Month: June 2023

5/4

It was 19.00 when we left Greenwood in the northern suburbs of Perth to head north. We had just returned from our trip to South America. Our friends at Greenwood had kindly let us keep our car at their place and Stephen had come out to the airport to pick us up. We drove into the night and got to Cliff Head south camp where we called it a night.

6/4

Up early, did my round and were soon heading north. We stopped at Murchison River Galena camp for lunch, there was a strong flow to the river. We arrived at the caravan park at Hamelin Pool late in the day, introduced ourselves to Trish the owner and she showed us where to camp. It will be our home for the remainder of the month.

We are volunteering here at the stromatolites for National Parks, and they are paying for our site here. The place is a bit run down but nevertheless functionally sound. Our main job is to try and stop people walking out to the stromatolites and give out information to the visitors. In April of 2021 Cyclone Seroja swept through the region damaging the boardwalk here, which is still closed much to the chagrin of most visitors. I tried my hand at running a bird tour here with a few interesting birds such as Chiming Wedgebill, Rufous Fieldwren and the possibility of Western Grasswren, though I may have caught a glimpse of one I didn’t claim it. I did three surveys here over the month and got 34sp.

13/4

Off early and headed in to Denham. I have been struggling with the cough that I brought back from overseas so I went to the medical centre here to get some more antibacterials in an attempt to clear it up. Bev did some shopping, we bought some lunch at the bakery next to the IGA then went to Little Lagoon late in the afternoon. The shrubs here don’t look healthy and the bird count confirmed that with hardly any activity. Fowlers Bay was also rather quiet. It was late when we got back to the caravan park.

20/4

Off as early as we could manage again with first stop at Shark Bay Rd park bay but it was unusually quiet here. Clay pan Shark Bay Rd was also quiet. We got to Peron Homestead at the peak of the eclipse. Here it was like early dusk, still quite bright, many of the birds sat on top of the bushes and trees as they do at the end of a day. I caught Ollie staring directly at the sun without eye protection tch tch! We got to Big Lagoon for lunch and again could not find much bird life with only 10sp found in the hour or so we spent here. It was then back to the caravan park at Hamelin Pool.

27/4

Off we set early again and stopped at Useless Loop rd 1 and got a Southern Scrub Robin calling. Fosters outstation was disappointing with only 3sp. The road into Steep Point was atrocious. In particular the stretch after the salt mine, it was so bad that the corrugation induced shuddering broke the clips holding the camper roof down, I had to get out some rope to tie it down. I let the tyres down so I had no probs getting through the sand dune stretch and pumped them back up a bit after we’d finished with the sand. The rest of the track out was a really pleasant drive. I got a few seabirds off the coast of Steep Point this time. It was nearly dark by the time we’d got back to the campground.

1/5

Yesterday it took us 2hrs to depitch the gazebo and tent arrangement we have and Trish was generous enough to invite us to have dinner with her. It meant that we were mostly packed so we left early in the morning and headed up to 2okm north of Overlander Roadhouse where we got lots of Budgerigars. Park bay south of Wooramel had even more Budgerigars. By Edaggee camp we’d run out of Budgerigars with only 3sp here. Bev spent 2hrs doing the shopping in Geraldton and we filled up our tanks. We had a late lunch at Rotary park Gascoyne River with the river flowing for the first time for me. We headed east and stopped at Meeragoulia Rd for only 4sp. Grid Nalbra well had some water in the dam so although there were a lot of cattle in the area damaging the immediate area there was a good variety of birds in the vicinity. We camped at Fred’s Landing just before dark.

2/5

Ended the survey with 22sp, the flowing river no doubt a factor in the bird count with 500 Little Corellas and a flock of 28 Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, and 20 Little Pied Cormorants the three most numerous. Coongarracoodoo Floodway was also busy with Redthroat, Chiming Wedgebill and 3sp of fairywren. We did a quick trip into Temple gorge in Kennedy Ranges NP and I could not find a single bird here at 9am. Bev got a few birds but couldn’t get an ID on any of them so we had a no bird count in a national park. Further north despite Howell’s Creek being dry I got 17sp, go figure! Manganoon Ck had a small pool that the cattle weren’t using so I had a steady stream of the likes of Zebra Finch and Diamond Dove using it, 17sp again. Lyon’s River Gifford Rd had some big pools and 18sp. I heard a splash and saw a Sacred Kingfisher arise from the water, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Sacred Kinfisher fish, they usually take lizards and insects. It wasn’t successful, so perhaps it should stick to its usual diet. It was hot and dry at Gifford Rd Cobra station grid with 6sp. We stopped in at Cattle Pool and got 16sp here. We arrived at Mount Augustus Tourist park late in the day, introduced ourselves and were shown where to camp.

