a few birds calling from tantalizingly close, before we finally enticed a pair near enough for fantastic views. That was the last of our expected mallee specialties, so we moved on to try a few different sites before the day became too warm. The old quarry was our next stop, and as we arrived we startled a male Emu herding his collection of stripey youngsters, watching them all sprint off into the bush. We spent some time wandering through the mixed woodland, having brief glimpses of a Spotted Bowerbird , before discovering a few flowering eucalypts that held more of the honeyeaters we had already seen. Finally, as we prepared to depart we spotted a couple of shaggy Euros , a type of kangaroo at home in the rocky rangelands right across Australia.

This beautiful Australian Hobby was spotted in the early morning as we drove out to Nombinnie Nature Reserve from Lake Cargelligo. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 6 of 38

No birding trip is complete without a visit to a sewage treatment plant, so after a break for lunch we decided to spend the afternoon wandering around the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds. Usually a site I have to visit quickly during our set departure tour, I welcomed the opportunity to spend an afternoon wandering around the ponds and enjoying one of my favorite birding sites. Immediately obvious were the large numbers of Baillon’s Crakes , with several of this usually shy bird seen trotting about in the open on floating waterweed. A few Red-kneed Dotterels and Red-capped Plovers were spotted feeding on the muddy edges, along with a handful of migratory Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Red-necked Stints . Several small parties of Red-necked Avocets were feeding in the shallows, and there were also quite a few Whiskered Terns hawking over the ponds. Lake Cargelligo is not all about waterbirds though, with the low saltbush surrounding the ponds also holding a few nice species. We spotted several White-winged Fairywrens including a couple of bright-blue males, along with a party of equally attractive Variegated Fairywrens . A pair of Zebra Finches was a nice surprise, and we finished off with a small flock of elegant White-fronted Chats as the light faded and we called it a day.

Day 5: Friday, 3rd October 2014 – Lake Cargelligo to Lithgow.

Although today was primarily a travel day, we still managed to squeeze in a few birding stops along the way to keep our list ticking over. After picking up brief views of a flyover Ground near Condobolin, we pressed on to Forbes where we visited the excellent Gum Swamp, one of New South Wales’ best wetlands. The waterfowl were present in huge numbers, with large numbers of the common ducks including Gray Teal , White-eyed and Pink-eared Ducks . There were a few Australian Shovelers around, and we also picked up our first Freckled Duck , one of Australia’s rarest waterfowl, with several more spotted resting on submerged logs throughout the swamp. After a bit of searching we finally found a nice male Blue-billed Duck , our last target. As well as the waterfowl, we also spotted a pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagles on their nest, while a local tip-off lead us to a small flock of Plum-headed Finches feeding in the cumbungi at the swamp’s edge. Leaving the swamp behind we moved on to the nearby Back Yamma State Forest, scoring a pair of Black Falcons on the way as they soared over the road. We had only intended on a short stop at Back Yamma, but as often happens we ended up hitting a patch of activity that kept us entertained for more than an hour as we found Hooded Robin , Diamond Firetails , Crested -tits and Eastern Rosellas , all while being serenaded by the bewitching song of a Rufous Songlark . We departed Back Yamma and made our way to Orange for lunch, scoring nice views of a couple of male Superb Parrots along the way, before continuing on to Lithgow. We made a late afternoon visit to Hassan’s Walls where things were fairly quiet bird-wise, although we still enjoyed the stunning views of the Blue Mountains’ western foothills glowing orange in the setting sun.

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Day 6: Saturday, 4th October 2014 – Lithgow to Kiama.

The Capertee Valley north of Lithgow is one of New South Wales’ most scenic bird-watching locations; set in the western foothills of the Blue Mountains, the craggy sandstone escarpments are a fantastic backdrop for a morning’s birding. We scored a couple of Red- necked Wallabies on the drive in, before making our first stop at Coco Creek. Here we enjoyed breakfast in the field while also picking up Yellow-tufted , Black-chinned , Fuscous and New Holland Honeyeaters , along with Red-browed and Diamond Firetails . Pressing on to Genowlan Bridge, we made a short stop on the way for a pair of dapper Double-barred Finches , before finding a pair of nesting Restless Flycatchers , another party of Plum-headed Finches , and a pair of Little Eagles soaring overhead. After a successful morning we made a short stop at Glen Alice on the way out, with the highlight here a couple of Musk Lorikeets feeding on lerps, a small sugary secretion left-behind by sap-sucking insects. Leaving the valley behind we headed to nearby Wallerawang for an early lunch, followed by a short stop at Lake Wallace, quickly finding the hoped for Musk Ducks , and several Great-crested Grebes , including a pair in the midst of their synchronized courtship display.

This Little Eagle was one of a pair we found soaring over Genowlan Bridge in the Capertee Valley. We then started our way east, climbing up over the Blue Mountains towards Sydney. It took 25 years for the first European settlers to successfully cross the heavily dissected sandstone escarpments of the dividing range west of Sydney, and from Evan’s Lookout near Blackheath it is clear why. We enjoyed the spectacular views over the canyons and plateaus, and also had brief views of a pair of Rockwarblers , New South Wales’ only endemic bird species. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 8 of 38

Leaving the lookout behind we spent a couple of hours completing our crossing of the mountains before heading south to Robertson then Kiama, our stopover for the night. We quickly dropped our gear in our rooms before heading up to Barren Grounds, a nature reserve about 90 minutes south of Sydney. The primary habitat at Barren Grounds is low shrubby heath, and it holds a number of special species, with Ground Parrot one of the most sought after. These unusual parrots are very difficult to see, spending most of their time deep in the dense heath, but at dusk and dawn they call, and we arrived in time to hear several birds calling from quite close by. We had a break for dinner, before returning to Barren Grounds after dark for some spotlighting. It was a successful night, kicking off with our first owl of the trip, a Southern Boobook , followed by a pair of Common Ringtail Possums . After a bit of searching we found our hoped for Common Wombat , Australia’s marsupial equivalent of a badger, and a confiding that allowed close approach before waddling off the trail. We finished up with a couple of Greater Gliders , a species of large flying possum which stared back at us, their long tails and large fluffy ears on show in the spotlight.

