Hunter Creek Park

Check my birding map for specific location. 

Hunter Creek is a rest area very close to Abbatoir Swamp and my 2022 trip was my first visit to it, although I have driven past it many times. It looks very ordinary with a single picnic table and bush toilet. However, there is a creek running under the adjacent road and along the back of the area and it is all rainforest. There is also a little walkway, only about 50 metres through the forest and the whole place is full of rainforest birds.

I started at the creek, hoping to see the Azure Kingfisher I had spotted at Abattoir Swamp. I was rewarded, however, with the squeaks of the Large-billed Scrubwren. They are very endearing birds but difficult to photograph always skulking about in the dense foliage. I did get a couple and that was a pretty good start.

Large-billed Scrubwren (sericornis magnirostra)

Next I walked through the area by the toilet and I heard the Pied Monarch, another bird seemingly allergic to light! I got a couple of reasonable shots before it disappeared into the gloom.

Pied Monarch (arses kaupi)

A bit more co-operative was a group of Silvereye feeding on some red berries on the side of the bush and I got several of this greedy bird with juice smeared all over it. I couldn't help but laugh.

Silvereye (zosterops lateralis)

The Fairy Gerygone and Grey Whistler were my last 2 catches and I was thrilled. The Fairy Gerygone was the northern personata form with a black chin and white moustaches. Very interesting.

Fairy Gerygone (gerygone palpebrosa)

The Grey Whistler has foxed me on numerous occasions with its yellow breast and un-whistler like behaviour. I was by no means certain this was one until I could look at my photos. Very pleased to have a clear shot of one at last.

Grey Whistler (pachycephala simplex)

eBird List

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S113870358