First of the Year Birding

We set out after a mere three hours sleep, making it up the mountain to Maiala by 6.30 a.m. We ticked off Spangled Drongo and the tiny Emerald Dove en route, along with the common birds.

Emerald Dove


Jolly's Lookout was birdless, it seldom lets us down. The car park at Maiala yielded Regent and Satin Bowerbirds, Eastern Yellow Robin, Black-eared Monarch, Silvereye and Lewins Honeyeater. Two Wongas wandered about, a Green Catbird yowled in the forest, Whipbirds whipped and Pied Imperial Pigeons flew over. The latter is a summer visitor from Papua New Guinea. We scoffed our cereal breakfast in between and then drove to Samsonvale. The cemetery area always comes up trumps, its reputation as a good birding spot is well deserved. We were joined by another birder this mrning, a man from southern New South Wales. He hadn't been anywhere else, had walked into the forest (we're too scared of snakes), and seen over 60 birds.

I'm still trying to get THE definitive photo of a Red-backed Fairy-wren. I'm getting closer......
The Male

The Female

Our last stop was Bullocky Point on the North Pine Dam, adding Red-kneed Dotterel. 82 birds by 11.00 a.m and we gave up and drove home. Too lacking in sleep to continue. Pam went to bed after lunch, I played Wii bowling with Josh and then went shopping with Sara.
After finishing yesterday's Blog, I too succumbed, sleeping for an hour, waking up in time to cook the fillet steak for to-night's tea. Yum.
Another game of ' Dash around Australia', the boys love it. Mike doesn't do board games, he didn't play them when young. Time to do to-day's list.