I don't think you'll have a lot of time for finding the birds you want
to see in that time frame given the amount of driving involved.
On 09/03/2008, at 3:32 PM, Tim Jones wrote:
Hi Ian,
Thanks for the reply. As per the original email it would be for a
7-9 day period in the second half of April. Actual, exact route will
be totally designed around where my targets birds are likely to be,
and that depends on the info I get! However, it's beginning to look
something like this:
Day 1 - travel across from Sydney
Night 1 - Mildura or somewhere around there.
Day 2 - Gluepot and environs.
Night 2 - Burra or Peterborough area
Day 3 - up to Lyndhurst area
Night 3 - Lyndhurst or Leigh Creek
Day 4 - Birdsville track
Night 4 - Birdsville
Day 5 - head to Mount Isa
Nights 5 and 6 - Mount Isa
Days 6 and 7 - Mount Isa and Lawn Hill birding
Night 7 - maybe Boulia or Bedouri
Night 8 - possibly Bowra Station/Eulo
Actually, having thought a bit more about the costs and awkwardness
of travelling by plane and transferring stuff to hire vehicles etc.,
I am now considering driving it from Sydney. I own a Toyota Prado
(with a double tank which costs me $250 to fill up, so I don't think
I'll have any trouble with range) and so it seems I could go via the
mallee and SA and north from there, which could give me the chance
to at least try to pick up some of the specialities en route, such
as Black-eared Miner, Scarlet-chested Parrot, Western Whipbird,
Chestnut-breasted Whiteface, Thick-billed Grasswren etc..
Maybe this will stretch it to 8 to 10 days, but I would miss out
Eungella and come back SE-wards to Sydney.
Yes, precautions, precautions, precautions. I would definitely
invest in a sat phone and a second spare wheel and not rely on a
mobile. Maybe I should advertise for someone to come with me... but
is it so bad to go solo if I stay with main routes (i.e. I wouldn't
go off road as such)?
Any further thoughts appreciated.
Best rgds
Tim
From: > To: >
Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Eastern Deserts/Eungella> Date: Sun, 9
Mar 2008 10:01:11 +1000> > Tim> It sounds like a great trip you are
planning with plenty of exciting country > and birding, however I'm
a little unsure of where you are intending to > actually go, to
help you here is some advice/suggestions. Apologies in > advance if
it is a case of teaching you how to suck eggs!> An issue is solo
travelling in remote locations; never a good idea in case > of
breakdowns or ill-health. Need to keep in mind the mobile phone
coverage > is very patchy - for example I've just driven back from
Townsville to > Yungaburra where I live via Greenvale, The Lynd, 40
Mile Scrub and Mt Garnet > and there was no coverage most of the
way. And this was with a new 3 G > phone using Telstra. (The
coastal route was flooded). I work with NRW and > we have a regular
call in process when we go remote so maybe you could > organise
such a thing with a known route? You also need ot know how to use >
a sat phone (as do I!0 and that the pin number is turned off. This
is to > ensure that incase you are unconscious your helpers can use
the phone.> Second thing is to double check the distances with
regard to time it takes > to travel anywhere - and also the range
of your vehicle as there are large > gaps between fuel stops.> That
is a great range of birds on your wish list; with the Purlpe
crowned > fairy wren very easy around Lawn Hill and Gregory River.
Spinifexbird > around MT Isa (but I've tried twice and missed both
times!) Bob Forsyth > lives at Mt Isa and is in the phone book. He
can give you loal advice > however at the moment is heavily
involved in local history. There is a > fellow called Phil Venables
who is curently at Mt Isa and a vg birdo. Bob > would have his
contact details. Phil will be able to help with the Carp and >
Kalkadoon Grasswren. I saw the KW around 10 years ago on road from
> Cloncurry to Duchess. So very old info there but according to
Phil and Bob > when I met with them last November the KG is
apparently easy to pick up > (which normally means I miss out!)!
Adn Phil has good sites for the Carp > Grasswren.> > Things like
Halls Babblers - around Winton south to Opalton. Maybe better > to
go camping in places like Bladensburg NP? Just south of Winton. Or
stay > at Winton and travel down. Straited Grassrens are apparently
easy to pick > up around Larks Quarry NP.> > I've seen Spotted
Bowerbirds one before - when we had to stay in Clermont > for two
nights due to vehicular failure! They were in the local park.> >
I'm going on a trip for 4 nights with some friends from the
tablelands to > the Winton area in May, banking on the assumption
that with the good rains > there will be a population explosion and
we'll be tripping up over Rufous > crowned Emu wrens, Redthroats
and Spinifexbirds. I can dream.> I'd be interested to hear of any
response you get, as we are going to > similiar country. Sounds
like a great trip and you should see some great > birds.> > cheers>
|
