Capertee Valley Birding Tours
Just three hours west of Sydney the Blue Mountains begin to give way to the western slopes. It is here among these rugged ranges that the world's second largest water eroded valley can be found, the Capertee Valley.
Red-capped Robins are just one of many beautiful and sought after species in the valley. © 2007 Nevil Lazarus. Press image to enlarge.
The Capertee Valley sits amid the Gardens of Stone National Park and Wollemi National Park and is widely regarded as one of the best birding locations within a day's drive of Sydney. The scenery oozes rural charm and the forests and woodlands are always likely to turn up something new.
The birding is intense, with an excellent mixture of birds which are found along the east coast and those species which we generally associate more with the western slopes and plains. As a result, Grey-crowned Babblers can be found mixing with Brown Thornbills in scrub beneath trees full of White-winged Choughs and Diamond Firetails and Southern White-faces can be found in a foraging party with Red-browed Finches, as White-backed Swallows soar overhead.
Forests like this have large honeyeater, finch and lorikeet populations. Many sought after species, like Red-browed Treecreeper and Speckled Warbler are frequently sighted on this trail. Image: © 2007 Ricki Coughlan.
The entire Valley is parrot lover's paradise, with Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Turquoise Parrot, Little Lorikeet and Musk Lorikeet all making a regular and frequently abundant showing.
Finch lovers will adore the Diamond Firetail, Plum-headed Finch, Zebra Finch, Double-barred Finch and Red-browed Finch which are all common regulars. Occasionally Chestnut-breasted Mannikin make a showing.
The valley has a strong reputation for it's rare or difficult honeyeaters, with the endangered Regent Honeyeater being a good bet during the cooler months and Striped and Painted Honeyeaters making occassional showings too. There is a very diverse range of honeyeaters within the valley and chasing them all up over a weekend is only part of the fun. This is just the beginning in a place which is a must for every birding enthusiast to visit.
Accommodation is generally simple cottages, cabins and delightfully quaint farmhouses. Prices vary according to numbers and makeup of the touring group.
You can rest assured that my birding skills and knowledge of the birds of this region will serve you in good stead when we share a weekend of incredible birding in the delightful Capertee Valley. Contact me to make a booking for your encounter with this magical birding location.