Hi all,
As promised here is
a short trip report for Moorrinya National Park, in central western Queensland
(south of Torrens Creek which is west of Charters Towers). There is another trip
report on the park in the archives from Jo Wieneke, which has some useful
information for those looking at visiting ? as far as I?m aware her info is
still current. Here> http://menura.cse.unsw.edu.au:64800/2002/05/msg00101.html
Moorrinya National
Park, purchased in 1993, has a bird list of 177 species and protects 12 of the
15 regional ecosystems found in the desert uplands including various types of
woodland, riparian vegetation and Mitchell Grass plains. I visited as part of an
annual James Cook University vertebrate survey and was there for 3 days of the
total 6 ? 78 species were seen during the 6 days.
We camped in or
around the old shearers quarters, which is near a permanent waterhole of several
hundred metres on Bullock Cr. White-necked Herons have bred along the creek ?
there were 2 juveniles as well as several adults ranging along its length. Also
saw a Australian Wood Duck and a Black-fronted Dotterel here ? a juvenile B-f
Dotterel was seen around our camp fire one night, approachable to a couple of
metres.
Budgerigars were
abundant, in flocks of up to 100. White-plumed Honeyeaters were the only common
honeyeaters, but they were quite abundant, particularly in the riparian zone.
Little Button-Quails were regularly flushed and we almost stood on one while out
spotlighting one night ? I don?t know if it was dazzled by the lights or
possibly sick but it refused to flush as about 20 people filed past and even
allowed someone to pick it up!
Also fairly common
were Diamond Dove, Little, White-browed & Masked Woodswallows, Apostlebirds,
Double-barred & Zebra Finches & Jacky Winter. Unforunately I didn?t get
much time to bird ? early mornings were occupied checking mammal and reptile
traps and I had things to do most afternoons as well. It seems an excellent
birding spot though and I would love to get back there some day ? the jaw
dropping sunsets and sunrises and dazzling night sky were added bonuses.
I have a full bird
list (177 species) available to anyone who would like it.
Cheers
Tim
Dickson
Townsville
