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> From: "Stuart Cooney" <>
> To: "Birding Aus" <>
> Subject: From Mallee to Rainforest and back again (long)
> Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 13:03:25 +1000
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>
> Hi Birding -Aussers
>
>
> As you know the Cooney family headed off to Hattah N.P., Flinders Ranges =
> and then Gluepot earlier in the month, armed with a ton of info about =
> where to see what birds (largely provided by the good people of =
> birding-aus). On the way to Hattah we stopped at the traditional spot =
> on the way to the mallee; the Kerang Ibis Rookery. The Rookery was as =
> quiet as I have ever seen it and we only saw 22 species, and the =
> highlight was a Water Rat swimming around upsetting the Coots.
>
>
>
> We camped that night at Lake Mournpall in the Hattah Lakes National Park =
> (north-west Victoria), which is dry, and had the campsite to ourselves. =
> Setting up mum and dad=92s campervan for the first time we encountered =
> no problems, had no arguments about the erection of the annexe and all =
> was well with the world, then it got dark.
>
>
>
> It wasn=92t the dark so much as the cold. It got cold, very cold, in =
> fact it got very very cold. A desert will do that you know. We rugged =
> up and, finding that the mantle on the gas lamp was broken and that we =
> didn=92t have any spares, headed off to bed for an early one. It might =
> be pertinent to mention my 8-month old, beautiful, baby girl around now. =
> This was Georgie=92s first night camping and she loved it. In fact she =
> loved the cold so much that every time she turned over or woke up she =
> called out to mummy and daddy for a nice warm bottle of milk. Of course =
> this wasn=92t easy to provide, without electricity and only torch light =
> to assist with the careful mixing of hot and cold water with the formula =
> to brew the perfect mix.
>
>
>
> The day dawned brightly and soon the sun warmed the dry desert sands and =
> the long night was forgotten. I headed off for a wander early and saw =
> Red-capped Robins, Mallee Ringnecks and Regent Parrots, delighting in =
> the mallee specialists and planning a afternoon trip to see Mallee =
> Emu-wren and get my first tick for the trip. I had lots of information =
> about where they could be seen I was confident that I would get them =
> later on. I was wrong. I guess I didn=92t really spend the time I =
> should have, but I looked and looked, but to no avail. As Dool=92s =
> mentioned recently, I reckon I saw one subliminally, I=92m sure I saw =
> the pale blue wash of a male=92s breast, but I couldn=92t find it.
>
>
>
> After another sleepless night, which was colder, ice-cream headache =
> cold, we decided to pull the pin on the camping caper (although during =
> the night we went for a drive and saw a Barn Owl and 2 pigs in the =
> park). We headed off to Waikerie SA and the comfort of a motel. I love =
> the SA Riverland and we spent a few days there, including a trip and =
> walk around Banrock Creek Estate. They charge $5 for the privilege of =
> walking around their boardwalk, although it was very well interpreted, =
> the water was down so I reckon we should only have been charged $3. At =
> Banrock we saw an Australian White Ibis with a white head! I couldn=92t =
> get close to it and do not know what type of bird it was, because I =
> swear it had a white head, with a long, black, curved beak and black on =
> its wing coverts.
>
>
>
> Apart from the new Ibis species (Threskiornis stuartii), I hadn=92t got =
> any new birds for the trip and I was beginning to feel like a fraud, but =
> then I headed off to Gluepot and regained at least some confidence. I =
> saw Shy Heathwren early in the day and saw them regularly throughout the =
> day and then stopped at a place where I saw first a Golden Whistler, =
> then a Gilbert=92s and then, as I chased what I thought may be a =
> Red-lored call, I saw a Rufous Whistler. I=92m still not convinced that =
> there wasn=92t a Red-lored Whistler there as well, but there you go. I =
> also got good views of Striated Grasswren that were much better than my =
> first and only other sighting, so I began to think I wasn=92t a =
> completely naff birder. After checking in at the shed and getting the =
> latest gen on Malleefowl I followed in the footsteps of such Birding-Aus =
> luminaries as Daubeney, Hackett and the legendary Dooley to the =
> Callitris walk. Well I walked up and down, and then did it again, but =
> without luck, dipping on a species I really wanted to see. I did see =
> White-browed Treecreeper for my second tick of the trip in a patch of =
> Callitris near Diesel Dam, but hardly saw any Miners, let alone =
> Black-eared and as I was leaving Gluepot I had seen 51 species. Gluepot =
> is a great spot and I am looking forward to camping there some time to =
> catch the dawn chorus, but on this day it suddenly got dark and I had to =
> leave. As I was driving out, my day went from good to great. On the =
> crest of a hill I slowed to drive over the top of a Mallee stump growing =
> into the track, when it flew up, revealing luminous spots on its wings =
> and giving me tick 3 a Spotted Nightjar!
