Birdcage Rest Area, east of Hay NSW

2007 New South Wales Trip report #8

Birdcage Rest Area, east of Hay:

We passed through South Hay without stopping. Hay is a large rural centre serving a vast tract of farming land on both sides of the Murrumbidgee River which flows through the town. About sixty kilometres further on, we stopped at the interestingly named Birdcage Rest Area. I didn’t see a birdcage, but I did see plenty of wild uncaged birds, which is great.

This shady parking bay right off the main road is a delightful spot. For the first time on this trip we saw some Apostlebirds, those rather ugly, bossy, noisy birds that are so common in this part of Australia. A family of White-winged Choughs was busy feeding three young in their mud-nest in a nearby gum tree. A Willie Wagtail flitted around nearby and a flock of Galahs flew past and landed noisily in a nearby tree. I heard several Striated Pardalotes calling from the canopy of the large tree above us.

While we ate our picnic lunch I heard several Laughing Kookaburras nearby. These are always nice to hear as they typify the Australian bush. I also heard a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike calling nearby.

Yellow Rosella

Just as we finished eating several Yellow Rosellas landed on the grass near the car. I managed to get several great photos of one of them. I had last seen this species a few weeks ago in Loxton where I was not able to get a good shot. Patience is what is needed in the art of nature photography. It will be rewarded.