 For the past few days we have been staying at Boobook Cottage in Bellawongarah on Berry Mountain. This is a very comfortable cottage with wood fire and all the mod cons in an idyllic setting off the beaten track and in the forest, including some rain forest. Even better than the accommodation is the surrounds – what a great treat to be driving along mountain roads, and then down onto the coastal plain below (including big and bustling Nowra, quaint Berry, and shining Huskisson). But wait, let’s go slowly through the days… Our first proper day at Boobook was spent with professional birder, and our hostess at Boobook, Carla Jackett. Carla is an artist and a potter, and an expert birder. We went out for a day’s tour, and Carla took us to several of the local birding places. First, we went to Bomaderry near Nowra. The local special bird, the rock warbler, eluded us, but we saw and got to know (a little) the brown cuckoo-dove; several types of honeyeaters especially Lewin’s honeyeater; and the eastern spinebill, among many others.  A Lewin's honeyeater We also visited Jerrara Dam (featuring eastern yellow robins, wrens and a magnificent monarch butterfly).  Monarch butterfly We also went to Spring Creek Bird Hide near Kiama (wetland waterbirds including great cormorants nesting in the distance, and a colony of flying foxes). All up, a magnificent day and we learnt so much from Carla, including where we might visit in the following days. So armed with a little knowledge (yes, it can be dangerous but wasn’t in this instance), we spent another day out at Ben’s Walk. This starts at the Nowra showgrounds and descends to the Shoalhaven River past some hanging rocks. We thought this a delectable walk and we had great fun catching (pixel-wise) some brown cuckoo-doves, bowerbirds and Lewin’s honeyeater. It was a fairly long trek, and we were rewarded with some crimson rosellas about two metres from us on the final leg. Lunch in central Nowra (Tea Club Café with its own garden) was polished off with relish.
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