We found a couple of these Eastern Pobblebonks by the trail while spotlighting at Barren Grounds.

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Day 7: Sunday, 5th October 2014 – Barren Grounds to Sydney.

Unfortunately our good run with the weather came to an end, as we made our way back to Barren Grounds in windy conditions. Being a low, exposed habitat, wind tends to drive the birds deep into the dense heath, making them very difficult to find. One of the main targets around Barren Grounds is the very shy Eastern Bristlebird , and we had close but frustrating encounters with a couple of birds that always managed to stay deep enough in the foliage to preclude us getting clear views. We did get nice looks at a pair of Yellow-tailed Black- Cockatoos , and had better luck with a Pilotbird , managing to call in a bird that posed in the open for great views. Leaving Barren Grounds we moved up the road a little to , another area of heath. The bristlebirds were again frustratingly shy, but we were rewarded with fantastic views of a gorgeous Southern Emuwren as a consolation. A quick visit to Carrington Falls didn’t produce any new birds, but we did enjoy the lovely views of the waterfall careening over the escarpment to the river below, a nice way to finish the morning.

Sometimes a tough bird to see well, we had nice views of this Pilotbird at Barren Grounds.

After making our way down to the coast for lunch we enjoyed fish and chips on the esplanade at Shellharbour, before heading out to nearby Bass Point for a short seawatch. Although the birds were our main target, we ended up spending most of our time watching a steady procession of Humpback Whales on their southerly migration to Antarctica from their breeding grounds further north. There was constant breaching and fin-slapping, and occasionally we could even hear the ‘crack!’ as their enormous bodies crashed back into the www.tropicalbirding.com Page 10 of 38 water. There were plenty of birds around too, and over the hour or so we spent at the point we spotted both Wedge-tailed and Fluttering Shearwaters out to sea, while Sooty Oystercatchers and a Pacific Reef-Heron foraged on the rocky shore. Leaving Bass Point we made our way north to Sydney, making a late afternoon stop along the rocky cliffs of in , where we found Tawny-crowned Honeyeater and a confiding Chestnut-rumped Heathwren before heading off for dinner. It wasn’t just dinner though, it was an Australian cultural experience, as we watched the national rugby league grand final, Australia’s equivalent of the Superbowl. Alas, it was to be a sad night for this guide, as the mighty Canterbury Bulldogs were trounced by the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a relatively one-sided affair!

A trip highlight was watching a steady stream of Humpback Whales heading south past Bass Point, constantly breaching and fin-slapping.

Day 8: Monday, 6th October 2014 – Royal National Park and Sydney.

We didn’t let last night’s result get us down, deciding the best way to get over our disappointment was to get out birding for a change, on our final morning of the trip. We returned to Royal National Park where our first stop at the Mount Bass Trail produced the hoped for Beautiful Firetails , with a pair of this delicately patterned and certainly beautiful bird showing well. Moving down to Lady Carrington Drive we enjoyed breakfast with some inquisitive Sulphur-crested Cockatoos before setting out along the track. We enjoyed a pleasant morning with plenty of great birds, starting off with a vocal Collared Sparrowhawk at its nest. Eastern Spinebills were common as we moved along, and we also had nice views www.tropicalbirding.com Page 11 of 38 of Golden Whistler and Black-faced Monarch . We improved on our views of Rockwarbler , finding a single bird foraging among the large sandstone boulders beside the trail, but perhaps the highlight was close views of a Superb Lyrebird which foraged quietly as we watched on. After a successful morning we had time for one final stop, heading into the heart of Sydney’s CBD to visit the botanic gardens. Our hoped for quarry was right where we anticipated, and we enjoyed great views of a sleepy Powerful Owl sitting quietly in the dense canopy.

Our last bird of the trip, a sleepy Powerful Owl at its day roost right near Sydney’s CBD. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 12 of 38

The owl was our last bird for the trip, and a fitting finish to a fantastic week. Having started on the wide open plains of southern New South Wales, we then investigated the arid mallee of central New South Wales before moving across to the sclerophyll forests of the Great Dividing Range and the barren heathlands of the southern coast; we had covered many miles, and a wide range of the habitats represented in Australia’s most populous state. We had also seen a great selection of the unique species Australia has to offer – from enormous gangly Emus, to tiny Splendid Fairywrens and dazzling Turquoise Parrots – a great introduction to the unique birds and of Australia.

BIRD LIST

This list includes all the bird species that were recorded by at least one member of the group. and nomenclature closely follow the latest Clements updates. Parentheses denote an alternate name used by some checklists.

Total: 231 species, including six heard only (H), and two seen only by the guide (G).

EMU: Dromaiidae

1. Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae We saw this species several times during our time in western New South Wales, including a couple of males herding their collections of small stripey chicks.

DUCKS, GEESE AND WATERFOWL: Anatidae

2. Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa We saw about 20 individuals scattered across Gum Swamp near Forbes.

3. Black Swan Cygnus atratus Fairly common, seen at both Fivebough Swamp and the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

4. Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides Seen a couple of times, with about 40 birds at Fivebough Swamp and a few at the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

5. Maned Duck Chenonetta jubata A common bird, seen on most days during the trip.

6. Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa A common and widespread duck, seen on most wetlands throughout the trip.

