Dear all
Just back from a few days WITHOUT rain (and a few days with rain) out
beyond the G D Range. We caught the short window of clear weather and
enjoyed warm days with light sun as there was usually some cloud cover.
However couldn't access Gundabooka National Park on arrival at Bourke
and had to spend an extra day at Kidmans Camp just north of Bourke, then
drove the Kidman Highway to Louth Road, and camped on private property
half way to Louth. Hundreds of Masked, White-browed and Black-faced
woodswallows with juveniles, one family of Crimson Chats, Red-capped
Robins, Fairy and Tree Martins, White-winged Trillers, Mulga and
Ringneck Parrots, Cockatiels, Jacky Winters, Varigated Fairywrens all
with juveniles, Zebra Finches at one spot in an orgy of breeding - nest
building and feeding, every shrub had one or more nests!
Only saw one Black Honeyeater on the Louth Road, and ducks, egrets,
herons, etc., were few and far between. We found a pair of Grey Teal at
Polygonum Swamp Bourke with 9 ducklings, otherwise only one or two Grey
Teal or Black Duck throughout. What was good was the number of
Red-capped Robins seen, usually with juveniles. Good breeding season for
them.
Splendid Wrens (black-backed version) were seen either side of the
Kidman Highway - gorgeous colours - and a flock of about 50 budgies on
the Gundabooka West Road. One Black-breasted Buzzard seen 20k NW of
Louth, but raptors were rare, no Wedgetail or Little Eagles, a few Brown
Falcon and Black-shouldered Kites on the journey from Newcastle to
Nyngan. Returning we saw a Black Falcon near Merriwa. The only Emus we
saw were 2 just south of Bourke on the Nyngan Road, although there was
evidence in droppings at other places.
One thing that stood out was the intense rich lilac-blue of the
Jacaranda trees in flower at Warren and Bourke, and of course everywhere
bright green grass, flowers, trees in new leaf, still lots of flowers, a
glorious sight after the long drought. And not too many flies and mozzies.
Here in Gloucester it has rained all day and part of yesterday and we
are swathed in low cloud and mist.
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