This will be our home for the remainder of the month as we give information to tourists on the park just to the south of us. I had great success here with my bird tour, where I took participants on a walk about 500m to the north where the Lyon’s river runs by. It’s dry here but the habitat is in good condition with the cattle farm being lightly stocked here. I did 18 trips and ended with 58sp. The reason why we are here is because in September 2020 three people died on the mountain whilst attemtping the peak. The problem is exposure and heat, it not being a paticularly long or high hike, but with Uluru now being closed to summiters many are discovering this rock which is much bigger than Uluru. Uluru is the worlds largest Monolith, Mt Augustus is the worlds largest rock but it’s a Monocline. early in our stay here we had some people from overseas that wanted to climb the rock in 30C+ heat, they were both quite elderly, I advised them against it but they went and did it. The lady tripped and fell 100m from the end. We suspected a greenstick fracture to her leg as she couldn’t walk on it. They left the next day to go to Meekathara, a 5hr drive. It being the closest town with an Xray machine. This is no place to get hurt! There is a 45km ring road around the rock that gives access to all the walks. I have two survey points by the rock, one is Ooramboo walk in the south, the other is The Pound in the north. On one day we blew up our inflatable canoe and along with one of the campers we went for a paddle on the Cattle Pool. To the east it was only 500m to the end but we paddled for about 2km to the west and didn’t find the end. This is probably not normal since the river was flowing recently as Cyclone Ilsa swept its way south in April this year.

1/6 295km

Up early and did our final packing and then went to the petrol pump to fill up the jerry cans at 240cpl it’s advisable not to have to pick up fuel here, but National parks were paying for it this time. We were on our way north at 8.15 or so. First stop was only a few kilometres north at the lookout to get the last of the early morning sun on Mt Augustus, then onwards to Creek on cattle yard track which had a pool in the creek with 18sp. Floodway Dooley Downs Rd was dry but still had 13sp in the good woodland. We turned north on the Ashburton Downs Rd and had lunch at Pingandy Ck which had a few pools. The creek north of the road flowed 20ft or so high here in the aftermath of the recent cyclone, that would have been spectacular. I got a flock of 70 Spinifex Pigeons, the largest I’ve seen. The road in the Meekathara Shire was pretty good, but as soon as we crossed into the Ashburton Shire it was evident that the road hadn’t been graded after the rains, so many of even the smallest floodways had to be taken with care. I hit a few a bit too fast with the trailer bouncing around behind me. I glanced in my mirrors at one stage and saw that the door on the trailer was open without the clips being open and the towel that I sit our drinking water container was hanging out the side, this can’t be good. I don’t know how it had managed to jump out of its strap, bang sideways into the door opening it then unscrewing the lid as it lay sideways so that about 2/3 of the water was gone by the time I stopped. I’ll have to rethink my tiedown strategy. Floodway Meekathara Rd had a Little Eagle as well as a Brown Falcon. We got to Creek and grid Ashburton Downs Rd at 16.15 and camped on the north side and just on dark we had a Spotted Nightjar flying around us, and later heard it’s call.

2/6 293km

Got a Chiming Wedgebill calling on my morning walk. I decided to use the old dump truck that’s by the road as my where’s Ollie photo and as I rounded the truck a bird flew out from the side of the truck and alighted on the ground, it was an Owlet Nightjar that was using the truck as its day roost, sorry about that mate! First stop for the day was Kara Well, I still haven’t found where the water is but with Galahs, a huge flock of Spinifex Pigeons, a good sized flock of Cockatiels and around 150 Zebra Finches here, there must be water somewhere close. Bellary Ck Paraburdu was dry with 6sp. Gully south of Tom Price only had 3sp. Kings Lake Tom Price had the first Western Bowerbird and White-necked Heron. Floodway Wittenoom Rd had 8sp. We got to Hamersley Gorge at 15.40 and went down to the still flowing creek at the bottom. We then went to Hamersley Gorge camp nearby, a large free campsite which had lots of campers in it, a sharp contrast to last time we were here when we were the only ones.

