DAY 8
It is with great anticipation
that you awake to a new dawn in an area where you arrive in the dark. We all
have those embarrassing birding moments and mine came this morning as we were
listening to the early morning chorus. Black Swan?s calling from over that way I
say. That?s interesting says George there is no water over ?that way?. Dick goes
off to investigate and comes back with tail between his legs. They were Diamond
Dove?s I mumble. From then on in the evening birdcalls were several reports of
?Diamond Swans?.
The brackish water at Well 40
did however have Pink-eared Ducks, Grey Teal, Eurasian Coots, Australasian and
Hoary-headed Grebes on it. A pair of Black-fronted Dotterels patrolled the
waters edge. After a quick circuit of the Well, we walk west on our bird walk as
the crew once again pack up camp. Five minutes later a group of about 12
Princess Parrots were headed directly towards us travelling from West to East
and before I could get the words out they banked to their right showing good
views of their yellow patch on the wing and disappeared over the sand dune. By
the time we scrambled to the top of the dune they were nowhere to be found but
we could see water in the distance. Action stations, Alan and I continued on to
see if we could find where they went, some others stayed on top of the dune to
get a 360 degree view and one went back to camp to get George. Whilst on top of
the dune 3 White-backed Swallows are showing nicely by circling around
overhead.
We searched high and low to
no avail and upon returning to camp found that Debbi had her magic moment of the
day when four Princess Parrots circled low over our camp, calling and
frolicking. Isn?t it always the way!
Mixed feelings for me, as it
was great to see the birds but disappointing that most of the others missed
seeing them. There will be more we said with confidence.
Lake Tobin was dry but plenty
of samphire provided great habitat for Orange Chats which two of the party saw
and the rest of us would have to wait for another couple of days until the next
lot. We quickly arrive at the other side of the Lake (having driven through the
middle of it), and there is a nice camping site under the shade of some Desert
Oaks. Great trees for loafing PP?s. Major dilemma it is only 10.30 A.M. so not
dark enough to set up camp yet! We have a tribal meeting and discuss the pro?s
and con?s of going back to Well 40 where at least we know there had been some
PP?s there, stay we were and hunt around there or press on south in search of
more water? The vote comes in, in favour of pressing on because back tracking
would mean more fuel used etc and also make the end of the trip rather
rushed.
Well 39 has about one square
metre of surface water accessible by a plank placed into it and hundreds of
Zebra Finches were coming in here to drink. The noise was deafening.
Between Well 39 and 38 we
stop and bird some good habitat. We see the first of our White-fronted
Honeyeaters and many more Black?s and Pied?s. Great views are also had by all of
a Chiming Wedgebill who was also calling nicely. Around two dozen Masked
Woodswallows are also seen. Their pale colour contrasting nicely with the red
sand.
Well 38 is dry and we move on
to 37, which has some brackish water. No water birds or Zebra Finches drinking
but some good Desert Oaks handy.
Again the tribe meets. Do we
press on to Well 36 which has some excellent habitat as well and spend two
nights in the one camp site or camp at 37 one night and 36 the next to have one
last go for the Princess Parrots. Good old democracy prevails and we move on to
have two nights just south of Well 36. It meant travelling in the dark but it
gave us optimists a chance to search for Night Parrots! Some evening Black-shouldered Kites give
a brief moment of excitement as we try to turn them into Letter-Wings to no
avail.
We pass Well 36 about 7 P.M.
and try to find the spot we are looking for. George had been there once before
but in daylight. The good old GPS came in handy as there were many tracks in
this area and of course you travel in all directions between dunes. The thrill
of turning up at the exact co-ordinates we were looking for about half an hour
later lifted everyone?s spirits. We set up camp in record time and are sitting
around a roaring campfire by 8.30 P.M. eating a wonderful beef curry with fresh
chillies.
The final bird of the day was
a Boobook Owl calling. 155 sand dunes and 40 species of birds.
Grey Teal
Pink-eared Duck
Australasian Grebe
Hoary-headed Grebe
Black-shouldered kite
Whistling Kite
Brown Goshawk
Little Eagle
Brown Falcon
Nankeen Kestrel
Eurasian Coot
Black-fronted Dotterel
Diamond Dove
Galah
Budgerigar
Princess Parrot
Horsefield?s
Bronze-Cuckoo
Southern Booboo (heard)
Rainbow Bee-eater
Variegated Fairy-Wren
White-winged Fairy-Wren
Singing Honeyeater
Grey-headed Honeyeater
Black-chinned Honeyeater
Brown Honeyeater
White-fronted Honeyeater
Black Honeyeater
Pied Honeyeater
Crimson Chat
Orange Chat
Magie-Lark
Willie Wagtail
Chiming Wedgebill
White-winged Triller
Masked Woodswallow
Black-faced Woodswallow
Zebra Finch
White-backed Swallow
Tree Martin
Brown Songlark
To be
continued
Dick Jenkin
DUNGOG
NSW
