A lunch break to remember
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
Weddin Mountains National Park
From Forbes we travelled south towards Grenfell. We didn’t go all the way into the town but turned off a few kilometres short of the town. We took the road into the nearby Weddin Mountains National Park. We had visited this park on our trip through this region three years ago and remembered that we’d enjoyed the experience.
Weddin Mountains National Park
We arrived a little late for lunch but we survived the extended wait. In the picnic and camping area the rangers have set up picnic tables, toilets, barbecues and some walking trails through the park. It is a pleasant spot to spend an hour or two or even several days camping. The bird life is quite good too. After lunch we had a chat to a man camping there for several nights.
Hideaway cave of bushranger Ben Hall
A feature of the park is the location of the hideaway of bushranger Ben Hall. The cave can be easily seen from the picnic ground. There is also a walking trail to the cave. We didn’t go on any walks through the park as we were running a little late at this stage. Despite the lateness of the hour, however, we just had to stop on the way out.
The trees bordering the exit road burst into bird song as we were leaving, so I just had to stop. I saw or heard many Brown Songlarks singing loudly, a White-winged Triller joined in the fun along with a Grey Fantail, a Rufous Whistler, Noisy Miners, Apostlebirds and several male Red-capped Robins hassling each other. All the time a majestic Wedge-tail Eagle soared overhead and the local White-winged Choughs joined in the chorus of birdsong. Meanwhile my wife was getting excited over the plants flowering near the roadside, including the native orchids shown in the photo below.
It was a lunch break to remember.
Weddin Mountains National Park - native orchids
Swamped by birds
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
One place I wanted to revisit on this trip was Gum Swamp just south of the town of Forbes in central New South Wales. I’d last visited the great bird watching spot three years ago. At that time the swamp was crowded with a vast array of birds. What I hadn’t considered was the recent drought years so I didn’t know if there was going to be any water in the swamp at all. I need not have worried. The level was down only a few centimetres.
Gum Swamp, Forbes, New South Wales
The bird life was good without being wonderful. Despite this I was still able to see some good species and add considerably to my trip list of birds seen. One bonus bird was a White-bellied Sea-eagle sitting in a tree on the opposite side of the swamp. After about twenty minutes of intensive birding we were on our way again, this time heading south towards Grenfell.
Gum Swamp, Forbes, New South Wales
Beside the Lachlan River
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
From Lake Cargelligo we travelled on towards the town of Condobolin. Here we bought fuel for the car and a special treat from the local bakery. As we travel we love checking out local bakeries. We often compare the vanilla slice made in various bakeries around the country with the slice made by our local bakery back in Murray Bridge. Many fail the taste test.
Just a few kilometres out of Condobolin we had a minor accident. A small flock of Galahs feeding on the side of the road were too slow getting out of our way. One of them clipped the very edge of the windscreen and was probably killed instantly. I didn’t dare look back. The impact took a small chip out of the glass but it did not shatter. I’m thankful for this. If it had shattered I would have been wearing a mouthful of glass, feathers and blood. The Galah didn’t get off as lightly, and that upset me.
Lachlan River crossing, Waroo, NSW
Mid-morning we stopped at a locality called Waroo. We crossed a small rickety bridge and found a lovely picnic spot next to the Lachlan River. At the moment it should be renamed the Lachlan mud gutter. There is precious little water to keep it flowing. Rain is desperately needed in the catchment area.
Lachlan River crossing, Waroo, NSW
Old but not forgotten
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
Right next to the caravan park in Lake Cargelligo, central New South Wales, is a museum. We didn’t take the time to visit the museum; you have to leave something for second and subsequent visits to places like this. What we could see just over the fence from the cabin we stayed in during our stay was a collection of old farm equipment on display.
Museum in Lake Cargelligo, NSW
This display included old tractors, ploughs, harvesters and a variety of other old pieces of machinery used in the early settlement days on this farming district. I recognised a number of items similar to those used by my father on the family farm back in South Australia.
Museum in Lake Cargelligo, NSW
I didn’t have time to get all nostalgic for the old days on the farm where I grew up. We had to be on our way to our next destination on this holiday.
Museum in Lake Cargelligo, NSW
A splendid encounter
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
Before leaving the Round Hill Nature Reserve we found another lovely spot for afternoon tea. I set up the folding chairs and we sat back enjoying the beautiful afternoon and the peaceful setting. We were almost ready to set off back to our cabin in the Lake Cargelligo Caravan Park when I heard the familiar call of a wren. I knew that the beautiful Splendid Fairy-wren was present in this park and hoped that this is what I had heard.
Splendid Wren (male)
For the next half hour the wrens played a game of hide and seek with me, flitting in and out and around the nearby bushes. Patience eventually paid off and I was able to not only identify the birds as Splendid Fairy-wrens, but also to get a few reasonable photos of the stunning male in full breeding plumage.
It was a splendid end to a splendid day.
Splendid Wren (male)