I read this with interest yesterday, and passed on to the Ranger who is in
charge of Oolambeyan NP (who was less than impressed). If people want to
visit this reserve please not the following things:
1. If you want to visit please contact NPWS at Griffith first on 02 6966
8100.
2. Currently there are no facilities for camping in the reserve so currently
it only has day use facilities. Normally a Field Officer lives on site, and
he would have probably asked you to move on (he happened to be away that
weekend).
3. There is a long-term monitoring program for Plains Wanderer on the park,
so it prefereable that people do not attempt to spotlight without
supervision. This is particularly relevant as we don't wan't vehicles
driving in the long grass because of the extremely high fire danger.
I have been fortunate as an NPWS employee I have spotlit (on foot) and seen
Plains Wanderer at Ooolambeyan NP. It is hoped that some time in the future
NPWS will be able to offer this experience to the general public (though in
limited numbers). Until this is organised, it would be preferable that
people did not try and spotlight unsupervised in the reserve. Otherwise, do
as most people who have seen this species - organise to go on a tour with
Phil Maher from Deniliquin.
Sorry to get all government official at Christmas time.
Cheers,
Peter
From: "Simon Mustoe" <>
Reply-To: "Simon Mustoe" <>
To: "Birding Aus" <>
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Sightings from Vic and southern NSW, including
Ground Cuckooshrikes
Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 15:02:38 +1100
Hi,
For some reason this report didn't reach birding-aus, so here goes again...
Myself and Nathan Waugh just completed a few days birding through southeast
Vic and have a few sightings for Birdline Vic, as follows:
VICTORIA
Wed 14 December - Birding in the Mallacoota area
Birding yielded the usual array of southeastern rainforest species
including Black-faced Monarch and Red-browed Treecreeper at Double Creek
and White-throated Nightjar during spotlighting on the road to Shipwreck
Creek, adjacent to the airport and Calamanthus at the airfield.
Thu 15 December - Cape Conran (Yeerung River Track)
Flushed four Ground Parrots including at least two juveniles from heathland
to the east and immediately at the start of the Yarram River track. Also
southern emuwrens there; and three Hooded Plovers on the beach at Cape
Conran. Nearby, just north of Marlo, there is also a very good wetland with
large numbers of common wetland birds.
Friday 16 December - Bogong High Plains (Langfords West camping area)
Good suite of upland species in the surrounding snow gums including high
densities of Olive Whistlers; also many Flame Robins.
Friday 16 December - Ropers Track (just north of Bogong)
On the right hand side heading north from Bogong there is a fire track
accessible on foot that winds down towards a rocky creek. We heard
Cicadabird and saw Varied Sitella.
Friday 16 December - Chiltern State Forest (long range track and environs)
Fire has affected most of this area but it is still good for birding. We
had Speckled Warbler near the start of the track. Note, this track is ONLY
SUITABLE FOR 4WD. At the southern end of the track, we turned left (along
Woodshed track?) and along the road back towards the C377 flushed three
Diamond Firetails from fences at the side of the road.
Saturday 17 December - Chiltern State Forest (Cyanide Dam and Ballarat
track)
Crested Shrike Tit, 2 groups one at the dam and another on the Ballarat
track about 200m from Cyanide Road to the northwest. Also at the same
location, two pairs of Painted Buttonquail and 20+ Turquoise Parrots.
Parrot numbers are very high at the moment and we saw them throughout the
day at numerous locations though there were many juveniles feeding on the
ground at the aforementioned location. Also, White-bellied Cuckooshrike,
White-browed Babblers and Black-chinned Honeyeaters. Yellow-footed
Antechinus were abundant throughout the forest and very active. We had a
Squirrel Glider at Cyanide Dam spotlighting the night before.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Saturday 17 December - Leeton (Fivebough Swamp) and Oolabeyan National Park
Very windy day. Magpie Goose (1); Black-tailed Native Hen (3). Enroute to
Oolanbeyan along the Sturt Highway, numerous Apostlebird and Grey-crowned
Babblers plus two groups of Cockatiels. At Oolanbeyan, 2 perched Black
Falcons were an evening highlight. Spotlighting did not reveal any Plains
Wanderers but an earlier recce did not find any suitable habitat. Stubble
Quails were common though, including coveys of about 10 birds. Also one,
perhaps two Little Buttonquail.
Sunday 18 December Oolabeyan National Park and the Murray River
A great mornings birding with hundreds of Budgerigars, Striped Honeyeater,
Masked, Black-faced and White-browed Woodswallows, around scrub in the
Spell Horse Paddock. The highlight though, great views of a pair of Ground
Cuckooshrikes at this location then another pair in the Four Corners
Paddock, near the edge of the saltbush area. On the way back south we saw
Little Friarbird and Dollarbird (Vic side) at the Murray River.
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