Nursery Swamp, Namadgi NP
On this trip we will visit one of the most delightful spots in Namadgi National Park. Spotted Quail-thrush have been seen and heard on the uphill section, and in the higher altitude section, there’s the possibility of Olive Whistler.
Meet at the Kambah Village shopping centre car park (cnr Drakeford Drive and Marconi Crescent) at 8.30 am for carpooling. Suggested contribution from each passenger to drivers: $10.
We will then drive to the Orroral Valley. The first part of the walk is 2 km uphill on a fairly steep track, then we continue along a valley through Black Sallees to Nursery Swamp, a fen at 1,100 metres altitude containing peat that has been dated to 10,000 years BP. The walking distance is about 10 km round trip. The area is of great significance to Aboriginal people, containing both rock art and tool-making sites.
We will return in the early afternoon, so bring morning tea, lunch and water, and be prepared for changeable weather as we will be at altitude.
Registration for this trip is essential by 6pm on Friday 8 May; maximum: 16 attendees.
To register, or to obtain further information, please contact the trip leader, Michael by email – mrobbins (at) home.netspeed.com.au with your name, mobile number, and the name and number of an emergency contact.
Post event report
The group of fifteen who joined the walk to Nursery Swamp couldn’t have asked for a better morning on which to set forth – it was sunny, warm and still. It seems that nobody informed the birds though, as they were for the most part unobtrusive, heard rather than seen. So this was an opportunity for us to test our hearing and call recognition.
An area with Banksia marginata and Black Sallees (Eucalyptus stellulata) at the start of the trail offered a promising start to the day. A male Satin Bowerbird in glossy black plumage was active in the canopy and a group of Brown-headed Honeyeaters flew in and landed in the bare branches of a dead eucalypt. The calls of White-eared Honeyeaters accompanied us as we ascended the steep incline at the start of the walk; this was the most numerous species seen or heard all day. Other species viewed on this early stage were a pair of Eastern Yellow Robins showing nicely as they flew about, and a Grey Currawong, which was seen by several in the group.
Morning tea was taken amidst a group of Narrow-leafed Peppermint (Eucalyptus radiata) and Ribbon Gums (Eucalyptus viminalis). This area was burnt by fire in 2020 and is now characterised by dense regrowth. While walking along a path framed by Snow Gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora) we heard Grey Shrike-thrush, a couple of Golden Whistlers, Superb Fairy-wrens and White-browed Scrubwrens, and paused to admire a fine Candlebark (Eucalypyus rubida) with its red bark. As we approached the swamp, a couple of Crescent Honeyeaters were heard calling from the opposite side of the trail. Lunch was enjoyed in the shade of a grove of Black Sallees affording fine views of the landscape over Nursery Swamp, a fen at 1100 metres, framed by granite rocky outcrops.
The return walk was quiet; few birds were heard, the most notable being a Superb Lyrebird calling. A second and final burst of activity was observed near the end of the walk with a very active female Golden Whistler and two White-eared Honeyeaters, one of which was disgruntled at the presence of a trio of White-naped Honeyeaters and chased them out of the area. A total of 22 species was seen or (mostly) heard.
David Dedenszuk ably led the group, pointing out many things of interest along the way, such as the Jumping Jack ants – with a warning about their fearsome and painful bites. Our trip leader (or in this instance follower!) Michael Robbins brought up the rear, from where he pointed out plants of interest, including native raspberry, Woolly Grevillea, themeda and more.
Our thanks to Michael for organising the outing, David for leading the way and to Elliot Overs for recording the eBird list (https://ebird.org/checklist/S336012959).
Julie Hotchin
