Last month, blessed by still, sunny weather, we had a magical morning at Prue Acton’s lovely property.

Our bird count was low, 27 species, but we were surrounded by glorious bird song.

Walking through the property

Cuckoos, whistlers and bristlebirds were all identified only by their distinctive ringing calls. Many small bush birds flittered around but were hard to see, and difficult to identify by call.

We had morning tea by a delightful dam where some of the ‘invisible’ birds, such as White-eared Honeyeater, braved our presence to have a drink, and kookaburras called in the distance.

White-eared Honeyeater

No need to tell you the birds above!

A highlight for me was a dry creek bed inhabited by stunning twisted and gnarled ironbarks (I can't help but look at plants also)!

Later we crossed over to the public cliff top pathway, to a lookout toward Point Addis.

The stile to be negotiated on the way to the clifftop pathway

 

On the lookout

The view towards Point Addis

We were very pleased to see some soaring Shy Albatross, and one Caspian Tern, only identified by the help of the zoom lens of Margaret’s camera. I thought it looked too large to be a tern, as I could not see its beautiful, robust red beak. However, it is in fact the largest of the terns with a 1.1 to 1.4 m wingspan.

Shy Albatross

We do appreciate being able to go birding on beautiful private properties like this, so thank you, Prue! (And we would welcome offers from other people.)

Below is a list of the identified birds:

1. Shining Bronze-Cuckoo
2. Fan-tailed Cuckoo
3. Silver Gull
4. Caspian Tern
5. Shy Albatross
6. Black-shouldered Kite
7. Laughing Kookaburra
8. Crimson Rosella
9. Superb Fairywren
10. Red Wattlebird
11. New Holland Honeyeater
12. White-eared Honeyeater
13. Brown-headed Honeyeater
14. Rufous Bristlebird
15. Spotted Pardalote
16. White-browed Scrubwren
17. Brown Thornbill
18. Australian Magpie
19. Pied Currawong
20. Gray Currawong
21. Gray Shrikethrush
22. Rufous Whistler
23. Gray Fantail
24. Little Raven
25. Eastern Yellow Robin

26. Welcome Swallow

27. Silver-eye

Ellinor Campbell