>
>
>
> That night we had to decide where to go next and for some reason we =
> decided that we should go to Lamington National Park in southern =
> Queensland.
>
>
>
> So off we headed for Lamington N.P. in Queensland, passing through the =
> towns of Burra (really liked it), Peterborough (didn=92t much like it) =
> and getting a tick at Olary; Little Crow (which was a lovely, tiny town =
> consisting of a friendly publican and galahs). A couple of days later =
> we stopped at Gibralter Range N.P. and had our first Rainforest =
> experience. I got four new birds (Brown Gerygone, Logrunner, =
> Yellow-throated Scrubwren (later to become chooks) and, most =
> impressively Wompoo Fruit-dove). We had stopped the previous day at the =
> more famous Warrumbungles and were thoroughly underwhelmed by it, but =
> just loved Gibralter and pencilled it in for a later and longer visit. =
> By the time we had crossed NSW and landed in the grottiest cabin in NSW =
> in Ballina we had seen 148 birds and got eight ticks.
>
>
>
> Next day we drove up to Lamington immediately ticking Regent Bowerbird =
> and Australian Brush Turkey even before checking in to O=92Reilly=92s. =
> We loved O=92Reilly=92s, the service was great, the accommodation =
> beautiful and the food good. Over the next couple of days we went on =
> lots of walks, ticking Green Catbird, Brown Cuckoo-dove, Albert=92s =
> Lyrebird and Pale Yellow Robin. Tim O=92Reilly is the activities =
> coordinator (or something) and aside from being really nice bloke was a =
> great help, putting up with lots of questions from me about where I =
> could tick some more birds and so it was, armed with three pages of mud =
> maps, that we headed off the mountain, down Duck Creek Road, on the 14th =
> of August to Beaudesert.
>
>
>
> Just a quick aside as to why we went to Beaudesert. When we checked out =
> our money situation for this very indulgent part of the trip in Ballina, =
> we had more than enough to cover the cost, however when we double =
> checked in Beaudesert the funds were gone! Now, as we had spent lots =
> leading up to trip, we accepted this as true and hastily organised to =
> borrow the funds to cover the cost, which was very embarrassing, however =
> on our return from holidays we found that the Commonwealth Bank had made =
> a mistake and the money was there again with nary a word from these fine =
> people. Suffice to say we have ceased all banking with the incompetents =
> at the Commonwealth Bank as this is the straw that broke the camel=92s =
> back (and are faced with such encouraging alternatives!).
>
>
>
> With that off my chest back to the birds. The 14th was a twitching day =
> like no other. It started with a pair of Glossy Black Cockys, =
> White-chinned Honeyeaters and Pale-headed Rosellas as we made our way =
> down the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain we got a Pheasant =
> Coucal flying out of the grass and I ticked off Torresian Crow although =
> dipped on Red-backed Fairy-wren and Bar-shouldered Dove. In Beaudesert =
> I got Chestnut-breasted Mannikin and Brown Honeyeater in a creek bed and =
> as I turned to leave a Double-barred Finch flew into a nearby tree. We =
> then headed to a Jabiru nest and saw one on the nest and another walking =
> around in the paddock beyond. We then got Figbird and Comb-crested =
> Jacana and I saw my first male Scarlet Honeyeater (having seen a female =
> at Fairy Dell in Victoria earlier this year). So far I had only dipped =
> on Bar-shouldered Dove, Plumed Whistling-duck and Red-backed Fairy-wren, =
> but then as we returned the way we came, at precisely the spot that Tim =
> had said they would be I got RBFW=92s. 11 ticks for the day, including =
> some good ones, I was thrilled.
