Sunshine Coast Birds

Birding and other wildlife experiences from the Sunshine Coast and elsewhere in Australia - and from overseas - with scribblings about travel, environmental issues, kayaking, hiking and camping.

Thursday 20 June 2013

Turquoise Parrot - Camping at Kwiambal National Park, Northern NSW



We had a very pleasant three-day camp-out at Kiambal National Park in northern NSW, not far from the Queensland border. This was a lovely area of rivers, granite outcrops and woodland, remniscent of Girraween National Park in Queensland.  Star of the show was Turquoise Parrot. We found two groups - one of three birds and one of five birds, all seen roadside while driving around the park. This is a male.

/Crested Shrike-tit

Crested Shrike-tit
Crested Shrike-tit was among some nice birds seen here.



We were fortunate to visit the park during an excellent time seasonally, with the waterways in full flow following recent rains. Here are some of the scenic offerings, mainly of the Severn River and its various tributaries.




.
Mid-winter camping
.The joys of mid-winter camping in the NSW highlands. It was -3 degrees C in the early morning. Having the  camper van to shelter in makes coping with the cold a good deal easier than a tent.

White-browed Scrubwren
Some of the birds around camp and in the woodlands.

Weebill
Australian Raven
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Speckled Warbler
It was nice to see Speckled Warbler, a species in decline throughout the woodlands of the sub-interior, in good numbers here.

Red-necked Wallaby
Macropods were plentiful - Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Wallaroo, Swamp Wallaby and Red-necked Wallaby.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo joey 
Feral goats
A big problem in the national park was the very large numbers of feral goats - they were all over the place.



5 comments:

  1. You look positively frozen Greg. Love the snap of the two feral goats.
    Jude

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  2. Yes Jude it was cold. In a nice motel room now but back to the bush later. Yes the goats are cute but a menace

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  3. I've yet to see a Crested Shrike-Tit for myself; you got some lovely shots and I loved the Speckled Warbler too. No fun the early morning starts in zero temps; the joys of birding hey? Enjoyed your post and look forward to visiting...found you via Pete's Flap

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  5. Thanks for your kind comments Carole ... I am only just now thawing out:)

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