3/6 345km

Found the first Grey-headed Honeyeater on my walk along with Red-backed Kingfisher. The road in to near the gorge had been good because of a mine nearby, north of the gorge after the bitumen stretch through the gorge wasn’t so good but still not terrible, there were other mines along the road here too as we headed east along the top of Karijini NP. We stopped at creekline west of Wittenoom where the foliage was covered in dust from all the big trucks using the road. Creekline Munjina Rd had Western Gerygone. It was now a drive north along the Great Northern Hwy dodging all the huge 60m long ore trucks. 211km north of Newman had White-winged Triller. 228km south of Port Hedland yielded another Red-backed Kingfisher. Bea Bea Ck north had a Red-browed Pardalote. Coonarie Ck had Painted Finch and a Little Button Quail, park bay south of Port Hedland also had Little Button Quail. At Park bay 2 south of Port hedland I got Little Button Quail in the sparse shrubland similar to the first park bay. 50Km south of Port Hedland had Kestrel as well as Whistling Kite in the 20min survey. We went to the Black Rock caravan park our usual stop here and had pizza from the attached tratoria, again it didn’t disappoint.

4/6 272km

Picked up fuel at the Puma servo on the South Hedland Rd it being the cheapest and with our 4cpl RAC discount even cheaper. Went to Port Hedland Beach but with the tide in, there wasn’t much around. Floodway 40km east of Port Hedland looked in good condition but I was lucky to get a fly over of some Cockatiels otherwise it would have been a no birds survey. Strelley River was jumping, with a large muddy pool and 16sp. Not much further east at De Grey River it was even better with a lot of water and lush vegetation, I got 24sp including Pheasant Coucal and Black-chinned Honeyeater. 11Km west of Pardoo only had a lone Zebra Finch and Singing Honeyeater, it never has a lot of birds but everywhere around here the vegetation has taken a battering from the recent cyclone. The three large trees were still standing but they were nearly stripped of leaves with only the larger branches intact. Not far up the road Pardoo Roadhouse was a roofless mess. Not much further along we came across some ponds at swamp Great Northern hwy east of Pardoo with birds using them such as Stilts, Ibis and a lone Whiskered Tern. Boreline Rd was past the worst of the cyclone and we got 7sp. We camped a short way along the Nyangumarta tk since there is no free camping anywhere along the 80 mile beach.

5/6 236km

Up with the sun, quickly packed and headed to Wallal station 80 mile beach. I met a Swiss woman who asked why driving on the beach was allowed here and I said don’t get me started, but we talked about the foolishness of beach driving anyway and why it should be banned outright, unfortunately we are in the minority and as I ate my breaky a steady stream of vehicles most with fishing rods headed out onto the beach to cause more destruction of fragile habitat, I refused to wave at them. It was 9.30 when we stopped at Culvert east of Sandfire where I got my traditional Brown Songlark, but no Pipits today. Creek 1 Great Northern Hwy had some pools by the culverts with a Greay Teal. Shelamar station track had a pool of water in the creekline and lots of birds using it, mostly Zebra Finch. We stopped at Goldwire camp at 12.20 and relaxed the afternoon away. In the evening I staked out a likley scorpion hole to no avail.

6/5 287km

I suspect that there was no scorpion in the hole last night as there were no tracks around it in the morning. First stop was 210km north of Sandfire which has had a recent fire through it, a good cool burn, which is what I like to see. Roebuck Plains reststop had quite a few wetland birds flying over, but with no water in the vicinity there was nothing to stop for. We booked in to the Tarengau Caravan park which was nearly full, all we could get was a non-powered site for 2 nights. We made contact with Bill and Jude and after lunch we met up with them at the vistor centre, where we ascertained that we could do the Gibb River Rd. I then shuttled evreyone one by one since I only have one passenger seat to the Town Beach and caravan park. I had a look at where I had stayed and that park is still as was with all the long term residents still there, but half the park’s old residents were gone with tourist’s caravans taking their place. In the late afternoon I did another shuttle to Gantheume point Cable Beach where the tide was now out and we watched the sun go down. We had dinner at the Kimberley Sands Hotel where Bill and Jude are staying, it was nice food but quite small portions, so we had five portions to share as well as a nice dessert.

