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 bird- 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 species to search for. our bird list for what you might Werrikimbe National Park (NP) find. Our Key Biodiversity Regent Honeyeater Areas (KBA’s) There are eleven thousand KBAs around the world; places of high biodiversity for birds 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 Camden Haven and Grassy Head, east of the Pacific Highway and Werrikimbe NP. Photo Peter West Around Port Macquarie 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 Melaleuca swamp forest in Innes Fantail, also Powerful Owl, Honeyeater and Swift Parrot, NR. Take a half-hour stroll or walk or longer if you have time. Pale-yellow Robin, Brush-turkey, 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 Kingfisher, 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, terns and Bassian Thrush plus Barred The largest patch of littoral rain- Gannets. During a blow, anything Cuckoo-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 Bowerbirds, Catbird and experience on a raised board- albatross and boobies 5. Partridge Creek off Fern- bank Creek Road A top site for many swamp and grassland birds. Access: from Hastings River 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 Cuckoos, 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 cormorants. 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 Owls and even Ground Parrot. mer. Look for Osprey, Brahminy 3.5km right into Maria River 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 Hastings River you take the ferry to the North the Quarry Track, left at 12km to The North Shore. shore at Settlement Point. See to the wetland 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 Australasian Bittern - in part areas have Tawny-crowned Hon- why the KBA was designated. eyeater, Lewin’s Rail, Grass Owl Little Black Cormorant 7. North Shore rainforest A nice spot with the usual birds. Powerful Owl 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, Brolga, Black-necked Stork and Forest Kingfisher. Crested Tern 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 Black Swan 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 Camden Haven River, 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 Dunbogan. 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.