Hi Tim,
Myself and a friend travelled through the Flinders last Monday on our way back
from a fantastic birding trip up the Strezlecki track. We also found the
Short-tailed Grasswrens unbelievably easy to find ! We pulled up at the Stokes
Hill Lookout and had only walked about 20m when two showed beautifully right in
front of us ! Almost too easy !!
Also up at the rusty car site at Mt Lyndhurst Station we found Thick-billed
Grasswrens were everywhere we looked ! we saw probably a total of 20-30 just in
that general area, along with heaps of White-winged Fairywrens and Zebra
Finches which were in big numbers! which made for hard work picking through
them all to find the Chestnut-breasted Whitefaces! Great year for birdlife in
the outback ! Anyone who is yet to venture that way should move heaven and
earth to get there ! you wont be disappointed!!!!
Cheers
Chris Steeles
http://chrissteeles.blogspot.com
> From:
> To: ;
> Subject: RE: [Birding-Aus] Princess Parrots update / and Flinders Ranges
> Date: Fri, 1 Oct 2010 06:02:29 +0000
>
> Thanks Ian. Just to add to this, I've got some information about Mereenie
> Loop Rd on my trip report site, see http://tim-dolby.blogspot.com/
>
> When I was there last month the Centre was looking stunning. I can highly
> recommend camping beside the Finke River (near Glen Helen) at the 'Finke Two
> Mile Bushcamping Area'.
>
> I've also just returned from the Flinders Ranges, a perfect contrast with
> MacDonnell Ranges. The Flinders were similarly stunning, particularly in
> terms of the greenness of the place, and the wildflowers. The native pine
> forests before Wilpena Pound were carpeted in green grass, looking more like
> a pine forest in Germany, and the Triodia grasslands were all flowering. I
> found flowering Sturt's Desert Pea at Wilkawillina Gorge - it's an amazing
> experience to stumble across this plant in the wild in an unexpecting
> situation. Little Woodswallow was also common at Wilkawillina, an uncommon
> bird this far south. It was nice to link up with this bird, they were a
> feature of the gorges of the MacDonnell Ranges and Watarrka (Kings Canyon).
>
> Short-tailed Grasswren also seemed more common than on my previous trip to
> the Flinders. On the Appealina Ruins Track (just north of the turnoff to
> Willow Springs) I found Short-tailed Grasswren in flatland immediately beside
> the road, and at one point a family crossed the road. While at Stokes Lookout
> I found Short-tailed Grasswren 20 metres from the lookout. At both sites
> Elegant Parrot regularly flew through.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Tim Dolby
> http://tim-dolby.blogspot.com
>
> ________________________________________
> From:
> on behalf of Ian May
> Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2010 4:49 PM
> To:
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Princess Parrots Try this spot on the Mereenie LoopRd.
>
> Hi all
>
> If looking for Princess Parrots along the Mereenie Loop Rd, there is an
> area with likely potential for finding them at 24 01' 54"S, 131 26'
> 30"E. The site is accessible with a Mereenie Loop Rd Permit and near a
> road building borrow pit next to a short service track with room to pull
> off at the north side of the main road. Putting in some extra effort
> here may pay off. Although I have not searched here, this is the only
> site along the road where the preferred habitat of the Mereenie North
> area comprising tall open forest of marble gum associated with a few
> scattered Desert Oak is found. It is only about 12 km south from where
> Princess Parrots were found many seen in pairs frequenting tall Marble
> Gum and displaying breeding behavior in early August.
>
> It was after returning home and while looking at these locations using
> Google Earth that it became apparent that the plant associations around
> the borrow pit area are the same and almost continuously connected to
> the same habitat where Princess Parrots were found breeding. It is 7
> weeks since then and it is probable now that adult birds are ranging
> away from their nesting areas to feed. Now would be a good time to have
> a good look.
>
> It is worth noting that in July and August, Princess Parrots were often
> observed in flocks calling loudly while flying rapidly in an erratic,
> roller like flight and then landing nearby to forage across the ground
> for short periods.. Their behavior was conspicuous and would draw
> attention from several hundred meters. They were most active during
> two periods each day, from about 1 hour after sunrise and lasting for
> about 90 minutes and then again later in the day commencing about two
> hours before sunset and lasting for a period of about 60 minutes.
>
> Some other influencing factors should be considered if looking for
> Princess Parrots now. Approximately 100 mm of rain has fallen across
> some parts of the area since August and at that time, daylight hours
> were shorter and weather was cooler. Birds now may be active at
> different times and may have spread out further.
>
> <>For those that have not looked already, there are some great Princess
> Parrot pictures on Geoff Jones "Barra Imaging" birding web site.
> See
> http://www.barraimaging.com.au/gallery/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=0
> <http://www.barraimaging.com.au/gallery/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=0>
>
>
> I have also posted some pics on Flickr.
> See also http://www.flickr.com/photos/oo000oo/sets/72157624789253688/
>
> Good luck and drop a line to birding aus if you see them .
>
>
> Kindest regards
>
>
> Ian May
> St Helens, Tasmania
>
>
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