Mid North Coast NSW
Extending from Kempsey, Port Macquarie and the Hastings River to the Manning Valley and Myall Lakes in the south, the Mid North Coast has towering forests, extensive wetlands and coastal bird watching sites, with over 32 per cent of the region set aside for conservation.
Link to “Bird Watching guide to the Hastings Valley” for sites.
Photo:This female Variegated Fairy-wren, although not as colourful as the male, has an elegance all of her own. Taken at the Perch Hole close to Lake Cathie village.
This Blue-faced Honeyeater was seen in the main street of Buladelah. This bird can be identified as a juvenile from the yellowish, green facial colours, yet to develop the full blue of the adult bird.
The coastal lagoons of the Mid North Coast have many water and seabirds. This Reef Egret was photographed at Lake Cathie. Reef Egrets come in two colours, the dark morph, seen above, and white.
Pelicans at Lake Cathie south of Port Macquarie.
This Spangled Drongo was at Tinonee, close to Taree. It was feeding on insects in a Malaleuca patch, taking them in the air after an erratic aerial pursuit.
Also at Tinonee, this Brown Quail was one of a family of four in a semi-rural residential and farming area.
Lewins Honeyeaters are common in this area, seen here feeding on a Malaleuca nectar.
The Australian Brush-turkey is seen widely across the Mid North Coast. This bird was on its large nesting mound at Saltwater National Park, near the mouth of the Manning River. Brush-turkey nests can be 1-2 metres high and up to 4 metres wide, made of leaves and debris from the forest floor.
This Brown Cuckoo-Dove was at the Burrawan State Forest picnic ground, an attractive bush area for bird watching.
The Figbird, a common sight in the Mid North Coast.
The Seven Acres Rainforest Centre in Port Macquarie is well worth a visit. In addition to the Green Catbird shown here the reserve features Noisy Pittas, Wompoo Fruit-Doves, Wonga Pigeons, Regent and Satin Bowerbirds plus many more, large and small.
Wingham Brush Nature Reserve is a spectacular sample of the subtropical lowland forest that once covered much of the Manning River valley. It is home to a wide range of birds as well as Grey-headed Flying Foxes. Here a Russet-tailed Thrush enjoys the seclusion of the dense forest.
O’SullivansGap Picnic Area in the Myall National Park is set amongst towering Eucalyptus Grandis with a rainforest understory. This Scaly-breasted Lorikeet was seen in the canopy, along with Glossy and Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos.
One of a family of Tawny Frogmouths at Kooloonbung Creek Park, close to the centre of Port Macquarie. A good place to see Flycatchers, Honeyeaters, Cuckoos and Kingfishers and Koala Bears!
Female Regent Bowerbird at Lighthouse Beach, Port Macquarie. Lighthouse Beach is close to the Seven Acres reserve and the cliff-side bush benefits from this proximity.