7/6 440km approx

Bill and Jude hired a 4wd and they picked us up at our caravan park and we headed off up the Cape Leveque Rd. First stop was Beagle Bay with its specky white church with all shell in the interior. Then up to Cygnet Bay where Bev worked in 2019 where we had a nice fish and chip lunch, then on to One Arm Point where we saw a Green Turtle not far off shore. It was then time to head back, stopping at Rumbul Bay Rd where they are doing some roadside burning. The crackling of the Speargrass as it burned making it more difficult to hear the birds, but they were still active. Not far south is Pender Bay Rd which was being burnt too, and was a bit quieter. The road has been bitumenized sinch we last used it making the journey a lot quicker and easier, so we made it back into town well before dark. We had Balinese food from the DMK Kitchen, nice food at a reasonable price. We went down to the new pier to watch the stairway to the moon but the moon was red with all the fires and it was too cloudy so it ended up looking more like the pathway to hell.

8/6 91km

we departed the caravan park and picked up fuel at the Liberty servo which is the cheapest in town always, they also accept discount vouchers which made it even cheaper, but it was still well over $2 a litre for diesel. Next stop was Woolworths which includes my site Haynes Oval, the airstrip runs just behind the shopping centre and I timed it just right for the airfield to shoo all the birds off using a vehicle with sirens, but all I got were Galah and Black Kite. Next stop was to get an Optus account as Purnululu doesn’t have Telstra, this proved to be more difficult than imagined, it took well over an hour with Bev throwing up her hands several times. We finally got it working and drove off but then found that she couldn’t pay for it, at this point she gave up and we went to Horsewater soak where we got some Brolga and lunch. It was then along the 4wd track to Number 10 dam for some Long-tailed Finch, by now it was getting too late to do any more so we headed for James Price Point to camp and had a nice list by sundwown which was spectacular across the ocean.

9/6 78km

Added a few more species in the morning to finish with 23sp and headed down to Quandong Point which had lots of small flights of Budgerigars flying over that added up to 300. Barred Creek had Shining Flycatcher and Mangrove Gerygone. Back to Number 10 dam where this time I saw the Long-tailed Finches and also got a pair of Magpie Geese that weren’t there yesterday. It was 11.40 when we got to Broome Bird Observatory and I thought it might be nice to camp, they had a spot, so at $20 per head minus our Bridlife Discount we camped and after a quick sortie to find no waders down at the bay we relaxed in the shade. Apparently all the waders are around the lakes inland. Our late sortie did add Striated Heron and Australian Gull-billed Tern on the esxposed mudflats.

10/6 287km

In the morning there was low tide with 1000 Great Knot, and a few Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrels. First stop east was Kilto station rd for the first Rufous-throated Honeayeater. Nillibubbica camp had been burnt recently but still had 13sp. Cockatoo Ck was the highest level I’d seen the pool and on the edge of the destruction caused by the flooding Fitzroy river earlier this year. The road between here and the Wilara Roadhouse was a rollercoaster ride where the road had been washed away from its raised level. The road into Yeeda was still closed so on to Derby Sewerage which although the reedbeds in the wetland area were extensive with water outside the pond there wasn’t much variety in the birds, mainly Purple Swamphens. Even the main sewage ponds had fewer Plumed Whistling Ducks than usual. Derby jetty had 17sp with the still low tide. We camped at May River Meda station where there were lots of people including people playing their loud music so everyone else could hear it, the worst was the country music blaring so loud I couldn’t here the birds calling. Thankfully by sun down they had all gone, local hicks. As we were going to bed the Boobook Owl and Tawny Frogmouth started calling, much nicer.

11/6 342km

Over night the Kings fridge glitched, one side stayed on and froze whilst the other side turned off and was quite warm by the morning, not happy with Kings stuff, it’s cheap but it’s also not robust enough. The days are quite warm and steamy making the early nights hot and sweaty, cooling down into the early morning, jumpers have been dispensed with. We headed on east along the bitumenised Gibb River Rd to Kimberley Downs Rd which had a patch of it burnt with 15sp. At Lennard River the river was flowing for the first time that I’d seen with 14sp. Boundary Ck had only 5sp despite having a pool of water. 240km east of Derby was on the edge of where there were a lot of birds to the north with some spilling out into my site including some Red-backed Fairywrens. The track into Adcock Gorge is worse than ever. There was some water coming over the falls but not a lot of birds. Galvans Gorge was done too late and didn’t help being burnt out. The river just north of the Barnett Road house was deep with sandy approaches so I put the car in 4wd with diff locks and made it across okay but it would be impossible for 2wd and there’s no signs anywhere to say you need 4wd to complete the road. Floodway 15km north of Mt Barnett was our last stop. We camped at Hann River just on dark and got Cane Toads calling in the river, there was also an endemic frog calling but when I went to record it for FrogID it didn’t record it, I think it’s the Bilingual Frog which has two different calls that it switches between.

