Part One. Mt. Isa. Kalkadoon Grasswren search.
Mica Creek, 14km. south of Mt Isa, THE site for Kalkadoon
Grasswren, was like an Australian aviary on Good Friday as I sat watching
and listening from dawn. There were SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOOS, CORELLAS,
COCKATIELS and CLONCURRY RINGNECKS, BUDGERIGARS, RED-WINGED PARROTS and
GALAHS, ( many VARIED LORIKEETS at the airport the evening before). A
PAINTED FINCH three metres away "chewing" charcoal in a dead campfire,
eventually flying off with a piece, ZEBRA FINCHES , immaculate DIAMOND DOVES
also close up, PEACEFUL DOVES.
A family of VARIEGATED WRENS had roosted in a small Acacia
nearby, some flew off into the spinifex, from clump to clump, but they
weren't Grasswrens. WEEBILLS were vocal, as were WHITE-PLUMED HONEY-EATERS.
GREY-FRONTED honeyeaters not so obvious, a grey-faced GREY SHRIKE-THRUSH.
LITTLE FRIARBIRDS with very yellow chins, RUFOUS WHISTLER, WILLIE
WAGTAIL, MAGPIE-LARKS at the pools, and a few BEE-EATERS were around on
that first day, also TORRESIAN CROW. A noisy BLUE-WINGED
KOOKABURRA was along the creek, LITTLE WOODSWALLOWS and BLACK-FACED
CUCKOO-SHRIKES overhead. BLACK KITES and a little SPARROW-HAWK. Four BROWN
QUAIL and SPINIFEX PIGEONS on the roadside, a pale LTTLE EAGLE soaring
over the town itself along with more Black Kites. House Sparrows in the
town.
Over the next three and a half days, like the previous
Easter, I tramped for fruitless hours over the rocky hills on both sides of
Mica Creek, found SPINIFEX BIRDS on the hill to the west, and nice scenery
at Sybella Creek further south and around the quarry about a km.west along
the shire fence, several parties of Variegated wrens whose high-pitched
contact calls gave them away, but not a single Grasswren seen or heard.
Next visit won't be at Easter.
In the departure lounge I bought a T-shirt with
"HAPPINESS IS..............................MT.ISA IN THE REAR-VISION MIRROR"
written on the back. .
Part Two, the heaven of Lord Howe, to follow.
Michael Hunter
Mulgoa Valley
50km west of Sydney Harbour Bridge
Scanned by PeNiCillin http://safe-t-net.pnc.com.au/
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