Kathy Walter and John Goldie’s well planned trip to Booderee NP, Jervis Bay, coincided with the few clearish days between coastal storms. The trip was enjoyed by 14 COGites. Group day walks of the Murray’s Beach Walking Trail, the Telegraph Creek Nature Trail and separate trips along Elmoos Rd to St Georges Basin and to the Botanical Gardens were a delight. On Sunday evening we set off to the Steamers Beach Rd area and back to Elmoos Rd in search of elusive owls. In the unplanned moments, participants revisited sites or set off to spots such as the lighthouse to see what they could find. Others walked leisurely around our camp spot at Green Patch or just sat at their camp site drinking tea and casually observing the occasional Eastern Bristlebird, the Eastern Yellow Robins, Eastern Whipbirds, fairy-wrens, thornbills etc.
For me, the birding highlights were a Rose Robin; a Yellow-nosed Albatross
and the graceful flight of a young White-bellied Sea-eagle from the
lookout near Murray’s Beach to the rocky area below; the large number of
Eastern Bristlebirds in the park; and the call of the unidentified owl on the
St George’s Basin side of the park. I always enjoy watching the flowing flight
and fast dives of the gannets and terns when I am at the coast.
The sighting of a Ground Parrot by Brian Scales in the low heath at the intersection of Elmoos Rd and Hyams Beach Rd was most pleasing. Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, a Beautiful Firetail and a Southern Emu-wren were also seen at this site. Other interesting sightings on the trip were a grey form Eastern Reef Heron, Peregrine Falcon, Brown Cuckoo-dove, Brown Gerygone, Scarlet Honeyeater, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Red-browed Treecreepers and a pair of displaying White-throated Treecreepers. A Little Lorikeet was heard but not seen. Those of us who took part in the Murray’s Beach Walking Trail outing were fortunate enough to see a Humpback Whale breach close to the cliff.
We saw 71 bird species and 6 non-human mammal species.
Julienne Kamprad