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Hi fellow birders,
Route : Melbourne, mutawintji[nee mootwingee],
Pyampa Station, Sturt N.P., Innamincka, Birdsville, Lyndhurst, Hattah,
Home.
Time : 28th June to &th July
Participants : Laurie Living, Nicholas Day &
Geoff. Walker
Highlights :
Mutawintji : 50-100 very Tame Apostlebirds sweeping
through the campground.
Apparently Hall's Babbler & Little Woodswallow
are still resident in the park.
Pyampa Station : As previously reported on
birding-aus, this station now owned by Ross Betts of Onepah whom we contacted
before departure. We also called in on our arrival & bade farewell
when leaving. A very pleasant man who welcomed our visit. In
about 4hours we located 50++ Grey Grasswrens in the larger, green lignum bushes
on the fringe of the swamp.
Also several very handsome dingoes.
Sturt N.P.: 1000+ Red 'Roos in half days
travel.
Cordillo Downs : 2pairs Gibberbirds & Bourke's
Parrot.
Lake Surprise Bore : Small flock Ground
Cuckoo-shrike.
Mungerannie : Eyrean Grasswren[4]. Cattle
have recently devastated the dunes behind the roadhouse, but we found the wrens
just south, adjacent to the 'PANADOL' sign, within a few hundred metres of the
road. A small flock of Australian Pratincole soured overhead late
afternoon. A Spotless Crake on the edge of the waterhole was
unexpected.
Mungerannie to Marree : Black-tailed
Native-hens, 20,000+, 500-1000 on almost every patch of casual
water. This was one of the trip highlights.... to see so many 'rafts' of
large numbers of Native-hens resting & feeding on ephemeral water
& probably migrating through the outback at night.
Mt Lyndhurst Station : Despite a very strong &
chilly breeze managed to locate a few Chestnut-breasted Whiteface just near the
parking area as per T & T, but not the Thick-bills.
Daily Sightings : Orange Chat, Crimson Chat,
Chirruping Wedgebill, Cimmamon Quail-thrush, White-winged Fairy-wren, Little
Crow.
Occasional Sightings : Chestnut-crowned Babbler,
Red-winged Parrot, Diamond Dove, Pied Honeyeater, Budgerigar, Red-backed
Kingfisher.
Incidental Sightings : Redthroat, White-browed
Treecreeper< Brolga, Elegant Parrot, Spotted Bowerbird & Black
Falcon.
Birds Unexpectedly NOT seen : Inland Dotterel,
Australian Bustard, Spotted Harrier.
Birds Expectedly NOT seen : Grey Falcon,
Letter-winged Kite, Yellow Chat & Flock Bronzewing.
Before departure we contacted Clifton Hills Station
requesting access to Kooncherra & Pandiburra, but were denied on the grounds
they were mustering. The same reason/excuse given to friends several
months prior. One can only hope Onepah/Pyampa, Mt Lyndhurst etc., do not
adopt a similar attitude.
Regards
Geoff. Walker
03 9568 2909
0418
572 922
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