I think you may find that a lot of the tree damage at the Darwin Bot Gardens
was due to the cyclone damage in January. We were there last month and the
quite considerable damage was still being cleaned up.
You seem to have had a good trip.
Cheers,
Fiona Anderson> From: > To: >
Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:55:15 +1000> CC: ;
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Arnhem Land trip and WTGW> > >
Jack and I were primarily after White-throated Grasswren on our> week long
driving trip from Nhulunbuy in the east of Arnhem Land> to the Stuart Hwy via
the Central Arnhem 'Highway'; then flying> home via Darwin.> > Jack finished
the trip with 6 new birds taking him to 612 but despite> searching both new and
old areas we dipped on the WTGW.> I know many people have been chasing the
grasswren in recent yrs,> so I thought I'd report on what we did and some
comments.> > The east of Arnhem land (at least in the areas adjacent the track
west)> has very little triodia. The escarpments , of course, are spectacular
and> worth a look at regardless but I doubt that there is suitable habitat
until> we reached the outskirts of Kakadu.> > Excellent birding ,though
,included a large flock of Pictorella Mannikins> at S13 43 51 E134 15 30.
Thousands of Banded Honeyeaters were> along the track pretty much anywhere
where the Woolybutt was flowering.> Other common finches such as Masked and
Long-tailed were easy to see> in mixed flocks in burnt ground (in particular)>
> Gouldians, although in low numbers, were found adjoining creeks with> good
seeding grasses. They actually quite like feeding on recently burn't> scrub
also (so it is worth checking bird movements at ground level when > driving>
along). As we were after the grasswren, we didn't stop at every creek but> I am
sure that there are would have been at numerous places further along> the
track. 2 locations though were S13 46 21 E 134 13 13 and> S 14 07 58 E 133 51
51. No yellow-headeds (unfortunately!)> > We did lots of other birding but
spent 2 days at Gunlom. My 4th visit (my > 2nd> was the only time that I have
seen the grasswren a few yrs ago) proved to be > arduous> and quite
disappointing really. White-lined Honeyeaters were more common> than previous
visits but the Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeons and Sandstone> Shrike-thrushes
were single figure totals over the 2 days. No Banded > Fruit-Pigeons.>
Specifically chasing the grasswren, we followed the suggestions of BA >
members,> old reports, and tried some new places....these included.....going 2
kms to > the> R at the top of the falls; heading across the plateau and up the
higher > escarpment> and then around back to the campground but we did not even
hear any > wrens.....> not even a Variegated!....We also followed the creek
(which becomes the > South> Aligator River after the waterfall drop) upstream
for 1.5km until the > triodia ran out.> We did this early on the second
morning. probably 10 hrs all up > searching...at least> we got onto
Carpentarian after 8hrs in May!> > Our last camp was at Chinaman's Ck (W of
Katherine)...woke up to 120 (yes > 120)> Hooded Parrots feeding on more burn't
out ground eating seeds of fried > plants.> The rubbish thrown around in that
wonderful location is a disgrace though.> I am sure that the residents of
Katherine use the area for partying and have > no respect> for the
spot.....(travellers would not leave prams, clothes, pizza boxes > etc)> >
Lastly we met up with Biggles for 4 hrs....had a ball...best was the > recently
returned> Rufous Owl at the Botanical Gardens (presumably the other on a >
nest---hopefully!)> The so-called managers of this terrific little garden seem
to want to chop > old trees down.> Numerous recently destroyed trees were still
lying on the ground. The have a > wierd> looking replica of the owl on a fence,
yet they seem hell-bent on making it > hard for> the owl. Apparently a male owl
was found dead a while ago but the female > went> away and has brought back a
new boyfriend....fingers crossed. A pair of > Barking> Owls were near the
entrance also> > Some comments> > ....I worry about the so-called environmental
burning...there was literally> only tiny patches of truly large old growth
triodia....all 4 trips have > resulted in there> being less suitable habitat
for WTGW (but also numerous other species) I > know that this> a contentious
issue with which NTers seem to be defensive about, but I don't > get it.>
Denise may like to comment but surely in the pre-European era, most fires >
were from> lighting strikes at the on-set of the wet season? ...surely not
going into > the dry season (now)> I understand that Aboriginal burning for
hunting purposes probably happened > all year.> > Flying into Gove (Nhulunbuy)
is easy enough from either Cairns or Darwin.> The drive out , however,is not
for the faint-hearted and requires a permit > from the Northern> Land Council.>
> Bush camping is fantastic throughout the area and a brilliant highlight of >
the trip.> The stars, the vino tinto and mellow woofing of the ever-present
Barking > Owls> make it a sensational experience.> > All the best and good luck
to other WTGW seekers (I think you'll need it)> > Cheers,> > Bill> >
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