Central Australian Trip Report. June 2007 (Part 1)

["garry deering" <>]

CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN TRIP REPORT                            JUNE 2007

Martin Cachard & Garry Deering

 

 

Between 9^th ? 25^th June 07 we spent a very successful time in Central Australia. Martin had previously travelled and birded in some of these areas in 2004 & 2005. For Garry this trip was to prove ideal for many new species records as this was Garry?s first venture into the region. So, this trip promised an exciting time as it offered new country and birds for both of us.

 

Our target birds were nearly all recorded. The vast majority of the country was alive from good recent rains in May and early June, with conditions being especially good in both the Simpson and Strzelecki Deserts.

 

We both flew into Alice Springs ? Martin from Cairns and Garry from the NSW Central Coast. We then travelled into the Western Simpson Desert via Kulgera (NT), east then south, through Mt. Dare (SA) & Dalhousie to the Painted Desert (SA). Then onto the northern Flinders Ranges via William Creek and Marree. We then headed via Lyndhurst to the Strzelecki Desert and turning east at Merty Merty continued onto Sturt NP (NSW), then north-east to Eulo (Q) via Thargomindah, and onto Idalia & Diamantina NP?s followed by a side trip to Cuttaburra Crossing (south of Bedourie). Then north to Mt. Isa via Boulia, returning to Alice Springs via the Barkly Tableland (NT), Tennant Creek and Kunoth Well, covering almost 8500km. The birding was exceptional, with fine weather conditions for all but the time spent in the Mt. Isa and Barkly Tableland areas.

 

The birding highlights were many. Listed below are our personal highlights.

9^th June            Dusky Grasswren (6 birds) Mt. Gillen NT. New for Garry.

10^th June          Banded Whiteface (many groups) east of Finke NT and throughout     Simpson Desert. New for Garry.

                        Chiming Wedgebill (many groups) between Finke NT and Mt. Dare areas.

                        Inland Dotterel (high numbers) Charlotte Waters NT, Mt. Dare SA, Andado NT areas. New for Garry.

11^th June          Eyrean Grasswren (2 parties) Wagon Claypan Dam NT and Old Andado NT area. New for Garry. (Cinnamon Quail-thrush heard but not seen here).

                        Budgerigars, Crimson Chat, White-browed & Masked Woodswallows, Brown Songlark, Zebra Finch all especially numerous in western Simpson Desert.

                        Cinnamon Quail-thrush (6birds) 20km south of Mt. Dare SA. New for Garry.

12th June          Gibberbird (1 x pair) 25km SW of Oodnadatta SA. New for Garry.

                        Chirruping Wedgebill (1 x pair) 5km E of William Creek SA. New for Garry. Cinnamon Quail-thrush (4 birds) here also.

                        Thick-billed Grasswren (10-15 birds) 105 km W of Marree SA. Race ?modestus?.

                        Gibberbird (scattered pairs) Marree ? Leigh Creek SA areas.

                        Cinnamon Quail-thrush (3 birds) near Farina SA.

13^th June          Short-tailed Grasswren (10?12 birds) Stokes Hill Lookout SA. New for Martin and Garry.

                        Elegant Parrot (1 x pair) Stokes Hill Lookout SA.

                        Chirruping Wedgebill & Cinnamon Quail-thrush (many of both) between Wirrealpa SA and Wertaloona SA.     

                        Chestnut-breasted Whiteface (3 birds at 3 meters for fifteen minutes!)

 

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