Hi all,
While attending a conference in Alice Springs from Wednesday 26 to
Saturday 29 May, I had a few brief opportunities to get out for some
birdwatching. Quite a few birds were picked up around the vicinity of
the hotel (Crowne Plaza), the adjacent golf course, and along the 1-km
stretch of Todd River bed to the Olive Pink botanic gardens, but I also
managed to get out of town a bit on the Wednesday afternoon before the
conference began, late Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning.
On the Wednesday afternoon I was lucky enough to be able to hook up with
another Birding-auser and we went out to the Rufous-crowned Emu-wren
spot 32 km along the Santa Teresa Road. Thanks to some excellent
directions (thanks Matt and John in particular) Stuart and I managed to
pick up a couple of groups of RCEWs as well as a pair of Spinifexbirds
and a pair of Dusky Grasswrens within the space of just over an hour.
This trifecta included the first two being lifers for Stuart and the
emu-wrens and Duskies for me. These were all along the south-east base
of the ridge (ie about 200m past the tyre in the pole) and about 300m in
as we approached a small gully coming down from the ridge. A brilliant
start with some brilliant birds in brilliant late afternoon conditions.
On the way there and back we also caught up with a variety of raptors
including Wedge-tailed Eagle, Black-breasted Buzzard, Brown Falcon,
Nankeen Kestrel, Whistling Kite and Spotted Harrier.
On Thursday afternoon I headed back to Olive Pink botanic gardens (I had
been thwarted by locked gates before breakfast that morning) and very
easily and quickly picked up two Western Bowerbirds performing at the
bower near the car park. Third tick!
On Friday afternoon I managed a quick trip out to Emily and Jessie Gaps
along the Ross Hwy east of town. My main target was Grey-headed
Honeyeater. Some lovely scenery, and I also added Diamond Doves and
Peregrine Falcon to my list, as well as another Western Bowerbird way up
on the ridge top at Emily Gap, but no GHHE.
Saturday morning I headed out to Simpson's Gap for a couple of hours.
Again missed GHHE but had a great time wandering about and picked up a
pair of Collared Sparrowhawks and a swag of small bush birds in the
scrub to the west of the carpark as well as the only Little Button-quail
I encountered.
Alice is a lovely place and the conditions were fantastic. Lots (and
lots) of various types of grasshoppers and locusts, golden orb weavers
everywhere in the scrub at Simpson's Gap made for interesting progress,
and plenty of butterflies (Lesser Wanderer and Chequered Swallowtail
stand out).
Full bird list follows (chronological order of sighting). In the end I
picked up three of my four 'reasonably expected' target birds, so was
pretty pleased. Grey-headed Honeyeater will have to be for the next
trip. As will Pied Honeyeater, Grey Honeyeater, Slaty-backed Thornbill
etc.
Apologies for such a belated report; and many thanks to all who
responded to my initial RFI.
Yellow-throated Miner airport, common around Alice
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike airport, Alice, Emily & Jessie
Gap
Magpie-lark common around Alice,
Emily Gap, Desert Park
Black Kite Alice, Santa Teresa
Rd, Emily Gap, Desert Park
Budgerigar everywhere, mostly
flocks of 6-30, 1 flock of ca 250 near airport
Crested Pigeon Alice (particularly
around golf course)
Striated Pardalote Olive Pink botanic
gardens, Todd River
Galah Alice, Santa
Teresa Rd, Jessie Gap
Tree Martin Alice (golf course and
Todd River)
Spotted Dove lots around golf course,
most Alice suburbs
Zebra Finch everywhere, common and
abundant
White-plumed Honeyeater golf course, Todd River, Emily &
Jessie Gap, Simpson's Gap
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater golf course, Desert Park
Willie Wagtail Alice, Santa Teresa Rd
32km, Emily & Jessie Gap, Simpson's Gap
Masked Lapwing golf course
Red-backed Kingfisher golf course, Santa Teresa Rd
32km, Desert Park
Australian Pipit golf course, Santa
Teresa Rd
White-winged Fairy-wren part of 7 including 1 breeding
plumage male at golf course
Cockatiel Alice (common, mostly
1-6), Santa Teresa Rd (large flock of ca 200)
Darter 1 male at golf course
dam
Wedge-tailed Eagle 1 over Santa Teresa Rd
Black-breasted Buzzard 1 over Santa Teresa Rd
Brown Falcon Santa Teresa Rd, Santa
Teresa 32km, Simpson's Gap
Crested Bellbird heard distantly at Santa
Teresa Rd 32km
Rufous-crowned Emu-wren two parties at Santa Teresa Rd 32km
Nankeen Kestrel Santa Teresa Rd 32 km, Jessie
Gap
Variegated Fairy-wren party of 6 at Santa Teresa Rd
32km
Spinifexbird a pair at Santa Teresa
Rd 32 km
Dusky Grasswren 2 at Santa Teresa Rd 32 km
Australian Ringneck common around Alice, Santa
Teresa Rd, Emily Gap
Black-faced Woodswallow Santa Teresa Rd, Ross Hwy near Emily
Gap
Little Crow common around Alice,
Simpson's Gap
Whistling Kite Santa Teresa Rd, Simpson's
Gap
Spotted Harrier Santa Teresa Rd
Little Corella Crown Plaza (flock of
30)
Australian Magpie Todd River near botanic
gardens, Simpson's Gap
Weebill Olive Pink botanic
gardens
Pied Butcherbird Alice (along Todd River),
Simpson's Gap (2/1dy)
Red-browed Pardalote 1 at Olive Pink botanic gardens
Australian Hobby Alice (1 along Todd River)
Western Bowerbird pair at bower in Olive Pink
botanic gardens
Grey-crowned Babbler Olive Pink (9), Desert Park (3)
Singing Honeyeater golf course
Pacific Black Duck 2/6dy on dam adjacent to golf
course
Black-fronted Dotterel 2 at dam adjacent to golf course
Peregrine Falcon 1 at Emily Gap
Diamond Dove Emily Gap, Simpson's Gap
Grey Shrike-thrush Jessie Gap, Simpson's Gap
Rufous Songlark Simpson's Gap
Rufous Whistler Simpson's Gap
Collared Sparrowhawk Simpson's Gap
Western Gerygone Simpson's Gap, Desert Park
Little Buttonquail 3 at Simpson's Gap
Inland Thornbill Simpson's Gap (1/1dy)
Red-capped Robin Simpson's Gap (5 males and 2
females)
Yellow-rumped Thornbill Simpson's Gap (1)
Hooded Robin 1 female at Simpson's Gap
Chestnut-rumped Thornbill 1 at Simpson's Gap
Harvey Perkins, Canberra
*************************************************************************
The information contained in this e-mail, and any attachments to it,
is intended for the use of the addressee and is confidential. If you
are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, read,
forward, copy or retain any of the information. If you received this
e-mail in error, please delete it and notify the sender by return
e-mail or telephone.
The Commonwealth does not warrant that any attachments are free
from viruses or any other defects. You assume all liability for any
loss, damage or other consequences which may arise from opening
or using the attachments.
The security of emails transmitted in an unencrypted environment
cannot be guaranteed. By forwarding or replying to this email, you
acknowledge and accept these risks.
*************************************************************************
==============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
http://birding-aus.org
=============================
|
