Bungonia

Thank you to Denis Wilson who will lead this outing. Participants should meet at 7.30am in the carpark at the netball centre just north of the intersection of Northbourne Ave and Mouat Street, Lyneham. We will carpool from there with passengers making a contribution to petrol costs of the driver. It takes about 1 ½ hours to reach Bungonia. Bring morning tea and lunch. Please register with Sue Lashko at smlashko@gmail.com

It is many years since COG last visited Bungonia and it is now a national park with very good facilities, as well as a popular site for cavers.  A party of 13, including four “novices”, gathered at the park entrance.  Denis Wilson from Robertson led us to his favourite spots; firstly, the Lookdown, where we had spectacular views down to the Shoalhaven River, as well as the rather confronting view of the South Marulan limestone mine on the edge of the park.  A Wedge-tailed Eagle patrolled the plateau and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and an Eastern Spinebill flitted through the trees below.  A few people had excellent views of a male Superb Lyrebird on a nearby bush track which also yielded a male Golden Whistler and an extremely obliging Eastern Yellow Robin.

After a visit to Adams Lookout, we walked the Orange Track, recommended as “good for birdwatching and koalas”. Tilly, the junior member of our party, was the official koala spotter, but it was not to be our lucky day.  However, bird highlights included a Red-browed Treecreeper and a small party of Varied Sittellas. 

Considering the very dry conditions at Bungonia, the total species count of 30 was quite respectable, and the new birders in particular had the opportunity to compare 3 species of thornbill, 2 treecreepers and a variety of honeyeaters.

Sue Lashko