Some photos from our recent holiday on the New South Wales mid-north coast, staying at Diamond Beach Resort.
The resort adjoins the coastal heath lands of Khappinghat Nature Reserve.
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| Heath lands, Khappinghat Nature Reserve |
White-cheeked Honeyeaters and Little Wattlebirds were abundant,
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| White-cheeked Honeyeater |
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| Little Wattle-bird |
There were also Brown Quail running along the tracks, Superb Fairy-wrens, Variegated Fairy-wrens, Golden-headed Cisticolas, Red-browed Finches, Double-barred Finches, and in the air flocks of White-throated Needletails, Welcome Swallows, a Whistling Kite and a Brahminy Kite. The highlight was the Southern Emu-wrens.
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| Male Southern Emu-wren |
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| This small clump of shrubs was about 100m from our villa and one morning had, at the same time, Superb Fairy-wrens, Variegated Fairy-wrens, Southern Emu-wrens, Brown Thornbills and others. |
The Red-necked Wallabies were very red and attractive.
There wasn't a great variety of plants in flower at the time. However there were plenty of these red Callistemons.
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| Callistemon |
There are small pockets of coastal rain forest nearby, such as at Red Head. I did manage to see Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Noisy Pitta and Green Catbird, but no Regent Bowerbirds although their image appeared on plenty of signs in the area.
The twin towns of Forster-Tuncurry on the Wallis Lake are about 20km south. Forster (pronounced
Foster) has one of the mildest climates in NSW, being nearly surrounded by water. It is, of course, rather humid.
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| Forster Main Beach |
Another 45km south is Seal Rocks with the historic Sugarloaf Point lighthouse and surfing beaches. A flock of White-throated Needltails was zipping around the lighthouse.
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| Lighthouse Beach, looking toward Sugarloaf Point lighthouse |
There were no human surfers in the water when we visited but a large pod of dolphins where enjoying the waves.
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| Dolphin Surfing, Lighthouse Beach |
A little way inland, west of Taree, is the town of Wingham which has a small rainforest reserve with a large colony of Grey-headed Flying Foxes.
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| Grey-headed Flying Fox |
More photos here:
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I always visit the Wingham Brush when I'm in the area (visiting relatives in Taree). apart from those very engaging flying foxes, great views of many Brush turkeys going about their business, as well as the "land mullets". It was where I first saw things like Brown cuckoo-doves and some other coastal species (and the Brimbin reserve, not far away, is invariably a good spot for scarlet honeyeaters). sandra h
ReplyDeleteThanks for comment Sandra. I must visit Brimbin next time I am in the area.
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