A Birds Australia project funded by the World Wide Fund for
Nature (WWF),Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and the Threatened Species Network
(TSN)
7th Survey (12-13/1/2002)
The second Liverpool Plains bird surveys for 2002
(7th in all) concentrated on the south-western section of the Plains
near the towns of Premer and Tambar Springs. Tambar Springs is a small town
(population 102) located 29km south of Mullaley, which is approximately 65km
east of Coonabarabran. The weekend survey concentrated in areas that had not
been previously surveyed as part of the Birds Australia Atlas, and contained
native vegetation either in roadside verges, travelling stock routes, public
reserves, and State Forests. The survey team met at Premer on Saturday morning
and consisted of Joan Adams, Ern Dunkley, Maggie Lattin, David Hummerston, Tim
Scrace, and Patrick Lodge.
The team worked in three separate groups conducting Atlas
surveys along the road network from Premer north to Mullaley, covering
approximately 60km. These surveys yielded common species, some of which were
Galahs, Eastern Rosellas, Red-rumped Parrots, Apostlebirds, Double-barred
Finches, Zebra Finches, Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, Yellow Thornbills,
Buff-rumped Thornbills, Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Striated Pardolotes, Rufous
Song Larks, White-throated Treecreepers, Brown Treecreepers, Eastern Yellow
Robins, Leaden Flycatchers, Sacred Kingfishers, White-winged Trillers, Rainbow
Bee-eaters, Red Wattlebirds, Crested Pigeons, Fuscous Honeyeaters, Dusky
Woodswallows etc. Grey-crowned Babblers, a listed species in NSW,
were recorded in some roadside verge just north of Premer. These surveys
included two State Forests, Tinkrameneah SF to the south, and Garrawilla SF to
the north. At Tinkrameneah SF highlights included Chestnut-rumped
Heathwrens and Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters. The record of the
Chestnut-rumped Heathwren was new for the Atlas surveys in the Plains,
while to date there have been only 4 records of Yellow-tufted
Honeyeaters. At Garrawilla SF, a flock of ~12 Brown-headed
Honeyeaters was recorded.
Returning to camp in Trinkey SF in the afternoon, a flock of
12 Emus, the largest flock seen in these surveys, was observed
amongst a cereal crop on private property. In the afternoon at Trinkey SF,
surveys yielded common species such as King Parrots, White-throated
Treecreepers, Superb Fairy-wrens, Striated Pardolotes, Spotted Pardolotes,
Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Grey Shrike-thrushes, Silvereyes, and Yellow
Thornbills. Of interest here were the observations of a number of female and
male Cicadabirds and Lewin’s Honeyeaters. These two species are
very unusual in the Liverpool Plains and the area is outside their distribution
noted in the field guides. In the evening an Australian Owlet Nightjar, Barn
Owl and Southern Boobook were all heard calling. Surveys on Sunday
morning focussed on other areas of Trinkey SF. Similar to most of the weekend,
birding was difficult with low numbers of birds present. In the afternoon,
Patrick Lodge and myself (due to two punctured tyres!), spent 10 hours (waiting
for the NRMA) and surveying a relatively lowland area of crops and grassland
between Trinkey SF and Tambar Springs. The survey yielded birds such as
White-necked Herons, Wedge-tailed Eagles, Black-shouldered Kites, Nankeen
Kestrels, Brown Quail (12), Grey-crowned Babblers, Apostlebirds, and large
numbers of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Red-rumped Parrots, and Common
Bronzewings. At Cox’s Creek, a major tributary in the Liverpool Plains, a
single Black-tailed Native Hen was recorded. This is also a new
record for the Atlas surveys in the Liverpool Plains.
In all, the weekend surveys covered an enormous area that had not been
previously surveyed as part of the Atlas surveys. A BIG THANK YOU to those who
came along and helped with these surveys.
