Bakers Shaft Reserve, Belubula River
December 27th 2008
I am here at the banks of the Belubula River - well it is more like a muddy crick than a river. It is near Mandurama close to Cowra in Central NSW, Australia. I drove from Newcastle to Singleton, then along the Putty Road towards Windsor. There are a few good spots along the dry river bed just as you get to the Yengo National Park. I stopped at a fireplace and walked along the sandy creek bed. There were a few wrens and some butterflies but not much else. There were tracks along the stream bed so animals do come here. It might be a good idea to come here early morning and set up a hide or something? Maybe.
There does not seem to be much access to the Yengo National Park. Maybe they do not want people to go there or the infrastructure is not yet developed. Or, you can get in there from the Broke side. Its sort of Hawkesbury country – sandstone. It seems to me that dry country is not much good for birding. Maybe birds like to hang around water – just a thought!
Clamorous Reed-warbler or Australian Reed-warbler
I went on to Putty and drove into the valley. There was supposed to be camping somewhere but I saw nothing. Further down the road there was a Caravan Park and a shady riverside park. I carried on to Colo where I asked at the service station the best way to get to Lithgow. He told me to go via Kurrajong and the Bell Line of Road – whatever that means! This was a tourist route through Bilpin and apple, peach, and nectarine orchards. Some stonefruit orchards had gauze netting over the whole area. I then went to Mount Victoria and starting heading to Katoomba and realized I was going the wrong way, doh! I turned around and headed towards Lithgow, Bathurst and Blayney. Then I had a look at the camp site at Carcoar Dam which was very neat and nice – full of motorhomes. There was no bush around anyway and the dam seemed devoid of bird life but I may be wrong. I did not stay long enough to have a good look.
Red-rumped Parrot
So I came here to the Bakers Shaft Reserve. There is a nice spot by the Belubula River. I have birds twittering away, the babbling brook, and the willow tree is shading me. I could not get any more cliched if I tried. I took some photos in the afternoon but the light was horrendous. It was dark and overcast. I had to use ISO1600 and even then had to use a flash. It was so appalling. ugh. I doubt if I have one usable or sharp photo. Last night it cleared up and all the stars were out twinkling away but this morning it was overcast and cloudy again – still no light – arrgghhh! I thought it was supposed to be sunny out here in the outback. What a gyp. There are loads of birds about – little clamorous reed-warblers that hang around the reeds, honeyeaters, cockatoos, parrots, and a few other birds that I havent ID’ed yet.
Red-browed Finch
I will have to wait until I get to electricity to dump off my shots and look at them on the computer – then I will ID them. I have no idea what time it is. I suppose it does not matter. The big decision for today is whether to stay here or head off to Cowra. It is a monumental crisis that will take deep thought and contemplation or I might just go back to bed. At midday I saw some red-browed finches and superb fairy-wrens, green parrots and the honeyeater with the yellow stripe over its eye, lots of sulphur crested cockatoos, crows, and currawongs. With the sun higher, there is a lot more light and I am down to ISO400 – woot! It is still overcast and I think it may rain.
White-browed Scrubwren
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
Bird Species List
- Clamorous Reed-warbler or Australian Reed-warbler
- Striated Pardalote
- White-browed Scrubwren
- Crimson Rosella
- Eastern Rosella
- Red-rumped Parrot
- Dollarbird
- Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
- Grey Fantail
- Superb Fairy-wren
- Red-browed Finch
- Yellow-faced Honeyeater