Hi All,
We thought that all our Christmases had come at once after
reviewing the Musgrave/Iron Range birdlist after a week with four others on
the road to Iron Range via Musgrave in early November with Santa Klaus,
whose early Chrissie present was a full swag of all the endemics and
rarities except Red-bellied Pitta for which we were a tad early, (and not on
our hit list).
Our elevated accomodations at Lotus Bird Lodge (sic) and the
Portland Roads Hillton were surrounded by birds and had water views and
gourmet dining, particularly at Sandy's exotic Restaurant Paradiso opposite
the Roads, an unexpected big tick.
The Golden Shouldered Parrots flushed to a tree along the Thomas &
Thomas roadsite and sat for extended scope views, the male a real jewel of
turquoise pink and gold in the sunlight.
After being blindfolded and driven in circles for an hour, laden
with bins and scopes, we thought we might meet bin Laden himself, our
destination was a site for sore eyes at the secret Red Goshawk nest, with
large fledgling and both parents giving perfect views on sequential days.
Black-throated & Black-faced finches were around L.B.Lodge, saw
Rufous-throated, Rufous-banded and Bar-breasted Honeyeaters on a dry lagoon
, Large-billed Gerygone, Lemon-bellied and Leaden Flycatchers at Morehead
River in Lakefield National Park.
Spotlighted several Grass Owls with their long trailing legs on
Nifold Plain, including one ten m. up a tree which flew as we watched, and
Barn Owl on a termite mound, as well as Papuan Frogmouth, and terrific views
of Freshwater Crocodiles on a sandbank in Saltwater Creek.
At Iron Range we had magnificent ticks of ; Eclectus Parrot
pairs and nesting holes, Green-backed and Tawny-breasted Honeyeaters,
White-browed Robin (now split from Buff-sided), Black-winged Monarch,
Marshalls Double-eyed Fig-Parrot and the golden-backed form of Red-browed
Finc, as well as very closeup looks and feels of Green Python. Several
glimpses only of Red-cheeked parrots mean a return visit.
Memorable repeat sightings from a prior trip to the Tip
included
cripplers of Palm Cockatoo, Chestnut-breasted and Goulds Bronze Cuckoos,
Yelow-billed Kingfisher, Marbled Frogmouth, and Large-tailed Nightjars one
sitting on a fledged chick on the roadside. Also White-rumped Swiftlet,
Lovely Fairy-wren, Tropical Scrubwren, White-streaked Honeyeater, Mangrove
Robin, Yellow-legged Flycatcher, Northern Scrub-Robin, White-faced Robin,
Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Magnificent Riflebird- displaying pair, Trumpet
Manucode and plenty of Frilled Monarchs.
Part two to come
Michael Hunter
Mulgoa Valley
50km west of Sydney Harbour Bridge
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
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