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7. Australian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis More common this year than previous years, with a few birds at both Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds and also Gum Swamp.

8. Gray Teal Anas gracilis Another common waterfowl, seen at several wetlands throughout the trip.

9. Chestnut Teal Anas castanea We saw a couple of pairs of this smart duck along the in Royal National Park.

10. Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus Always a sought after species by visiting birders, they were fairly common in inland New South Wales, with large numbers at both Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds and Gum Swamp.

11. White-eyed Duck Aythya australis A common species, seen at most wetlands throughout inland New South Wales.

12. Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis A couple of birds including a very nice male were seen on Gum Swamp.

13. Musk Duck Biziura lobata A couple of these bizarre ducks were seen on Lake Wallace near Lithgow.

PHEASANTS, GROUSE AND ALLIES: Phasianidae

14. Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis We saw a couple of birds during our nocturnal search for Plains-wanderer on the first night of the trip.

15. Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophora One bird was seen very briefly as it flushed from the heath at Wattamolla in Royal National Park.

GREBES: Podicipedidae

16. Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Fairly common, seen a few times on wetlands throughout the trip.

17. Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus This species was seen on several wetlands including Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds, Gum Swamp and Lake Wallace.

18. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus We saw quite a few of these stunning grebes on Lake Wallace near Lithgow, including a pair doing their synchronized mating dance. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 14 of 38

SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS: Procellariidae

19. Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus We had good views of this species from Bass Point in New South Wales, with several birds passing by off the point.

20. Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavial With their distinctive flight pattern, we spotted a few of these during our seawatch at Bass Point.

BOOBIES AND GANNETS: Sulidae

21. Australasian Gannet Morus serrator A few birds were spotted off Bass Point near Shellharbour.

CORMORANTS AND SHAGS: Phalacrocoracidae

22. Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris We saw a few of this species at wetlands throughout the trip, with more along the coast south of Sydney.

23. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo A few birds were seen resting on the rocky shoreline at Bass Point.

24. Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius One bird was seen on Lake Cargelligo, with a few more seen during our seawatch at Bass Point.

25. Little Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax melanoleucos Fairly common on wetlands and along the coast throughout the trip.

ANHINGAS: Anhingidae

26. Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae A few birds were seen at Lake Cargelligo, Gum Swamp, and also along the Hacking River in Royal National Park.

PELICANS: Pelecanidae

27. Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus Always a popular species, we saw this bird at most large wetlands visited during the trip.

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HERONS, EGRETS AND BITTERNS: Ardeidae

28. Pacific Heron Ardea pacifica Seen a few times throughout the trip, often on small stock dams.

29. Great Egret Ardea alba Fairly common on most large wetlands visited throughout the trip.

30. Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia A few birds were seen at Fivebough Swamp.

31. White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae Widespread and particularly common, seen on wetlands and pastures most days of the trip.

32. Pacific Reef-Heron Egretta sacra One bird was seen flying past along the rocky shoreline during our seawatch at Bass Point.

33. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Seen a few times in farmland around Jamberoo south of Sydney.

IBIS AND SPOONBILLS: Threskiornithidae

34. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus A small flock was seen on Fivebough Swamp, with a few more seen at Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

35. Australian Ibis Threskiornis molucca A common bird, seen on a few occasions throughout the trip.

36. Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis A common bird, particularly in rural areas throughout the trip.

37. Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia A single bird seen at Fivebough Swamp.

38. Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes Several birds were seen in western New South Wales, with quite a few at Fivebough Swamp, and several more also seen at Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES: Accipitridae

39. Australian Kite Elanus axillaris A common raptor in rural areas throughout the trip.

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40. Little Eagle Aquila morphnoides We had great views of a pair soaring over Genowlan Bridge in the Capertee Valley.

41. Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax This immense eagle was seen a couple of times, with our best views of a bird feeding on the carcass of a kangaroo by the roadside south of Hay on the first evening of the trip.

42. Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus One bird was seen from the car as we drove from Jamberoo to Kiama late in the afternoon.

43. Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus One bird was seen tending a nest near the start of Lady Carrington Drive in Royal National Park.

44. Black Kite Milvus migrans Australia’s equivalent of Turkey Vultures or Black Vultures, this species was quite common in western New South Wales, particularly along roads and near towns.

45. Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus A few birds were seen around wetlands and waterways in central New South Wales.

46. White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster First seen over Fivebough Swamp, we had better views of a pair with a nest at Gum Swamp near Forbes.

RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS: Rallidae

47. Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla Quite common at both Fivebough Swamp and Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds, where several birds were seen foraging in the open.

48. Australian Crake Porzana fluminea Less common than Baillon’s Crake, we still saw a couple at both Fivebough Swamp and Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

49. Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio A common species on wetlands throughout the trip.

50. Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa A common species on wetlands throughout the trip.

51. Black-tailed Native-hen Tribonyx ventralis A few birds were seen at both Fivebough Swamp and Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

52. Eurasian Coot Fulica atra Common on wetlands throughout the trip. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 17 of 38

CRANES: Gruidae

53. Brolga Grus rubicund A small family party of these graceful cranes was seen at Fivebough Swamp.

STILTS AND AVOCETS: Recurvirostridae

54. Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus A common bird found on several wetlands throughout the trip.

55. Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae There was a large flock present at the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

OYSTERCATCHERS: Haematopodidae

56. Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus A couple of birds were seen foraging along the rocky shoreline at Bass Point during our seawatch.

PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS: Charadriidae

57. Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor We had great views of several birds including a couple of youngsters during our spotlighting expedition with Phil Maher near Wanganella.

58. Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles A common species, seen on most days of the trip.

59. Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus Several birds were seen on the muddy edges at the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

60. Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus A couple of birds were seen at the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

61. Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops This petite little plover was seen on the muddy edges of Gum Swamp.

62. Inland Dotterel Peltohyas australis After an absence of a few months we were lucky to find one of these cryptically colored birds while spotlighting on the Hay plains with Phil Maher.

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PLAINS-WANDERER: Pedionomidae

63. Plains-wanderer Pedionomus torquatus Always a trip highlight, we found a pair of these enigmatic little birds while spotlighting on the Hay plains with Phil Maher, followed by another male later in the night.

SANDPIPERS AND ALLIES: Scolopacidae

64. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos One bird was seen along the edge of the Hacking River in Royal National Park.

65. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminate After poor views of a small flock at Fivebough Swamp, we had better views of several birds at the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

66. Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis A handful of birds were seen along the muddy edges at the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

GULLS, TERNS AND SKIMMERS: Laridae

67. Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae A common bird on the coast, and also seen at Lake Cargelligo.

68. Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus Uncommon in New South Wales, we lucked on a couple of these on the coast near Shellharbour.

69. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrid This freshwater species was quite common at Fivebough Swamp and Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

70. Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii A few birds were seen along the coast at Bass Point and Shellharbour.

PIGEONS AND DOVES: Columbidae

71. Rock Pigeon Columba livia An introduced species seen in most urban areas.

72. Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis An introduced species now common in urban areas, we saw a couple at Shellharbour.

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73. Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera Common throughout inland New South Wales, we had great views of several individuals coming in to drink at Binya State Forest.

74. Crested Pigeon Geophaps lophotes A common bird throughout Australia and seen most days of the trip.

75. Wonga Pigeon (H) Leucosarcia melanoleuca This shy pigeon was heard calling in the distance while we birded along Lady Carrington Drive in Royal National Park.

76. Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida Common in central New South Wales, we had great views of a few birds coming to drink at Binya State Forest.

77. Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis Another fairly common species that we saw a few times, with our best views of birds coming to drink at Binya State Forest.

78. Topknot Pigeon Lopholaimus antarcticus After seeing a large flock flying overhead at Barren Grounds, we had good views of several feeding in fruiting palms along Lady Carrington Drive.

CUCKOOS: Cuculidae

79. Fan-tailed Cacomantis flabelliformis Seen at both Barren Grounds and along Lady Carrington Drive.

80. Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx basalis This attractive little cuckoo was seen a couple of times in Binya State Forest.

81. Australian Koel (H) Eudynamys cyanocephalus A couple of birds were heard in the morning at Kiama as we prepared to head out for Barren Grounds.

82. Pheasant Coucal (H) Centropus phasianinus A distant bird was heard giving its distinctive ‘glugging’ call from the heath along the Mount Bass trail in Royal National Park.

OWLS: Strigidae

83. Powerful Owl Ninox strenua We had great views of a roosting bird in the botanic gardens in Sydney.

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84. Southern Boobook Ninox boobook We had nice views of a bird that came in while spotlighting at Barren Grounds.

NIGHTJARS AND ALLIES: Caprimulgidae

85. Spotted Nightjar (H) Eurostopodus argus We heard one bird giving its curious gobbling call at Nombinnie Nature Reserve, but couldn’t lure it into the spotlight.

KINGFISHERS: Alcedinidae

86. Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea Usually seen as a small blue comet streaking by, we had great views of a bird perched low over the water along the Hacking River in Royal National Park.

87. Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae A common bird throughout New South Wales that we saw most days of the trip.

88. Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus A common bird in woodlands across New South Wales that was seen on several occasions.

BEE-EATERS: Meropidae

89. Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus Quite common, seen on most days of the trip, particularly in inland New South Wales.

ROLLERS: Coraciidae

90. Dollarbird (H) Eurystomus orientalis One bird was heard calling from the opposite side of the river along Lady Carrington Drive, but unfortunately we couldn’t find it.

FALCONS AND CARACARAS: Falconidae

91. Australian Kestrel Falco cenchroides This small falcon is very common throughout Australia and we saw it most days of the trip, often perched on roadside powerlines.

92. Australian Hobby Falco longipennis Sometimes a difficult species to find, we had good views of a perched bird near Lake Cargelligo.

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93. Brown Falcon Falco berigora Like the kestrel, this bird is common in farmland throughout Australia. We saw several during the trip.

94. Black Falcon Falco subniger We had some good luck, spotting a pair soaring over the road near Back Yamma State Forest.

95. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus An uncommon bird in Australia, we saw one briefly from the car near Lithgow.

COCKATOOS: Cacatuidae

96. Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereus We had good views of a pair of these enormous cockatoos perched at Barren Grounds, with more heard flying over in Royal National Park.

97. Pink Cockatoo Cacatua leadbeateri We had great views of a pair that flushed up from the roadside in Binya State Forest, with another seen overflying the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

98. Galah Eolophus roseicapilla If they were rare, birders would come from all over the world to see this beautiful and charismatic cockatoo. Fortunately, they are very common throughout New South Wales and were seen most days.

99. Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris We had good views of a mixed flock of this species and Little Corellas at Darlington Point south of Griffith. Here it is at the northern edge of its restricted range.

100. Little Corella Cacatua sanguine Best views were of a mixed flock with Long-billed Corellas at Darlington Point, but also seen on a couple of other occasions in central New South Wales.

101. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita A common and noisy bird throughout Australia that was seen nearly every day of the trip.

102. Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus This very graceful small cockatoo was seen on a few occasions around Lake Cargelligo and Gum Swamp.

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OLD WORLD PARROTS: Psittaculidae

103. Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii After glimpsing a few birds in flight, we finally had good views of a couple of beautiful males between Forbes and Orange.

104. Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis We had our best views of a couple of birds along Lady Carrington Drive in Royal National Park.

105. Ground Parrot (H) Pezoporus wallicus We heard several birds calling from the heath right on dusk at Barren Grounds.

106. Turquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella One of Australia’s most beautiful parrots, we had great views of several birds coming down to drink at a small dam in Binya State Forest, with another seen briefly as a flyover in the Capertee Valley.

107. Mallee Ringneck Barnardius barnardi Our best views of this large parrot were of birds coming to drink at Binya State Forest.

108. (a) Crimson Rosella (Crimson) Platycercus elegans (elegans) We saw this fantastic bright red parrot a few times in the mountains around Lithgow and also at Barren Grounds and along Lady Carrington Drive.

108. (b) Crimson Rosella (Yellow) Platycercus elegans (flaveolus) We saw a nice pair of this distinctive straw-colored race by the Murrumbidgee River at Darlington Point.

109. Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius This multi-colored rosella is beautiful, and was quite common in the Capertee Valley.

110. Bluebonnet Northiella haematogaster A beautifully understated parrot, it was one of the first birds of the trip as we left Griffith airport, and was seen a few more times as we travelled around central New South Wales.

111. Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus A common parrot in inland New South Wales this bird was seen most days while west of the Great Dividing Range.

112. Mulga Parrot Psephotus varius Our best views of this gorgeous parrot were of several birds coming to drink in Binya State Forest.

113. Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna We were lucky to spot a couple of birds feeding on lerps at Glen Alice in the Capertee Valley.

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114. Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus This stunning species was quite common in and around Sydney.

LYREBIRDS: Menuridae

115. Superb Lyrebird Menura novaehollandiae We saw this bird a few times from the car by the roadside near Barren Grounds, before getting extended and close views of a bird feeding right beside the trail along Lady Carrington Drive in Royal National Park.

BOWERBIRDS: Ptilonorhynchidae

116. Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus After brief views at Barren Grounds, we had better looks at several birds in Royal National Park.

117. Spotted Bowerbird Chlamydera maculata Often difficult to find, we had only fleeting glimpses of a bird flying away in Round Hill Nature Reserve.

AUSTRALASIAN TREECREEPERS: Climacteridae

118. White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea A fairly common species, we had our best views at Barren Grounds and along Lady Carrington Drive.

119. Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus Seen at a few sites in inland New South Wales including the Capertee Valley and Back Yamma State Forest.

FAIRYWRENS: Maluridae

120. Southern Emuwren Stipiturus malachurus We had great views of one of these fantastic little birds with its long wispy tail in Budderoo National Park.

121. (a) Variegated Fairywren Malurus lamberti (assimilis) The ‘Purple-backed’ race of this gorgeous bird was seen a few times in inland New South Wales, with birds found at Fivebough Swamp and Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

121. (b) Variegated Fairywren Malurus lamberti (lamberti) A small party of the nominate race of this fairywren was seen along Lady Carrington Drive.

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122. Splendid Fairywren Malurus splendens We had great views of an exquisite male in Binya State Forest, with a few more seen in Nombinnie Nature Reserve also.

123. Superb Fairywren Malurus cyaneus A common garden bird in south-eastern Australia, we saw this species several times throughout the trip, particularly on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range, and near the coast.

124. White-winged Fairywren Malurus leucopterus We had great views of some females and a couple of dazzling males at the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

HONEYEATERS: Meliphagidae

125. Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris This little honeyeater was seen on several occasions in the mountains and along the coast, being particularly common along Lady Carrington Drive in Royal National Park.

126. Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii We saw this bird a couple of times along Lady Carrington Drive.

127. Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops Fairly common along the ranges of eastern Australia, we saw this species at several sites including the Capertee Valley, Barren Grounds and Royal National Park.

128. Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens We only saw this widespread species once, at Binya State Forest.

129. White-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotis We saw our first bird in Binya State Forest, with more seen in the mallee at Nombinnie Nature Reserve and at Round Hill Nature Reserve.

130. Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops We had great views of a couple of these striking honeyeaters in the Capertee Valley.

131. Fuscous Honeyeater Lichenostomus fuscus A fairly drab bird that we saw a couple of times in the Capertee Valley.

132. Gray-fronted Honeyeater Lichenostomus plumulus A nomadic inland species, we were lucky to find one in the mallee at Nombinnie Nature Reserve.

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133. Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus ornatus Usually quite common in the mallee at Nombinnie Nature Reserve, as with other honeyeaters, numbers were down this year although we still saw several there and at nearby Round Hill Nature Reserve.

134. White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus Common in inland New South Wales, we saw it at several sites.

135. White-fronted Honeyeater Purnella albifrons We picked up a couple of birds at Round Hill Nature Reserve where they were feeding in flowering Eremophila.

136. Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala A common honeyeater, we saw them on several days throughout the trip, often in urban areas.

137. Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula This species replaces the Noisy Miner inland, and it was seen several times during that leg of the trip.

138. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis A common species in inland Australia, we had good views of this species at several sites, particularly Round Hill Nature Reserve where they were quite common.

139. Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata After seeing it a few times from the car, we had good views of a bird at Lake Wallace near Lithgow.

140. Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera We saw this bird well in the heaths of Royal National Park south of Sydney.

141. White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons We had great views of several birds at the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

142. Scarlet Myzomela (G) Myzomela sanguinolenta A single bird was heard then seen very briefly near Barren Grounds.

143. Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Phylidonyris melanops In spite of the windy conditions, we had good views of a single bird at Wattamolla in Royal National Park.

144. New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae We first saw a couple of birds in the Capertee Valley, but then found them to be common around Barren Grounds and in Royal National Park, particularly at Wattamolla.

145. Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis We saw a couple of birds at Coco Creek in the Capertee Valley. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 26 of 38

146. Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris We saw this species a couple of times during our morning in the mallee at Nombinnie Nature Reserve.

147. Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis We saw this species once at a chance roadside stop for breakfast near Condobolin.

148. Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis Seen on a few occasions throughout the inland section of the trip.

149. Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus Fairly common in the Capertee Valley where we saw it at several sites.

150. Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata We saw this species a few times in inland New South Wales, with birds at both Binya State Forest and Round Hill Nature Reserve, and another seen at Glen Alice in the Capertee Valley.

151. Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta This unpredictable species was seen once only at Binya State Forest, and heard in the Capertee Valley.

BRISTLEBIRDS: Dasyornithidae

152. Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus This very shy species was very difficult to see this year given the weather conditions, and despite our persistence, we only managed poor views of a pair of birds at Barren Grounds.

PARDALOTES: Pardalotidae

153. Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus A fairly common bird that is heard more often than seen. As a canopy dweller it can be difficult to get good looks at, but we finally had reasonable views of a bird along Lady Carrington Drive.

154. Striated Pardalote (Striated) (G) Pardalotus striatus (substriatus) Usually a bird seen at a few spots, we just didn’t run into many this trip, with only brief views of one bird at Round Hill Nature Reserve.

THORNBILLS AND ALLIES: Acanthizidae

155. Pilotbird Pycnoptilus floccosus With a bit of patience we eventually had good views of this species at Barren Grounds.

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156. Rockwarbler Origma solitaria After brief views of a pair at Evan’s Lookout in the Blue Mountains, we had better views of a single bird among the sandstone boulders beside Lady Carrington Drive in Royal National Park.

157. White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis A fairly common bird in scrubby habitats, we saw this species at several sites in New South Wales.

158. Speckled Warbler Pyrrholaemus sagittatus Perhaps more correctly called ‘Streaked’ Warbler, we had good views of a few birds in Binya State Forest.

159. Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Hylacola pyrrhopygia We had great views of one of these usually shy birds as it hopped around the cliff tops at Wattamolla in Royal National Park.

160. Shy Heathwren Hylacola cauta Living up to its name, after quite a bit of effort we managed at least glimpses of this shy little bird in the mallee at Nombinnie Nature Reserve.

161. Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla A fairly common species in denser habitats along the dividing range, we saw this species a few times at Barren Grounds and also near Lithgow.

162. Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis We saw this species a few times in the mallee at Nombinnie NR.

163. Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa A delightfully common bird west of the dividing range in New South Wales, we saw this species regularly during that part of the trip.

164. Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis A common inland species that was seen in Binya State Forest and also around Nombinnie and Round Hill Nature Reserves.

165. Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana A fairly unobtrusive little bird, we saw them several times in Binya State Forest, and also a couple of times in Round Hill Nature Reserve.

166. Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata A canopy-dwelling species that we saw a couple of times near Lithgow and also at Carrington Falls.

167. Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris Australia’s smallest bird, we saw this species at most sites in the drier areas of inland New South Wales. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 28 of 38

168. Brown Gerygone Gerygone mouki We found one of these drab little birds in a wet gully along Lady Carrington Drive.

169. Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca Quite vocal at this time of year, we saw this bird at several sites throughout the inland section of the trip.

170. Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis Sometimes a difficult bird, we had good views of this species at Binya State Forest.

PSEUDO-BABBLERS: Pomatostomidae

171. Gray-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis We came across a pair of these noisy birds near the waterhole at Binya State Forest.

172. White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus A charismatic bird that lives in small groups and always seems to be in a state of hyperactivity. We saw a few groups around Binya State Forest and also Nombinnie and Round Hill Nature Reserves.

WHIPBIRDS AND WEDGEBILLS: Psophodidae

173. Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus A common species by voice in wet forests along the east coast, we heard this species at several sites before finally seeing it well along Lady Carrington Drive.

QUAIL-THRUSHES AND JEWEL-BABBLERS: Cinclosomatidae

174. Chestnut Quail-thrush Cinclosoma castanotum We had great views of this striking but shy species in the mallee at Nombinnie NR.

WOODSWALLOWS: Artamidae

175. White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus We saw this species at a few sites in inland New South Wales where it is often seen around urban areas.

176. Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus We saw this species at a couple of sites in the Capertee Valley.

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BELLMAGPIES AND ALLIES: Cracticidae

177. Gray Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus Quite a common species in south-eastern Australia, we saw these birds on several days of the trip, with our best views at Round Hill Nature Reserve.

178. Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis Another common species throughout Australia, particularly in drier areas, we saw it several times throughout inland New South Wales.

179. Australasian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen One of Australia’s most commonly seen birds, they have adapted well to urban environments and we saw them every day of the trip.

180. Pied Currawong Strepera graculina Fairly common on the mountains and coast south of Sydney where they do well in urban areas.

CUCKOO-: Campephagidae

181. Ground Cuckooshrike maxima This widespread but rare species requires quite a bit of luck to find. We had one fly over the car near Condobolin, but unfortunately couldn’t re-find it after we had stopped.

182. Black-faced Cuckooshrike Coracina novaehollandiae A common bird throughout Australia, and one we saw every day of the trip but one.

183. White-winged Lalage tricolor We saw this striking black-and-white bird at a couple of sites in inland New South Wales, including Nombinnie Nature Reserve and Back Yamma State Forest.

SITELLAS: Neosittidae

184. Varied Sittella Neositta chrysoptera We saw this curious nuthatch-like species a couple of times, with our best views at Binya State Forest.

WHISTLERS AND ALLIES: Pachycephalidae

185. Crested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus We had nice views of a pair of these sought after birds during our stop at Back Yamma State Forest.