12/6 229km

I got Yellow Oriole and Northern Rosella on my morning round then we headed off on the Gibb River Road, sections of it today were really awful, the worst I’ve seen it, on others I was trundling along at 70kph. Kennedy Ck was flowing acorss the road as were many of the creeks. Bev found a Bar-breasted Honeyeater here. Kalumburu Rd 1 had Jacky Winter. Floodway 1 Kalumburu Rd was just about the only floodway that wasn’t flowing but even with a partial burn I still got 9sp. Lowya Ck was flowing with also 9sp including the first Banded Honeyeater. We stopped at King Edward River Manurra campgound at $17pp for the night. We had earlier stopped the Drysdale River station to pay our $100 for a minimum 5 day pass to the area. As the sun lost its heat the Little Friarbirds along with others really got noisy, much better than country music.

13/5678km

The day did not start well for me, I was on my morning stroll when I decided it was time to go to the toilet so found one of the toilets and did my business, but when I went to open the door I found that the handle moved but the lock didn’t, I was locked in, try as I might I couldn’t budge the lock. Thankfully there is a gap between the top of the wall and the roof, so I was able to call someone over to take my binoculars and camera and I squeezed through the gap. We left at just before 7am. The road to Mitchell Falls is attrocious, it took 4hrs of car shaking bone rattling driving to get there. We stopped at the burnt out woodland at Laterite CP, the trees were unaffected by the fire and I got 6sp. We arrived at Mitchell River NP camp in time for lunch then spent the afternoon in the shade. A bit too late I went for a walk down to Little Merton Falls and got some White-quilled Rock Pigeons.

14/6

We left camp at about 7.30 for our walk down to Mitchell Falls and added birds all the way down there including Kimberley Honeyeater. There was a good flow over the falls so we did the loop that takes you to the lookout in front of the falls, this entailed crossing the river, no easy feat, the rocks are rounded and slippery at the beginning and I foundered getting my phone wet and dipping my camera bag in the water, thankfully no damage done, I eventually got to the other side, but Bev decided to have a swim instead of coming across. I completed the walk to the classic shot lookout and returned with a bit more poise crossing the river this time. We had made one mistake though, we were too blasé about the heat and didn’t have enough water with us with the result that we were both quite dehydrated by the time we got back in time for lunch, I couldn’t raise enough saliva to eat my peanut butter sandwich, eventually the water that I’d drunk kicked in and I was okay. Late in the avo we walked up to the lookout over the valley in the hope of finding a Black Grasswren but there was too much burnt ground. I found some good habitat and we did a bit of call back which I usually hate, but it’s the only way to find them and we are doing survey work. We didn’t find any which isn’t good news. I hope they are doing better elsewhere. Today it was the turn of the you beut top of the range National Luna fridge to glitch, the freezer had turned off during the day, so we turned one of the Kings fridge sides into a freezer and gave the National Luna fridge a break.

15/6

We set off at 7am again for the dreaded drive back the way we’d come in, and I found it just as gruelling. I would be almost tempted to call for a boycott of the area until they improve the road. They have slapped a levy on everyone without improving anything and in fact they have taken away the right to free camp in a large area. There is no discount for seniors either, so I won’t be coming back here in a hurry. We stopped again at Laterite CP, King Edward River, just at the causway, Lowya Ck, Floodway 1 Kalumburu Rd and Kalumburu Rd 1, and camped at Floodway 3 Gibb river road just on dark and had a good evening calling session with lots of Little Friarbirds calling.

16/6

The road gradually deteriorated as we headed east all day. Durack River was running but was an easy crossing. First stop was Floodway 2 Gibb River Rd. We had a brief stop at Bindoola Falls where we got a Freshwater Crocodile in the large plunge pool at the base of the waterfall that wasn’t running. Pentacost river was not that hard even though I bottomed out on the rocks, I pushed some along until I’d cleared them. We had lunch here and whilst we were here someone towing a big caravan got stuck, there was no one else around who didn’t have a caravan attached, so I waded out into the crossing to tell him to stop digging himself further in, then went back to start unhitching our trailer, but then someone following him managed to get past him and towed him out. A big 4wd tour bus very nearly got stuck but managed to get himself out, I wasn’t going to volunteer to pull him out. Floodway 1 Gibb River Rd was dry below the towering cliffs. We stopped at The Grotto and found that the Kings fridge had errors on both sides and wouldn’t reset, so it was back to the National Luna fridge, thankfully by now our food needing to be kept cold was needing only one side as I think one side’s compressor is damaged. I was disappointed to find no frogs calling in the bottom of the Grotto. At one stage today I stopped to inspect the undercarriage of the trailer and found one of the shockers broken, thankfully there are two on each side , but it’s another indication that Kings stuff just isn’t fit for purpose.

17/6

In to the Wyndham Oval, no Gouldian Finches but lots of Star Finches. The tide was in at the Wyndham jetty so there wasn’t much to find. Three Mile Valley was hot and dry and recently burnt with not much around. Marglu billabong didn’t disappoint again this time finding a good sized Salty as well as lots of waterbirds. Molly Spring was running with a nice flow over the falls with quite a few people in the pool. We went to the caravan park by Lily creek lagoon and did our washing and had a nice shower, all clean again. We are now having problems with both fridges, most likely battery related, so I’m worried that we are going to have problems keeping them running in Purnululu.

18/6

It was 9am when we left the park and filled up at the Puma servo in town, with our RAC discount it was not worth going out to the community one further north. Bev then spent $500 on food, so it was nearly midday when we set off for Purnululu. We stopped only the once for lunch at Lissadell parkbay where there wasn’t much happening. The road into Purnululu is 4wd only with some deep creek crossings. The early part of the road was terrible with Gibb River Rd conditions, but as the road got rockier and twistier the corrugatons got better and the drive in with the setting sun was spectacular if slow. It was well after dark when we got to the visitor centre where we made contact with a ranger who showed us where we’d be staying until our job at Walardi campground starts in July.

We found out the next day that in fact we had no campgound to host as it has been double booked for July as well, so we stayed just across from the visitor centre and did a few jobs like whippersnipping around signs, roadside pruning and I used their front end loader tractor to do a bit of filling in of a washout on the side of the road near the visitor centre.

26/6 42km

We had a day off so we went up to Echidna Gorge and got Silver-crowned Friarbirds in the car park. The birds diminished as we got further in to the gorge until there were no birds at all. We stopped at a few small walks and had lunch at Kurrajong camp by the site that we camped at last time we were here. It was hot and humid all day, the threatening rain came at 23.00.

28/6 142km

The rain was our doom. The ranger really didn’t want us around despite claiming that they were under-staffed. Yesterday we had a few showers and again last night and the decision was made to close the park with more forecast. Tony the area manager came around at 10.00 and told us we had to leave. Now he has the right to do that but he then went and lied to us, telling us that the other camp hosts were getting out too, but on our way out we bumped in to both of them, one we met at the visitor centre, the other we met on the road, they were actually coming in after spending a day in Kununurra, both were staying. So we are very unimpressed with what has happened to us. Nevertheless we put on a brave face and headed out. It took 2hrs again. We went down to Leycester’s rest for lunch where the Ord River had some flow to it and I got a Black-chinned Honeyeater. We ummed and ahhed about whether to turn east or west. With no guarantee that we could get across the Fitzroy River with it likely to rise, we headed east. First stop was 220km south of Wyndham where I got Sitella. Next was Lissadell parkbay, it was jumping with finches including 35 Gouldian’s, many being juveniles. 120km south of Wyndham was done too late, I thought I heard some frogs calling in the pond here but they were very soft calling and too much time in between calls to get a recording. It was dark by the time we stopped at Dunham rest area.

29/6 246km

In the morning I waded my way through the head high Spear Grass down to the river that was flowing and got heaps of birds including Masked, Star and Crimson Finches as well as a good number of the usual suspects. We stopped in at Molly Springs and got both Little and Silver-crowned Friarbirds. Then up to Valentine Rockhole for some Brolga. Middle Spring was flowing with a good sized flock of Long-tailed Finches. Black Rock Falls only had seepage from the rock and the plunge pool was low, not much birdlife here either. Ivanhoe Crossing was closed due to a lot of water going through the dam near town. We had lunch at Lily Lagoon and got a pair of White-browed Crakes near the jetty. We did some internet stuff here, topped up the tank and went to Argyle dam, the pool here had Rajah Shelduck and soaring around were some Little Woodswallows. Cockatoo Lagoon was a bit disappointing but we still got Wandering Whistling Duck and Green Pygmy Goose. We stopped at Amanbidji Rd for the night. I wandered down to Saddle Ck where I found some small pools but they only had Cane Toads around them.

30/6 142km

There was a good variety of finches using the small waterholes in the creek in the morning. It was 9am local time when we headed off to Kennedy Ck which was very quiet, though I managed to find where the birds were hanging out in one small area. Big Horse Creek had pedestrian birds by the river and in the campground. My spot on the Nackeroo lookout road near Timber Creek was great again, with a few trees in flower that had Banded Honeyeater and some Masked Finches by the roadside. The Timber Creek airfield was disappointing with only a few birds around but it was now early afternoon, it would be inconcievable that I have a list of 75sp here if you only saw today’s list. Policeman Point 2 had Purple-crowned Fairywren in the tall vegetation along with Star Finch and a lone Chestnut-breasted Mannikin. Policeman Point yielded a Silver-crowned Friarbird and a flock of Crimson Finches that zoomed by me. Timber Creek water tanks still have a small leak at the base of one but was only attracting Double-barred Finches and Peaceful Doves. We said hello to some friends from when we lived here a few years ago now, then went down to Hickeys Beach which had Crimson Finches. It was then a short drive down the road to Dingo Springs to camp. Some caravaners had already taken the prime spot so we had to make do with a small area where someone had flattened the grass. I went and did a few recording along the creek, I think they’ll turn out to be crickets.

1/7 326km

We had some light rain over night that persisted until midday. The birding along the highway was poor with not a single interesting bird to be found all day. 38km south of Timber Creek was quieter than usual, Joe Ck was quiet as usual, Agate Ck only had 5sp, Mathison rest area had the most interesting bird with a few Apostlebirds that are often here. King River was pretty quiet too. Low Level Nature reserve in Katherine had a White-necked Heron that posed for me. We camped for the night at Edith Falls Rd.

2/7 350km

It was a very quiet walk around in the morning with not much happening at all. It was back in to Katherine where I dropped Bev off to do the shopping whilst I went out to 10km east of Katherine where I got a Red-backed Kingfisher in the dry grassland. We picked up fuel at the Ausfuel depot another card only diesel only servo, then headed south along the Stuart Hwy. 41km north of Mataranka in good looking savannah woodland only had Striated Pardalote and Pied Butcherbird. Bitter Springs was absolutely swimming with people swimming in the aqua blue waters despite it being cold and cloudy. We had to park outside the reserve it was so full. I got some Shining Flycatchers here. 39km south of Mataranka had some White-throated Honeyeaters feeding in a low flowering gum but I failed to get a clear shot at them. 56Km south of Mataranka had 6 ordinary species. 300m north of Albert Forrest memorial has a tank nearby so we got a few Galahs and Common Bronzewings. It was nearly 16.00 when we stopped at 87km south of Mataranka when birds should be settling down but Bev found an active area with Pheasant Coucal, Golden-headed Cisticola, Long-tailed Finch and 10 other species in just ordinary looking scrub by the road. You just never know where the birds are going to pop up. There was light rain when we stopped to camp at Nutwood Station Rd, so we put out the awning on the trailer which of course was the signal for it to stop raining, so after dinner and dishes it was packed away again.

3/7 247km

It was grey and dull in the morning with some drizzle, ended the survey with 19sp and headed south. Buchanan hwy 1 was quiet but 40km north of Elliott made up for it. The farm dam here had plenty of water in it and a steady stream of Flock Bronzewings were coming in, taking a quick sip and taking off again at the far end of the dam, no good trying to get a photo. In 20min I had 18sp. 25Km north of Elliott at the park bay was back to cold and quiet with a lone Masked Woodswallow overhead. We stopped in Elliott to do internet stuff then on down to Lake Woods CP for lunch overseen by some Brown Falcons. We stopped at gravel pits 164km north of Tennant Creek at 13.30 in the bright sunshine all of a sudden. We got out the awning to dry it off and lounged around in the sunshine amid the flowering grevillias watching the Black Honeyeaters and others feed.

