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The Orange Chatters (Chris Dwyer and Stephen Gross)
decided to go outback a week later than most others and what a difference in the
weather conditions. As we drove through rain between West Wyalong and Hillston
on Friday night our plans for an overnight stay and then start at Willandra
National Park were looking decidedly uncertain. A change in plan meant a
stopover at Hillston and then a very early 4 AM rise on Saturday morning to get
to Willandra by 6. In darkness the weather looked ominous, the kangaroos
dangerous and the red soil road decidedly sticky. However we decided to
take the plunge and continue on.
Arriving in Willandra right on 6:00 we awaited the rising of
the sun and the first stirrings of the birds. As the sky lightened the day
turned out to be not quite as bad as we first feared and the initial birding
count nabbed us Little and Australian Ravens, Apostlebirds, a variety of
thornbills, both pardalotes, Red Capped Robin, White Browed Babblers, Mallee
Ringnecks and a Striped Honeyeater. Along the creek was a Darter. We continued
through Willandra with constant attention to approaching patches of rain and of
course the birds.
Heading out of Willandra towards Roto and Yathong NR we picked
up Banded Lapwing, White Winged Fairy-Wren (unfortunately no males in breeding
dress), 2 Crested Bellbird on the road and Bluebonnet. By this stage the dark
clouds had come closer and as we turned into Yathong NR the rain started falling
and the wind became heavier. Despite these adverse conditions we still managed
some new birds including Major Mitchell Cockatoo, Mulga Parrot, Hooded Robin and
a Brown Headed Honeyeater. One distraction was the suicidal kangaroos that were
determined to drink from any traces of water, invariably always in the
middle of the road. Travelling through Yathong the rain again cleared but the
wind made birding difficult and all we managed were more
thornbills.
From Yathong we headed to Cobar and the Newey Reservoir and
what a hot bird spot this place is. We added 25 birds here including a Caspian
Tern, 3 Crimson Chat, a Mistletoebird that was extremely fluffed up against
the wind and at one stage tried to seek cover in the reeds, a Blackbird, many
Spiny Cheeked Honeyeaters, 17 Black Tailed Native Hen and many Double-Barred
Finch. Cobar itself added a the usual feral suspects plus Blue Faced and White
Plumed Honeyeaters. Abandoning our planned overnight stop
along the Darling River near Louth due to local weather information we
headed up to Gundabooka National Park and a very quiet night.
Sunday morning dawned to a marvellous clear sunny day and the
birding here began slowly at first with Singing Honeyeater but soon sped up as
we quickly counted Varied Sittella, 2 White Browed Treecreeper, 2 Chestnut
Breasted Quailthrush crossing the road in front of us, Red Winged Parrot and
Spotted Bowerbird. A search for Hall's or Chestnut Crowned Babbler only produced
Grey Crowned which just simply wouldn't turn into any of the other two babblers.
Leaving Gundabooka we headed up to the Darling River and then towards Bourke
picking up Common Bronzewing and Western Gerygone. A group of babblers brought
us to a quick stop and after some chasing we had Chestnut Crowned Babblers. We
found this section of road between Louth and Bourke to be the driest area we
saw.
Arriving at Bourke STW we were delighted to see 22 Brolga plus
our only Little Corellas and a White Bellied Sea Eagle circling in the sky.
Lunch at the Port of Bourke produced 2 Red Tailed Black Cockatoos, what truly
magnificent birds. We were now getting a little desperate for a few more common
birds such as Wood Duck, Peaceful Dove and Brown Treecreeper, all of which had
so far successfully eluded us. So we headed for Nyngan, eyes peeled for of all
things any signs of Wood Duck. Nyngan came up with the goods and we saw perhaps
the entire outback population of Wood Ducks on the surprisingly full Bogan
River. Here along the river we were able to add Peaceful Dove, Brown
Treecreeper, Clamorous Reedwarbler, Purple Swamphen and a Little Egret. The
outskirts of town also produced huge flocks of Cockatiel feeding on the
ground.
All up we managed a total of 110 birds. This has been a fantastic event. Thanks to those who sponserd us and
to Birding-Ausers who helped us with our some of our outback birding location
enquiries.
Stephen Gross
Orange, NSW
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