Saturday 23rd February - Finch Hatton

Many people have tried and failed to find this little honeyeater in the rain forest, so we armed ourselves with our bird guide, smoko and lunch. Using the directions in the bird guide, we headed up towards Mount Dalrymple to the edge of the Eungella National Park. Stopping to take in the view at the Eugnella township. 

 

Then headed off on our honeyeater hunt. Our surroundings didn’t seem to match up with the book, but with rain and past cyclones, who would know. As it was about smoko time, we parked and made coffee. Binoculars at the ready, sipping coffee, dunking biscuits and scanning the surrounding bush, I noticed a little movement high up in the tree and said nonchalantly, there he is.  Binos shot up to the eyes to check this flippant call. And Yes, it was HIM (unfortunately, not my photo – he’s too quick for me).

 



We spent the next 45 minutes scanning the bush to spot 10 more species including these cute cuddling Redbrowed Finch.

 

As we made our way back to the Eungalla township, we stopped to scan the bush in the hope of adding to our list. With more success, we spotted the Regent Bowerbird – not so rare, but a great find. That golden yellow colour is just so beautifully brilliant (again, not my photo, thank you Wikipedia).

 

Following our birding success, we did a couple of little walks, including the Sky Window that takes in more Pioneer Valley views and Broken River picnic area with Platypus Pools. We didn't see any Platypus though, I expect it was because too many people around and the water was a bit mirky also.

Then back to our camp for a rest and drive our to Finch Hatton Gorge. It was quite a pleasant drive through the cane fields and over a few shallow flowing creeks, but on discovering that it was then a 2.5km walk up hill to see the gorge (in very high humidity), we wimped out.

Finch Hatton has a family history connection for me. My Grandfather owned/operated two movie theatres here back in the early/mid 1940s. The old railway station building is still in tact and houses many things including the internet cafe and an historical photographic collection, but it is closed and as the sign on the door states, 'volunteers are hard to come by and we'll open when we can'. Anyway ...