Our stay in the Manning Valley was in a bungalow at “Mansefield on Manning” just west of Taree, NSW at Tinonee. The 18 hectare park-like grounds have tall gum trees, patches of denser trees, an orchard and large vegetable garden bounded by a small wetland on one side and the Manning River on the other. I counted over 50 bird species on the property itself ranging from Yellow Thornbills and Scarlet Honeyeaters to King Parrots, Brown Quail, Spangled Drongo, Wedge-tailed Eagles and Australian Pelican. The cabins are well separated around the property and there was a serenade from Pied Butcherbirds each morning.
This Spangled Drongo was seen each day at our bungalow at “Mansefield on Manning”, Tinonee, NSW.
And this Brown Quail was seen from the deck in long grass under a nearby tree. There was a group of four Quails that were later seen crossing the road into the site.
One of a family group of Australian King-Parrots.
This Black-fronted Dotterel was keeping very clean in the mud in a roadside pond near Coopernook in the Manning Valley, NSW. A week later this same area was under water, blocking the highway for three days.
Female Regent Bowerbird at Saltwater National Park near the mouth of the Manning River, NSW.