May Outing Report - Gowrie Junction, Rosalie Heights, Mount Storey, Mount Kingsthorpe - 3 May 2026

Adapted from the TFNC newsletter article of V. Temple-Watts

Members on Mt Kingsthorpe
Photo: M. Weaver

Our meeting point on the Gowrie-Tilgonda Road at Gowrie Junction, proved wonderfully productive for birds. We saw 16 species in a short time ranging in size from Yellow-rumped Thornbill to White-faced Heron. The flowering Mugga Ironbark across the road rang out with the sound of feeding Scaly-breasted Lorikeets.

Our first scheduled stop was at the northern section of Birdwood Conservation Park on Hilltop Drive, Rosalie Heights, where we explored a patch of remnant Semi-Evergreen Vine Thicket. The botanists in the group graciously shared their knowledge and answered many questions. We admired the pretty pink-flowered Hypoestes floribunda - a good butterfly plant, the Hairy Boonaree (Alectryon pubescens) – look for a thumb-like projection which is often but not always present, and is sometimes paired, near the base of the leaf, a Native Olive (Elaeodendron australe) bright with orange fruit and saw Variable Mistletoe (Amyema congener) in flower, as well as many other interesting plants. The vine thicket is all but impenetrable so we made our way along the fenceline and marvelled at the dark, rich scrub soil built from years of leaf litter. Here and there we saw lumps of igneous rock pock-marked by escaped gas. A resident told us that Swamp, Pretty-faced and Black-striped Wallabies live in the scrub, Echidnas and Dingoes too, but we didn’t see any.

During morning tea we saw two Wedge-tailed Eagles and wondered whether they had made the large stick nest in a solitary Brachychiton tree across the road. 

After a short drive to Terry Egan Park at Mount Storey, just south of Glencoe Mountain, we had extensive views over the very dry Downs and could orientate ourselves via familiar landmarks such as Gowrie Mountain. A handsome Fig tree, spared when the land was cleared, caught our attention as did a group of Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes.

Our final stop was Kingsthorpe where the group chose between climbing Mt Kingsthorpe via the 450m trail to the summit, exploring the Rosalie Walk which is part of the Kingsthorpe Linear Corridor or staying at Settlers Park, our lunch spot. The mountain toppers enjoyed spectacular views of a flock of Australian Pelicans flying low over the plains and then watched as they gradually circled to finish high in the sky before flying out of sight.

Banana Mistletoe (Lysiana subfalcata) 
Photo: G. Spearritt

A male Mistletoebird was resplendent in dark blue and red, Silvereyes and White-browed Scrubwrens called from just out of sight and there were many active butterflies which included several Whites, Glasswing and Tailed Emperor. A lone dragonfly flew past and a large grey-brown grasshopper flicked into the understory. The fresh new foliage of a seedling Mountain Coolibah (Eucalyptus orgadophila) contrasted beautifully with its red stems and leaf stalks. The Rosalie Walk also had interesting finds with up to three species of Mistletoe on a single Callistemon and some very fine Mountain Coolabahs. The yellow flowers of the Banana Mistletoe (Lysiana subfalcata) were stunning. A Blue-faced Honeyeater inspected diners at lunchtime and Red-winged Parrots flew overhead. 

Bird list - 03 May 2026.  Compiled by V. Temple-Watts from members observations

Gowrie Junction assembly point: Crested Pigeon, Rock Dove, White-faced Heron, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Noisy Miner, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Magpie Lark, Torresian Crow, Common Myna, Double-barred Finch.

Birdwood Conservation Park/Hilltop Drive, Rosalie Heights: Spotted Dove, Wedge-tailed Eagle (x2), Masked Plover, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote, White-browed Scrubwren, Pied Butcherbird (deceased), Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail,  Silvereye, Double-barred Finch.

Terry Egan Park, Mount Storey: Brown Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Currawong, Australian Magpie.

Kingsthorpe:  Crested Pigeon, Straw-necked Ibis, Australian Pelican (x13), Nankeen Kestrel,  Galah,  Rainbow Lorikeet, Red-winged Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, White-browed Scrubwren, Pied Currawong, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird.