Camp Out at Condobolin 16-18 September 2005 Leader: Alan Morris
15 people attended the first of the two spring camps organised by the
Central Coast Group of Birding NSW, with people not only travelling from the
Central Coast but also from Sydney, Gloucester, Meadow Flat and Bathurst.
Not only was our aim to have a pleasant social time checking out the western
birds while enjoying the bush, but also to contribute systematically to the
Birds Australia Bird Atlas project and to the NSW Bird Atlassers project.
Our visit followed one week after 20-25 mm of rain had fallen, but also
another 20-25 mm of rain fell on the first day of the Camp, and good rains
had fallen a month of so before so that the whole Central West Region was
very green, wheat crops looked great, there were puddles of water everywhere
and the ground was carpeted with wildflowers particularly daisies, paper
daisies and Billy Buttons. Our camp was based around Condobolin Caravan Park
which has a group facility which was ideal for wet nights, and what with a
fuel stove for heating the room, a microwave, gas stove, BBQ and tables and
chairs, we were very snugly cared for despite the wind and rain outside!
From Condobolin we ventured north to Trundle, east to Parkes, south west to
Lake Cargelligo, west to Kiacatoo, Euabalong and Round Hill NR and north
west to Mt Nobby SF. Rain stopped projected visits to Woggoon & Tollinga
NRs, one of the objects of the visit.
In the general area and enroute to camp on the Thursday a lone Superb Parrot
was seen 12 km west of Parkes, an Oriole was at Trundle and nesting Western
Gerygone and Choughs were found in Wombin SF, near Peak Hill. The rain
commenced mid-morning on the Friday but only lightly. We had woken to
calling Rufous Songlark and European Blackbird, Peaceful Dove, many Choughs
and Grey-crowned Babbler. A Boobook called throughout the night and Spotted
Bowerbird, Singing & Blue-faced Honeyeater and a lone Cattle Egret were seen
around the Caravan park and into town.. To the north, Murga SF produced
Red-capped Robins, Splendid Fairy-wren, Blue Bonnet & Ringneck Parrots, and
many Grey Fantails, while Derriwong to the east had Cockatiel,
Yellow-throated Miner, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Yellow Robin & another
Oriole. We prudently returned to the caravan park to eat our lunch under
cover as the rain started to get heavier, and then we headed northwest to
Mount Nobby. At Mowabla Tank, a Spotted Harrier was found and
Chestnut-rumped and Yellow-rumped Thornbills located. Near Nyora HSD a small
flock of White-browed Woodswallows flew over, while at Tarrata SF we soon
locked onto about 6 Painted Honeyeaters calling loudly in the rain, while
feeding in Box Mistletoe, and here too were White-browed Babbler, Mulga
Parrot and Hooded Robin. By the time we reached Mt Nobby, the rain was
falling heavier, the road into Woggoon NR sloppy and we felt it prudent to
return to camp.
It continued to rained for the first part of the night, but the miserable
night was made better because we were able to watch the Swans beat St Kilda!
However next morning cleared to a fine but very windy & cold day. So we
re-altered our schedule, decided to let the local unsealed roads dry out,
and took the bitumen road to Lake Cargelligo, stopping enroute to check out
Restless Flycatcher, Little Eagle, a White-breasted Sea-Eagle at Narbethong
Creek, Black-faced Woodswallow and Spotted Bowerbird. At the Lake Cargelligo
STW (between the Condobolin & West Wyalong rds) we were able to watch
White-winged & Variegated Fairy-wrens feeding together, a lone Marsh
Sandpiper, Red-capped Plover, two pairs of Australian Shelduck with small
ducklings, a large flock of Whiskered Tern, 2 White-backed Swallows, &
Shoveler and Pinkears amongst the numerous waterbirds. A Pink Cockatoo,
Black Kite and Wedge-tailed Eagle passed over the ponds. Back at the Lake
itself for morning tea, in a sunny spot out of the wind, there were small
numbers of Black-winged Stilts & Avocets, a flock of 30 Sharp-tailed
Sandpipers, Yellow-billed & Royal Spoonbills and another Sea-eagle. We then
moved off to Kelvin SF south of LC and saw another Little Eagle, Speckled
Warbler, Brown-headed & Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters, Chestnut-rumped & Inland
Thornbills, White-winged Triller, Speckled Warbler, Golden & Rufous Whistler
and a hunting Collared Sparrow-hawk. Our last activity for the day was a
visit to a private property that incorporates Sheet of Water Lake. This lake
had only stared to fill four days before but was now holding a lot of water
and Pelicans and Swans were the main waterbirds present, also a flock of 54
Whiskered Tern, a hunting Peregrine, nesting Grey-crowned Babbler, 14 Glossy
Ibis and many Little Corellas.
Our final day dawned fine, warm and sunny, a perfect spring day. This time
we headed down the Lachlan Valley Way to Kiacatoo, and near the John Oxley
Monument & Bridge we had Kestrel, Black-shouldered & Whistling Kite,
Restless Flycatcher & Spotted Bowerbird among others. At Eubablong we saw
another Spotted Harrier, a number of Brown Songlarks, the first returning
Sacred Kingfishers, more Trillers and Orioles, White-winged Fairy-wren and 3
displaying Sparrowhawks. Onto Euabalong West & the bridge over Willandra
Creek where there were many Reedwarblers, the first White-breasted
Woodswallows for the trip, Black-fronted Plover and Western Gerygone. In the
mallee enroute to Round Hill NR more Spendid Fairy-wren while at Whoey Tank,
Round Hill NR the noise of the calling Striped & Spiney-cheeked Honeyeaters,
Rufous Songlark, Singing Honeyeater, Orioles and White-winged Trillers was
deafening. We spent 2 hours here and found nesting Southern Whiteface,
calling Horsfield's Bronze & Pallid Cuckoos, Mulga Parrot & Common
Bronzewing and many more. Reluctantly we started back to Condobolin on the
north side of the river, finding another Pink Cockatoo at Euabalong West, 2
Brolgas at Booberoi and Hobby with prey, Brown Falcon & another Spotted
Harrier at Kiacatoo.
Overall we saw 143 species, completed 54 atlas sheets for 31 ten minute grid
blocks, many of which had not been visited since August 2002 when the Second
Atlas was completed. All those visitors heading out west are reminded that
the Continuing Atlas still needs your records and to get busy and complete
some forms for your visit. Our return home was enlivened by many Pinkear,
Shoveler, 2 Black-tailed Native-hen and 2 Shelducks at the Parkes STW;
Fuscous & Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Little Lorikeet and Bee-eater at the
Goobang NP; Black-chinned Honeyeater & Dusky Woodswallow east of Wollar and
a flock of Diamond Firetail at Murumbo. (Alan Morris).
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