Capertee-valley BirdwatchingBirdwatching in the Capertee-Valley
Just about everyone knows about the Grand Canyon, but very few have heard about the Capertee Valley, which is the world's second largest enclosed (naturally eroded) valley. Bird watchers do know though and hope it remains a secret. The Capertee Valley ranks right up there as possibly the best bird watching location with the most species in Australia. It is an easy 3 hour drive west of Sydney, and the Capertee Valley can only be reached by vehicle and you don’t need a 4WD.
1. Take the Great Western Highway west over the Blue Mountains and on the other side of Lithgow then turn north on Highway 86 (Castlereigh Highway) to Mudgee.
2. When you reach teh town of Capertee, take a right turn and onto the tourist drive, the sign posts will direct you to Glen Davis and Glen Alice.
Glen Davis has a camping ground with both water and hot showers. You can find self-contained farmhouse accommodation in various farm properties in the Capertee-valley area. If you need petrol and food or other supplies then Capertee or Rylstone are the nearest towns.
When you travel the Capertee tourist road from Capertee to Glen Alice, there are many great bird watching opportunities. When you see a promising habitat then stop, pull over observe. It is not a busy road although it can be dusty so keep your speed down. The surrounding farm land is private property so please observe the legal niceties and don’t trespass
On all of the local Capertee-valley roads, please use caution and be very aware of live stock and wildlife especially at dusk. There may be sheep, cattle, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and birds such as eagles and possums feeding either on, or close to or be found crossing roads.
Make sure you have a full tank of petrol before you start out, and also take some water with you. In the Capertee-Valley your mobile phone will not work that well if at all, and the digital ones not at all as the area is still on older CDMA system.
The Glen Alice to Rylstone Road
The road from Glen Alice to Rylstone also has several good bird watching opportunities. A good alternative route is to take the right hand turnoff to Dunville Loop on the Glen Alice end. The Loop finishes below Mount Marsden and this turnoff is 18 km from Rylstone. The Dunville Loop is around 24 kms of unsealed good dirt road around the Capertee-valley and there are many good bird watching spots along the way. The valley along the road is cliff lined and will take you minimum of 30 – 40 minutes. Keep your speed down and you keep the dust down. On dusk watch for kangaroos and wombats on the road.
My own property “Marlyn” is 2 kms in from the Rylstone end of the Dunville Loop turnoff, and we will soon have budget priced farmstay accommodation on our LekkerBokkie Boer goat farm for short and long stay bird watchers.
What to do if you find an injured native animal or bird
Use caution when handling injured and distressed wildlife, and don’t mess with injured snakes. Don’t put yourself at risk. Injured kangaroos, birds of prey, wombats and in fact most have the potential to injure so be careful.
Phone Wildlife Information and Rescue Services (WIRES) Rescue line at 02 8977 3333 or local is Mudgee 6372 1611, also others are Blue Mountains 4754 2946 and for Central West in Bathurst at 6331 1066 The Capertee-Valley is renowned amongst serious bird watchers |