>
>
>
> All too soon we had to leave O=92Reilly=92s, although I still didn=92t =
> have Paradise Riflebird despite them being seen 4 times by Andy Rhodes =
> an English birder on his honeymoon. I spent a lot of time in the area =
> that they had been seen and managed to turn up 3 White-headed Pigeons to =
> add to my list, but no Riflebirds. I also dipped on Topknot Pigeons =
> that had been seen flying past our room on a couple of occasions, and no =
> one was seeing Pittas. In fact the only Pittas that were being seen =
> were dead, apparently from the extraordinary dry that they are =
> experiencing. It is the driest period in 60 years at Lamington, when =
> records started to be taken and many of the epiphytic ferns were showing =
> the strain.
>
>
>
> We then returned fairly directly to sign papers relating to the sale of =
> our house, adding Spangled Drongo and the fantastic Brahminy Kite as we =
> went. We saw 184 species on the trip, 78 year ticks and I got 29 ticks. =
> Best bird for me would be the Glossy Blacks, the Brahminy Kites, the =
> Spotted Nightjar and the Regent Bowerbirds (although feelings are a bit =
> mixed about the nature of the twitch). Most disappointing dip was =
> clearly the Malleefowl, because I went expecting to see one and =
> didn=92t, I=92ll get the Riflebird on another trip and didn=92t expect =
> to see one. We had a great trip, even if it didn=92t go as planned and =
> Georgie was great in the car, however we will try the camping thing =
> again when she is a bit older.
>
>
>
> I am happy to provide a complete bird list and details of where I saw =
> them on request.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Stuart
>
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> <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
> <HTML><HEAD>
> <META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
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> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff background=3D""><FONT face=3D"Times New =
> Roman">Hi Birding
> -Aussers<BR><BR>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>As
> you know the Cooney family headed off to Hattah N.P., Flinders Ranges =
> and then
> Gluepot earlier in the month, armed with a ton of info about where to =
> see what
> birds (largely provided by the good people of birding-aus).<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>On the way to Hattah we =
> stopped at the
> traditional spot on the way to the mallee; the Kerang Ibis Rookery.<SPAN =
>
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Rookery was as quiet as I =
> have ever
> seen it and we only saw 22 species, and the highlight was a <B>Water =
> Rat</B>
> swimming around upsetting the Coots.</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D
> "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>We
> camped that night at Lake Mournpall in the Hattah Lakes National Park
> (north-west Victoria), which is dry, and had the campsite to =
> ourselves.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Setting up mum and dad=92s =
> campervan for
> the first time we encountered no problems, had no arguments about the =
> erection
> of the annexe and all was well with the world, then it got dark.</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>It
> wasn=92t the dark so much as the cold.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
> yes">
> </SPAN>It got cold, very cold, in fact it got very very cold.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A desert will do that you =
> know.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We rugged up and, finding that =
> the
> mantle on the gas lamp was broken and that we didn=92t have any spares, =
> headed off
> to bed for an early one.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
> </SPAN>It might
> be pertinent to mention my 8-month old, beautiful, baby girl around =
> now.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This was Georgie=92s first =
> night camping
> and she loved it.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In fact =
> she loved
> the cold so much that every time she turned over or woke up she called =
> out to
> mummy and daddy for a nice warm bottle of milk.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Of course this wasn=92t easy =
> to provide,
> without electricity and only torch light to assist with the careful =
> mixing of
> hot and cold water with the formula to brew the perfect mix.</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>The
> day dawned brightly and soon the sun warmed the dry desert sands and the =
> long
> night was forgotten.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I =
> headed off
> for a wander early and saw Red-capped Robins, Mallee Ringnecks and =
> Regent
> Parrots, delighting in the mallee specialists and planning a afternoon =
> trip to
> see Mallee Emu-wren and get my first tick for the trip.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I had lots of information =
> about where
> they could be seen I was confident that I would get them later on.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was wrong.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I guess I didn=92t really =
> spend the time I
> should have, but I looked and looked, but to no avail.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As Dool=92s mentioned =
> recently, I reckon I
> saw one subliminally, I=92m sure I saw the pale blue wash of a male=92s =
> breast, but
> I couldn=92t find it.</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft>After another sleepless night, which was colder, ice-cream =
> headache
> cold, we decided to pull the pin on the camping caper (although during =
