Good morning, I will be hicking along the south coast track over christmas – from Melaleuca to Cockle creek. I have never been to Tassie so I will obviously be after endemics but in more general terms I would really appreciate any advice or tip you are willing to share! Thanks a lot! Cheers, Viv
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7 comments to South Coast Track – Tassie |
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G’day Vivien In addition to the advice you have received so far, also keep an eye out for penguins that might be resting on on a beach. You never know where one will turn up. Regards, Laurie. On 11/12/2013, at 9:58 AM, Vivien Rolland wrote:
Traditionally bushwalkers in Tassie took a short length of tube to siphon water from yabby holes etc. Unlike South Australia, you generally don’t have to carry a lot of water when you are walking in the wetter parts of Tassie. On 11/12/2013, at 12:31 PM, Carl Clifford wrote:
An alternative to carting water and having to take out you containers, is to use a LifeStraw http://www.lifestraw.com.au/page/lifestraw-personal/default.asp I have used one in Borneo and found it useful. I even drank from th Kinabatangan River with no ill effects. LifeStraws are a useful tool for the traveling birder. Cheers, Carl Clifford
Hi Viv, You should get some of the endemics on that walk without much effort (other than having to do the walk). Green Rosella, Strong-billed HE, Yellow Throated HE, Tas Thornbill, Tas Scrubwren, and Black Currawong are all reasonably common in that area. Dusky Robin is a chance, but if you don’t get it there, some of the drier forests around Hobart are your best bet (Peter Murrell Reserve is good). Scrubtit will probably require heading to higher altitudes, although it may be possible in some of the more rainforesty sections of the track. Around Mt Wellington is probably the easiest place to see it. 40 Spotted Pardalote won’t be seen in that area, but is possible at Peter Murrell, and relatively easy to find at Bruny Island and Maria Island (you can get all the endemics on Bruny, and there’s a ferry out there that takes cars, so you can do it on a day trip). Tas Native-hen is possible when you get to Cockle Creek, and on the drive from there to Hobart. They are also very common in some places around Hobart, including Peter Murrell, Gould’s Lagoon, and Water Works reserve, or even on the drive to the airport. Black-headed HE is quite common in drier forests around Hobart, although probably a possibility around Cockle Creek (although I don’t think I’ve seen it there). Peter Murrell, Waterworks Reserve, Knocklofty or the areas around Mt Nelson would all be good sites. Yellow Wattlebird is also common around Hobart. There’s one that nests in a tree (near the chess board) at Franklin Square in the middle of the city, or you’ll probably see them at every moderately forested area. OBP, is obviously best at Melaluca, and highly unlikely anywhere else, although I think occasionally seen on the walk out too. You should have a pretty good chance at the moment, since the population has doubled due to released captive birds, and I think early fledglings might be out by then too, so there could be over 50 birds in the area. Swift Parrots have been seen a few times at Peter Murrell recently, but your best bet is Bruny Island. Good luck
Jeremy On 11 December 2013 10:58, Vivien Rolland < viv.birding@gmail.com> wrote:
On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 10:58:03AM +1100, Vivien Rolland wrote: The most interesting birding is around Melaleuca so you might want to overnight in the huts there. If you aren’t overnighting at Melaleuca and your flight comes in the middle of the day you should allow several hours to see an Orange-bellied Parrot visit the feeding table. We didn’t have to wait that long, but the volunteers said someimes no birds came to the table in the middle of the day. The walk to Point Eric isn’t difficult so you can comfortably arrive at Point Eric late in the day. Assuming you are suitable equipped & experienced the South Coast Track is amazing. I wished we’d allowed extra days for a side-trips into Louisa Bay and an ascent of Preciptous Bluff. Anything you can do to reduce the weight of your pack – while still being equipped for bad weather including snow – is worthwhile. Various people have posting to birding-aus accounts of where to find all the other endemics near Hobart, e.g.: http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/birding-aus/2012-09/msg00254.html Andrew
Hi Viv, Well, you’ll clearly need to check out the feed station at Melaleuca for OBPs – the only place and time you have a good likelihood of finding them. Along that track, through the button grass and heaths, especially where there are scattered shrubs throughout, should be good for Emu-wrens, Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters, Blue-winged Parrots, Eastern Ground Parrots, etc. Keep an eye out in the forested patches for Pink Robins, Tas Scrubwrens and Thornbills, and Scrubtits. Raptors could turn up anywhere, but keep an eye out for Wedgies, Brown Falcons, Brown Goshawks and Grey (White) Goshawks. Collared Sparrowhawk and Hobby are possible, but fairly ‘fluky’. You should be able to get both Black and Grey Currawong, if not on the walk itself, then driving back to Hobart, and/or exploring woodlands and forests on the way. Green Rosellas and Tas Native Hens should be common on the drive back, if not before, as would Dusky Robin. For Forty Spotted Pardalotes, you’ll have to visit Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, or Bruny Island, either before or after your walk. For most of the endemic Honeyeaters, try out more open woodlands, and verging into forest. They’re not so keen on the actual rain forests, though. Hope that might be a bit of a help. Cheers, and have a great trip, John Tongue Ulverstone, Tas. On 11/12/2013, at 10:58 AM, Vivien Rolland < viv.birding@gmail.com> wrote:
It’s better to take water . —–Original Message—– [mailto:birding-aus-bounces@lists.vicnet.net.au] On Behalf Of Vivien Rolland Sent: Wednesday, 11 December 2013 10:28 AM Good morning, I will be hicking along the south coast track over christmas – from Melaleuca to Cockle creek. I have never been to Tassie so I will obviously be after endemics but in more general terms I would really appreciate any advice or tip you are willing to share! Thanks a lot! Cheers, Viv=