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186. Gray Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla harmonica A beautiful songster that isn’t much to look at, this bird is quite common throughout Australia and we saw it at various locations on most days of the trip.

187. Gilbert's Whistler Pachycephala inornata Fairly common by voice in Nombinnie NR, after a bit of effort we had nice views of a male at close range.

188. Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis A very pretty bird that is fairly common in the wet forests of eastern Australia, we saw them a couple of times at Barren Grounds and also along Lady Carrington Drive.

189. Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris In the dry woodlands of Australia this species is very common, with its beautiful song a constant part of the soundtrack. We saw it on most days of the trip.

AUSTRALO-PAPUAN BELLBIRDS: Oreoicidae

190. Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis Every year at Nombinnie Nature Reserve we hear the haunting, ventriloquial song of this bird, but it is very shy and can be difficult to see. We were lucky to get great views of one singing very close by, always slowly turning its head and throwing the sound in different directions.

OLD WORLD ORIOLES: Oriolidae

191. Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus We had nice views of this species at Genowlan Bridge in the Capertee Valley.

FANTAILS: Rhipiduridae

192. Willie-wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys One of Australia’s best-loved and most widespread species, we saw them on each day of the trip.

193. Gray Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa A widespread and common bird, we saw it on several days of the trip, from the mallee in Round Hill Nature Reserve to the wet forests of Lady Carrington Drive.

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MONARCH FLYCATCHERS: Monarchidae

194. Black-faced Monarch Monarcha melanopsis A fairly common summer migrant in the wet forests of eastern Australia, we saw this species well on Lady Carrington Drive.

195. Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca A very common species throughout Australia that we saw on every day of the trip.

196. Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula We saw this active little flycatcher a couple of times along Lady Carrington Drive.

197. Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta We found a pair of these smart flycatchers with their curious grinding call sitting on their neat cobweb-bound nest at Genowlan Bridge in the Capertee Valley.

CROWS, JAYS AND MAGPIES: Corvidae

198. Australian Raven Corvus coronoides Very common in eastern Australia, we saw this bird on every day of the trip.

199. Little Raven Corvus mellori This smaller corvid is fairly common in inland New South Wales and we saw it most days during that leg of the trip.

WHITE-WINGED CHOUGH AND APOSTLEBIRD: Corcoracidae

200. White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos This species is quite common in inland New South Wales, and small parties were regularly seen foraging on the roadside.

201. Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea Also common in inland New South Wales where they often forage by the roadside, we had great views of several family parties in Binya State Forest.

AUSTRALASIAN ROBINS: Petroicidae

202. Jacky-winter Microeca fascinans We saw this species a few times, with our best views at Binya State Forest where there were a couple of birds hawking around the waterhole.

203. Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii This gorgeous jewel of the inland is luckily fairly common. We had good views at Round Hill Nature Reserve and also at Binya State Forest. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 32 of 38

204. Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata We found a pair of these striking robins in Back Yamma State Forest, with another pair seen in the Capertee Valley.

205. Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis A widespread species in eastern Australia, we ran into this gorgeous little bird a few times including at Binya State Forest and along Lady Carrington Drive in Royal National Park.

206. Southern Scrub-Robin Drymodes brunneopygia A tough skulker, after a few attempts we had great views of a pair in the mallee at Nombinnie Nature Reserve.

LARKS: Alaudidae

207. Australasian Bushlark Mirafra javanica After several attempts we finally got nice views of a bushlark sitting on the ground during our search for Plains-wanderers with Phil Maher.

SWALLOWS: Hirundinidae

208. Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena A common bird in Australia that was seen most days of the trip.

209. Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel A common species that was seen a few times, with great views of several birds coming in and out of a culvert where they were building their mud nests in the Capertee Valley.

210. Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans We saw this species a few times, with our best views at Darlington Point.

211. White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosterna We saw this gorgeous and graceful swallow a couple of times, once near Goolgowi on the drive from Griffith to Nombinnie Nature Reserve, and again soaring over the quarry in Round Hill Nature Reserve.

BULBULS: Pycnonotidae

212. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus An introduced species which we saw at Bass Point near Shellharbour.

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REED-WARBLERS AND ALLIES: Acrocephalidae

213. Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis We had good views of this species in reeds at the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds and also at Fivebough Swamp.

GRASSBIRDS AND ALLIES: Megaluridae

214. Little Grassbird Megalurus gramineus We had good views of this little skulker at Fivebough Swamp and also the Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds.

215. Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis First seen while spotlighting for Plains-wanderer with Phil Maher, we also had nice views of a male perched on a fencepost in farmland north of Lake Cargelligo.

216. Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi Although fairly nondescript, this bird has a fantastic call that is a common sound of the south-eastern Australian spring. We saw them in Back Yamma State Forest and also in the Capertee Valley.

YUHINAS, WHITE-EYES AND ALLIES: Zosteropidae

217. Silver-eye Zosterops lateralis Another fairly common little bird that we saw several times throughout the tour.

THRUSHES: Turdidae

218. Olive-tailed (Bassian) Thrush Zoothera lunulata We had poor views of one of these thrushes as it flushed off the road near Barren Grounds.

219. Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula An introduced species that is fairly common in urban areas of south-eastern Australia, we saw it a few times on this trip.

STARLINGS: Sturnidae

220. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis An introduced species that is common in urban areas throughout New South Wales.

221. European Starling Sturnus vulgaris An introduced species that is common in urban and rural areas throughout south-eastern Australia. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 34 of 38

FLOWERPECKERS: Dicaeidae

222. Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum A common little bird that is often heard, but not always easy to see. We saw it a handful of times throughout the tour.

WAGTAILS AND PIPITS: Motacillidae

223. Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae Quite a common species in rural areas throughout Australia, we saw them a few times during the trip.