> the night
> we went for a drive and saw a Barn Owl and 2 <B>pigs</B> in the =
> park).<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We headed off to Waikerie SA =
> and the
> comfort of a motel.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I =
> love the SA
> Riverland and we spent a few days there, including a trip and walk =
> around
> Banrock Creek Estate. <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
> yes"> </SPAN>They charge
> $5 for the privilege of walking around their boardwalk, although it was =
> very
> well interpreted, the water was down so I reckon we should only have =
> been
> charged $3.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At Banrock we =
> saw an
> Australian White Ibis with a white head!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
> yes">
> </SPAN>I couldn=92t get close to it and do not know what type of bird it =
> was,
> because I swear it had a white head, with a long, black, curved beak and =
> black
> on its wing coverts.</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft>Apart from the new Ibis species (<I>Threskiornis =
> stuartii</I>), I
> hadn=92t got any new birds for the trip and I was beginning to feel like =
> a fraud,
> but then I headed off to Gluepot and regained at least some =
> confidence.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I saw <B>Shy Heathwren</B> =
> early in the
> day and saw them regularly throughout the day and then stopped at a =
> place where
> I saw first a Golden Whistler, then a Gilbert=92s and then, as I chased =
> what I
> thought may be a Red-lored call, I saw a Rufous Whistler.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I=92m still not convinced that =
> there
> wasn=92t a Red-lored Whistler there as well, but there you go.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I also got good views of =
> Striated
> Grasswren that were much better than my first and only other sighting, =
> so I
> began to think I wasn=92t a completely naff birder.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After checking in at the shed =
> and
> getting the latest gen on Malleefowl I followed in the footsteps of such =
>
> Birding-Aus luminaries as Daubeney, Hackett and the legendary Dooley to =
> the
> Callitris walk.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Well I =
> walked up
> and down, and then did it again, but without luck, dipping on a species =
> I really
> wanted to see.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I did see
> <B>White-browed Treecreeper</B> for my second tick of the trip in a =
> patch of
> Callitris near Diesel Dam, but hardly saw any Miners, let alone =
> Black-eared and
> as I was leaving Gluepot I had seen 51 species.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Gluepot is a great spot and I =
> am looking
> forward to camping there some time to catch the dawn chorus, but on this =
> day it
> suddenly got dark and I had to leave.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
> yes">
> </SPAN>As I was driving out, my day went from good to great.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>On the crest of a hill I =
> slowed to drive
> over the top of a Mallee stump growing into the track, when it flew up,
> revealing luminous spots on its wings and giving me tick 3 a <B>Spotted
> Nightjar</B>!</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>That
> night we had to decide where to go next and for some reason we decided =
> that we
> should go to Lamington National Park in southern Queensland.</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>So
> off we headed for Lamington N.P. in Queensland, passing through the =
> towns of
> Burra (really liked it), Peterborough (didn=92t much like it) and =
> getting a tick
> at Olary; <B>Little Crow</B> (which was a lovely, tiny town consisting =
> of a
> friendly publican and galahs).<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
> </SPAN>A
> couple of days later we stopped at Gibralter Range N.P. and had our =
> first
> Rainforest experience.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I =
> got four
> new birds (<B>Brown Gerygone</B>, <B>Logrunner</B>, <B>Yellow-throated
> Scrubwren</B> (later to become chooks) and, most impressively <B>Wompoo
> Fruit-dove</B>). <SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We had =
> stopped the
> previous day at the more famous Warrumbungles and were thoroughly =
> underwhelmed
> by it, but just loved Gibralter and pencilled it in for a later and =
> longer
> visit.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By the time we had =
> crossed
> NSW and landed in the grottiest cabin in NSW in Ballina we had seen 148 =
> birds
> and got eight ticks.</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>Next
> day we drove up to Lamington immediately ticking <B>Regent Bowerbird</B> =
> and
> <B>Australian Brush Turkey</B> even before checking in to =
> O=92Reilly=92s.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We loved O=92Reilly=92s, the =
> service was
> great, the accommodation beautiful and the food good.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Over the next couple of days =
> we went on
> lots of walks, ticking <B>Green Catbird</B>, <B>Brown</B> =
> <B>Cuckoo-dove</B>,
> <B>Albert=92s Lyrebird</B> and <B>Pale Yellow Robin</B>.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tim O=92Reilly is the =
> activities
> coordinator (or something) and aside from being really nice bloke was a =
> great
> help, putting up with lots of questions from me about where I could tick =
> some
> more birds and so it was, armed with three pages of mud maps, that we =
