The Big 500 - Gloucester and More

Without wanting to waste any prime time Spring birding, upon arriving home from Vietnam, a trip to Gloucester was conceived. With Josh busy and having already had a week's birding in Victoria it was up to Ashwin (another teen birder from Sydney) and I to track down some cracking rainforest species.

All photos courtesy of Ashwin Rudder copyright.

We left Sydney at midday on a scorching hot Friday. Just before crossing the Hunter River towards Raymond Terrace we made a last-minute decision to check out Stockton sandspit (thanks to Ashwin's quick checking of the tide charts). As we drove across Stockton bridge (appropriately likened to taking-off in an aeroplane by Ashwin), we could see a large group of waders, primarily avocets, on the dykes and at the sandspit.

Upon arrival we made our way slowly along the shoreline to three other birders set up with scopes, checking out the flock. Our greeting was met with a frank "Would you like to see a Banded Stilt?" We were astounded, but after a quick view through a scope we realised they weren't joking!

A completely unexpected 500!

It wasn't until Ashwin's remark that I realised this was my 500th species of bird for Australia! I was assuming either Russet-tailed Thrush or Rufous Scrub-Bird would take the top spot, but I was nonetheless content with Banded Stilt - being such a scarcely reported species in NSW.

Banded Stilt hiding amongst the avocets

 Before leaving the spit, we were able to identify Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit (1), Whimbrel, Eastern Curlew, Red Knot (lifer for Ashwin), Red-capped Plover, Black-winged Stilt and of course Banded Stilt and Red-necked Avocet.

After the successful detour to Stockton we raced up to the Sharpe's Creek campsite at Gloucester Tops. Within 10 minutes of arriving we had observed about 8 individual thrush feeding in close proximity at the picnic area. We positively identified Bassian Thrush and then a Russet-tailed Thrush (lifer for both of us). After double-checking photos and spending more time observing the distinguishing features and noting behaviour we were confident with our ID.

Russet-tailed Thrush, note the rump colour and facial markings

Bassian Thrush, clearly plainer and displaying diagnostic 'upside-down hammer' markings on the upper wing coverts

 Other than the thrushes at the campsite, we found the following notable species: Rose Robin, Black-faced Monarch and Green Catbird. Once camp was set up and dinner had been downed, we set off up the Gloucester Tops Rd in the fairly vain attempt at Sooty Owl. Several Southern Boobook and Australian Owlet-Nightjars were heard as well as a distant Tawny Frogmouth, but at our last stop on the road we heard, for the first time, the 'bomb-drop'. We waited several tense minutes for another of the signature calls that the Sooty Owl is famed for. It called again, closer. Another few minutes, nothing. Switched on the spotlight and there it was! A beautiful Sooty Owl had been perched less than 5m away from us, but the spotlight startled it and was kind enough to land just another 5m back on an open branch.

We made the most of the precious time we had in the bird's company, attempting to obtain photographs (see below), before leaving it in peace.

The epitome of a record shot - Sooty Owl

 The next morning we woke early and did a brief bit of birding around the campsite before Grant and Rob arrived. We met David Bishop who was taking a client and his wife up to the tops in search of the scrub-bird who told us he had been up there the two previous days, with only mild success on the Friday - we remained vigilant.

Grant wasn't much longer and we were off up the road again, this time with one bird in mind. We met David again on his way back down after just getting fantastic views of one scrub-bird down Kerripit Rd. Grant knew where he was talking about so we tried our luck down there, but didn't hear any sign of one and only came away with Red-browed Treecreeper.

Now it was onto Grant's site. A spot he has had success at 3 out of 20 visits - not the most appealing ratio. He warned us that seeing a Rufous Scrub-bird is more a form of torture than any type of enjoyable birding and three hours later we could do nothing but agree with him. I'd prefer not to detail the ordeal, but can provide a brief, but typical insight into what it was like - Scrub-bird calling. Play the call. Scrub-bird calls back. This correspondence continues for 10 minutes. Scrub-bird seems closer. Wait patiently and quietly. Scrub-bird doesn't call for 10 minutes. Scrub-bird calls again from 20m away. Twenty minutes later the Scrub-bird is within 2m. Fleeting glimpse of something. Scrub-bird doesn't call for 10 minutes. Scrub-bird calls again from 20m away. And so on, and so on...

So yes, both Ashwin and I saw something move that must have been the Scrub-bird, but these were in no way tickable views. We tried again back at David's site, but turned up blanks after crashing around in the thick undergrowth. The only consolation was nice views of Crescent Honeyeater and Olive Whistler.
 

Stoopid twig - Olive Whistler

We left Gloucester Tops, slightly disheartened, but still satisfied with two exceptional lifers in the bag. The afternoon and next morning were spent around Chichester SF and checking out several sites in the lower Hunter in preparation for Twitchathon at the end of the month. Due to this, I don't wish to reveal too much about where exactly we went and what exactly we saw. Only that we came across some great rainforest species and some good quality birds in the foothills giving good premonitions for a great race in 2-3 weeks time!

In total we came away with 163 species for the weekend, with 4 lifers for Ashwin and 3 for me. I well and truly passed the 500 mark for Australia and it was great to do so in good company and with some smashing birds.