SISKINS, CROSSBILLS AND ALLIES: Fringillidae

224. European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis An introduced species that is fairly common in urban areas of south-eastern Australia.

OLD WORLD SPARROWS: Passeridae

225. House Sparrow Passer domesticus An introduced species that is common in urban areas.

WAXBILLS AND ALLIES:

226. Beautiful Firetail bella A beautiful bird that has to be seen well to appreciate the fine barring. We had good views of a pair of birds on the Mount Bass Trail in Royal National Park.

227. Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata A stunning bird and not always easy to find, we had great views of several along the roadside in the Capertee Valley, and also in Back Yamma State Forest.

228. Red-browed Firetail Neochmia temporalis A fairly common species in wetter areas of eastern Australia, we had good views of a few birds in the Capertee Valley, and also along Lady Carrington Drive.

229. Plum-headed Finch Neochmia modesta An uncommon and nomadic species that is hard to find, we lucked on a couple of small parties, firstly at Gum Swamp, then again at Genowlan Bridge in the Capertee Valley.

230. Zebra Finch Taenopygia guttata We caught up with this cute little finch at a couple of sites in the Capertee Valley, and also at Lake Cargelligo sewage ponds. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 35 of 38

231. Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii We had good views of this dapper little finch after a bit of a search in the Capertee Valley.

MAMMAL LIST

ECHIDNA: Tachyglossidae

1. Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus We were lucky to get good views of one of these curious creatures after we spotted it waddling across the road near Barren Grounds.

WOMBATS: Vombatidae

2. Common Wombat Vombatus ursinus We had a fantastic encounter with a friendly individual while spotlighting at Barren Grounds. It was foraging beside the road but stopped to investigate as we stood beside it, before trotting on up the road.

RINGTAIL POSSUMS: Pseudocheiridae

3. Greater Glider Petauroides volans At Barren Grounds we had great views of a pair these beautiful flying possums, including their super long tails and large fluffy-edged ears.

4. Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus We saw a pair of young animals, sitting quietly while spotlighting at Barren Grounds.

KANGAROOS, WALLABIES AND TREE-KANGAROOS: Macropodidae

5. Eastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus The most common macropod in eastern Australia, this species was seen most days of the trip.

6. Western Grey Kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus Our first encounter with this species was a road-killed animal providing dinner for an enormous Wedge-tailed Eagle on the first evening of the trip. We subsequently saw a few more that were ‘tickable’ around Round Hill Nature Reserve.

7. Red Kangaroo Macropus rufus A quintessential symbol of the outback, we saw a few ‘Big Reds’ on the Hay plains while we searched for Plains-wanderer with Phil Maher, with a few more seen on the way to Nombinnie Nature Reserve from Lake Cargelligo. www.tropicalbirding.com Page 36 of 38

8. Euro (Common Wallaroo) Macropus robustus We saw this stocky kangaroo a few times, with one very dark, almost black individual seen at the quarry in Round Hill Nature Reserve. We subsequently saw a few at Back Yamma State Forest, with a couple more during our morning in the Capertee Valley.

9. Red-necked Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus Our best views of this species were on the drive to the Capertee Valley from Lithgow.

10. Black (Swamp) Wallaby Wallabia bicolour After brief views of an animal at Back Yamma State Forest, we had good views of one crossing the road in the Capertee Valley.

FRUIT BATS: Pteropodidae

11. Gray-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus We briefly spotted one of these enormous flying mammals as it passed overhead while we were spotlighting at Barren Grounds.

DOGS AND FOXES: Canidae

12. Red Fox Vulpes vulpes The introduction of this predator has almost single-handedly been responsible for the extinction of much of the mainland’s native small mammal fauna. We unfortunately spotted one moving through the reeds at Fivebough Swamp.

RABBITS AND HARES: Leporidae

13. European Hare Lepus europaeus An introduced species that is fairly common in rural areas of New South Wales.

14. European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Another introduced species that we wish we could send home. This species is quite common in rural areas of New South Wales.

RORQUALS: Balaenopteridae

15. Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae One of the great experiences of the trip was our seawatch from Bass Point, where we saw a steady procession of these enormous mammals passing by on their southerly migration, continuously breaching and fin-slapping. We could even hear the ‘crack!’ as their enormous bodies crashed back into the water.

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REPTILE LIST

1. Snake-necked Turtle Chelodina longicollis We had up close views of one of these very cute turtles crossing the trail at Fivebough Swamp.

2. Macquarie Turtle Emydura macquarii We spotted a couple of these turtles basking on logs at both Gum Swamp, and in the Hacking River in Royal National Park.

3. White’s Skink Liopholis whitii We had nice views of one of these large skinks sunning itself on a sandstone outcrop at Wattamolla in Royal National Park.

4. Shingleback Tiliqua rugosa We saw several of these most unusual lizards, with their enlarged scales and stumpy tails, crossing the road as we drove through central New South Wales.

5. Common Bearded Dragon Pogona barbatus We saw one of these delightful dragons perched up on a fencepost soaking up the early morning rays in the Capertee Valley.

6. Water Dragon Physignathus lesueurii We spotted a couple of these aquatic agamids by the Hacking River in Royal National Park.

7. Sand Goanna Varanus gouldii One of these beautifully patterned monitors was seen basking on the road in Nombinnie Nature Reserve.

FROG LIST

1. Eastern Pobblebonk Liimnodynastes dumerilii We found a couple of these large frogs sitting by the trail while spotlighting at Barren Grounds.

2. Froglet sp. Crinia sp. Inseparable without hearing them call, we found a couple of froglets, either Common or Eastern Sign-bearing Froglets, in puddles by the track in Budderoo National Park.

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