Saturday 24th November, Wentworth Falls. Returned to our Blue Mountains base on Thursday evening after a 48 hour dash to mallee country, a particular type of native scrub, around Lake Cargellico, towards the western boundary of NSW – a round trip of just 1250k! But with plenty of potential Aussie ticks on offer it was a ‘must do’. In the event we saw 150 species, many of which were new for various members of the group – even Dan managed to clock up half a dozen new birds! Highlights included Superb Parrot and Red-backed Kingfisher en route, Painted, Pied ,White-fronted and Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, Shy Heathwren, Southern Scrub-Robin, Crimson Chat, Crested Bellbird, Spotted Bowerbird, Gilbert’s Whistler, Black-eared Cuckoo, Chestnut- backed Quail-Thrush and Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo. On our way back we called in to Charles Stuart University campus to add a rare NSW species to Dan’s list – a European Greenfinch!

What a superb Superb Parrot

Mistletoebird

One of the ‘difficult to get’ honeyeaters – this is Painted

Masked Woodswallow

A ‘Wedgie’ – Wedge-tailed Eagle

another of the ‘difficult to get’ honeyeaters – this time it’s White-fronted

A real skulker – Chestnut-backed Quail-Thrush

..and an even more difficult species – the aptly named Shy Heathwren (hence the poor photo!)

Gilbert’s Whistler – yet another skulker

A real surprise – Red-backed Kingfisher, found whilst looking for Cockatiels

and the ‘piece de resistance’ – Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo!

We’ve just been enjoying a couple of days chilling with the family, including Rob & Gi, up from Melbourne for the weekend. Tomorrow we’re up early and off to the ‘Top End’ for some intensive birding!