Hi All,
Just back from a quick trip to Wolfe Crater, near Halls Creek WA, to
recce possible Night Parrot sites for future reference.
PICTORELLA MANNIKINS en route from the crater to Lake Gregory
nearby,(permission required) notable for plenty of water, 20+ YELLOW CHATS
in the samphire, 3 FLOCK BRONZEWINGS on a lakeside track. Many BLACKBREASTED
BUZZARDS, around the lake and along the Tanami Rd. BB Buzzards seem to be
increasing in numbers; apart from Kestrels, Brown Falcons,Whistlings Kites
near water and Black Kites near settlements, they were the commonest
raptors. A BLACK FALCON, LITTLE EAGLES. Very few Wedgetails. At the Lake,
BANDED LAPWINGS and RED-KNEED DOTTERELS, BLACK-TAILED NATIVE HENS, Numerous
waterbirds, eg. a thousand PLUMED WHISTLING DUCKS, Hardheads, Pinkeared
Ducks, Black Swans, all the Grebes, Brolgas, (looked in vain for a Sarus
Crane) Glossy Ibis all abundant. An occasional living BUSTARD, but feathers
littered campfire sites.
On the way home, to the detriment of our Landcruiser and a black
steer, we had to drive at night down the Tanami, delayed by a shredded tyre,
but next morning, Tilmouth Roadhouse had an aviary with a pair of Princess
Parrots; a whiff of our most elusive goal, as well as MULGA PARROTS,
brilliant on the green lawn outside. A pair of the increasingly familiar
Black-breasted Buzzards.
A 2 hour visit to the Desert Park at Alice Springs was all too brief,
a living field guide to many inland birds, including Striated Grasswren.
Finally cracked the KALKADOON GRASSWREN, south side of Mica Creek,
Mt.Isa, up on the rise. Pair of PAINTED FINCHES, SPINIFEXBIRD nearby.
CINNAMON QUAILTHRUSH and GIBBER CHAT on roadside between Boulia and
Birdsville.CRIMSON CHATS.
EYREAN GRASSWRENS again on Big Red, the large sand dune on the edge
of the Simpson Desert 38km west of Birdsville. Look for their tracks near
thick canegrass clumps, sit in strategic position about 20m away, wait,
watch, and listen if your hearing is good. They usually pop out for a look.
Also another possible STRIATED GRASSWREN, seen at the same spot nearby last
year, sandhill form, grey head, prominent black moustache, seen above the
side track one km. north from the main track.
Many waterbirds in the long Diamantina River waterhole next to
Birdsville.
Innaminka, NW South Australia, had a 500 + feeding flock of
Cormorants, mainly Great, also Little Black and a few Little Pied,
concentrated together in the Coopers Creek waterhole, sounding like rapids
in the river as they repeatedly dived. Disturbed by the tourist boat, they
flew off as a group, wing-beats sounding like a train overhead. Countless
Little Corellas.
East across more Channel Country, bare gibber plains crossed by
occassional watercourses, some, like the Wilson River at Nockatunga, broad
and green, crying out for exploration, many Martins, Zebra Finches and
Crimson Chats at our brief pitstop.
Two HALLS BABBLERS and a CHESTNUT-BREASTED QUAILTHRUSH at their
usual sites at Bowra, Cunnamulla, south-central Queensland. Chestnut-crowned
and White-browed Babblers as well, saw Grey-crowned there at the last visit
Also, unmistakable, SLATY-BACKED THORNBILLS at the quailthrush site. Dark
eye, pale below with no streaking, chestnut rump, plain slate-grey topsides.
BLACK HONEYEATERS there too, almost sound like quailthrush. Plenty of water
around, so no Bourke's Parrots coming in to the dam this time, but reported
on the property by other less rushed birdos camped there. (Eighteen of
them)(birdos that is). WESTERN BOWERBIRD, displaying, with bower. RED-WINGED
PARROTS, MAJOR MITCHELL COCKATOOS. Bowra is almost seething with birds, a
week birding there is well spent, as many of you will confirm.
A good trip.
Cheers
Michael
Michael Hunter
Mulgoa Valley
50km west of Sydney Harbour Bridge
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