> headed off
> the mountain, down Duck Creek Road, on the 14<SUP>th</SUP> of August to
> Beaudesert.</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>Just
> a quick aside as to why we went to Beaudesert.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When we checked out our money =
> situation
> for this very indulgent part of the trip in Ballina, we had more than =
> enough to
> cover the cost, however when we double checked in Beaudesert the funds =
> were
> gone!<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now, as we had =
> spent lots
> leading up to trip, we accepted this as true and hastily organised to =
> borrow the
> funds to cover the cost, which was very embarrassing, however on our =
> return from
> holidays we found that the Commonwealth Bank had made a mistake and the =
> money
> was there again with nary a word from these fine people.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Suffice to say we have ceased =
> all
> banking with the incompetents at the Commonwealth Bank as this is the =
> straw that
> broke the camel=92s back (and are faced with such encouraging =
> alternatives!).</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>With
> that off my chest back to the birds.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
> yes">
> </SPAN>The 14<SUP>th</SUP> was a twitching day like no other.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It started with a pair of =
> <B>Glossy
> Black Cockys</B>, <B>White-chinned Honeyeaters</B> and <B>Pale-headed
> Rosellas</B> as we made our way down the mountain.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At the bottom of the mountain =
> we got a
> <B>Pheasant Coucal</B> flying out of the grass and I ticked off =
> <B>Torresian</B>
> <B>Crow</B> although dipped on Red-backed Fairy-wren and Bar-shouldered
> Dove.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In Beaudesert I got =
>
> <B>Chestnut-breasted Mannikin</B> and <B>Brown Honeyeater</B> in a creek =
> bed and
> as I turned to leave a <B>Double-barred Finch</B> flew into a nearby =
> tree.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We then headed to a =
> <B>Jabiru</B> nest
> and saw one on the nest and another walking around in the paddock =
> beyond.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We then got <B>Figbird</B> and =
>
> <B>Comb-crested Jacana</B> and I saw my first male Scarlet Honeyeater =
> (having
> seen a female at Fairy Dell in Victoria earlier this year).<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So far I had only dipped on
> Bar-shouldered Dove, Plumed Whistling-duck and Red-backed Fairy-wren, =
> but then
> as we returned the way we came, at precisely the spot that Tim had said =
> they
> would be I got <B>RBFW=92s</B>.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
> </SPAN>11
> ticks for the day, including some good ones, I was thrilled.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>All
> too soon we had to leave O=92Reilly=92s, although I still didn=92t have =
> Paradise
> Riflebird despite them being seen 4 times by Andy Rhodes an English =
> birder on
> his honeymoon.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I spent a =
> lot of
> time in the area that they had been seen and managed to turn up 3
> <B>White-headed Pigeons</B> to add to my list, but no Riflebirds.<SPAN
> style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I also dipped on Topknot =
> Pigeons that
> had been seen flying past our room on a couple of occasions, and no one =
> was
> seeing Pittas.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In fact =
> the only
> Pittas that were being seen were dead, apparently from the extraordinary =
> dry
> that they are experiencing.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
> </SPAN>It is
> the driest period in 60 years at Lamington, when records started to be =
> taken and
> many of the epiphytic ferns were showing the strain.</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>We
> then returned fairly directly to sign papers relating to the sale of our =
> house,
> adding <B>Spangled Drongo</B> and the fantastic <B>Brahminy Kite</B> as =
> we
> went.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We saw 184 species =
> on the
> trip, 78 year ticks and I got 29 ticks.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: =
> yes">
> </SPAN>Best bird for me would be the Glossy Blacks, the Brahminy Kites, =
> the
> Spotted Nightjar and the Regent Bowerbirds (although feelings are a bit =
> mixed
> about the nature of the twitch).<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
>
> </SPAN>Most disappointing dip was clearly the Malleefowl, because I went =
>
> expecting to see one and didn=92t, I=92ll get the Riflebird on another =
> trip and
> didn=92t expect to see one.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> =
> </SPAN>We had a
> great trip, even if it didn=92t go as planned and Georgie was great in =
> the car,
> however we will try the camping thing again when she is a bit older.</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left" =
> align=3Dleft>I am
> happy to provide a complete bird list and details of where I saw them on =
>
> request.</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft>Regards</P>
> <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"
> align=3Dleft> <o:p></o:p></P><SPAN
> style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; =
> mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; =
> mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
> mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Stuart</SPAN></FONT></BODY></HTML>
>
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