4/7 278km

Ended the survey with 19sp again, which isn’t bad for a disturbed area. We stopped in Renner Springs to do internet stuff using some of Bev’s Optus since there’s no Telstra here. Banka Banka wwII site was quiet. Lake Mary Ann just north of Tennant Creek was lunch time with more exotic birds like Peacocks than native species. The only ducks on the the lake were domestic type. 51km south of Tennant Creek had two pairs of Little Button Quails. 65km south of Tennant Creek had lots of Diamond Doves. We stopped at Bonney Ck which had a few pools with a trickle of water. By the time it was dark the large area between the road and the rail was jam-packed full of caravans, I wandered down to the creek after dark but there were no frogs calling. Thankfully there were no Cane Toads either.

5/7 419km

We had 2 trains overnight, one at 22.00 the other at 4.00, very few trucks so I got a good night’s sleep. My struggle this morning was with a very young White-winged Triller, it really was a very plain litle brown bird, and being a juvenile it wasn’t calling but I think I got it right in the end. Devil’s Marbles camp had more people camping than birds, it now has fees to camp here. I put in a new site at Murray Downs Rd 1. I chose well with quite a few flowering plants there were lots of honeyeaters including Pied and Black, also some Crimson Chats. 77Km north of Ti Tree had a new bird for Bev that it took me a few minutes to remember what the bird with the rufous cap was, the key was lots of old spinifex, it was a Spinifexbird. Skull Ck didn’t have much in the Mulga woodland. We stopped at Ti Tree to do our internet stuff then on down to Prowse Gap rest area which was quiet, though I managed to get quite close to a clourful male Mistletoebird. Connor Well was done too late, and it was getting on dark when we stopped at Meuller Ck on the Plenty Hwy, but I still managed 13sp including the return of Ringneck Parrots, and just on dark a Barn Owl started screeching.

6/7 192km

Ended with the seemingly obligatory 19sp and headed back to the highway and south to 147km south of Ti Tree along the fencline. The track into the site is no longer in use so we parked about 500m away and walked in to the site finding Hooded Robin, Splendid Fairywren and Chestnut-rumped Thornbill then over to Kunoth Well where we met two local birdos who were just finishing their search of the area. They hadn’t found anything of note and neither did we. Siri is one of the guides for the sewerage plant in Alice Springs and she invited us to go see it tomorrow morning, so we headed into Alice and booked in to the G’day Mate Caravan park and did our induction on the internet, as well as doing the washing and having a long hot shower. We went next door to the Alice Brewery for dinner of a double cheeseburger with chips which was rather ordinary with no salad, but they were big patties so it was enough, but at $22 eating out is getting very expensive, we don’t do it much. Bev had the mushroom burger which was $2 more and the same quality.

7/7 130km

Up early and to the Alice Springs Sewerage Plant where we met Siri and Tanya and had a very pleasant stroll around the ponds. The unususal bird here at the moment is an Australian Shelduck which struck a lonely pose amongst the 1200 Grey Teals with a handful of Pacific Black Ducks, Hardhead and a pair of Pink-eared Ducks. There is a plague of Black-fronted Doterrels at the moment and it was nice to see a Black-tailed Native Hen, Orange Chats and a pair of Australian Spotted Crakes all nicely out in the open for our cameras. At 10.30 we headed off south to rest area south of Alice Springs for 8 ordinary species. Stuart Highway site only had 3sp, Hugh River was dry with a Red-browed Pardalote. This species seems to be turning up on surveys more than usual on this trip. 157Km north of Kulgera also had Red-browed Pardalote. We camped at Finke River rest area at 13.40 and got the best spot, sat in the shade which became sunny as the afternoon cooled down. There were a few pools which looked prospective for frogs despite the site being overrun by Buffel Grass and a substantial cattle presence. After dark I wandered down and got some what were probably Sudell”s Frogs, but their calls were only very occasional so I struggled to record them with only 1minute recording time on the app, so when I got the email from the museum they had it as unidentified… rats! Also down by the river were Barn Owl and Owlet Nightjar.

8/7 174km

Up before dawn this morning and at 0 degrees there was ice on the bonnet and frost in the grasses it was two jumpers and jacket time. First stop was 160km south of Alice Springs which had Pied Honeyeaters. We stopped at Erldunda to book an overseas trip. I had spotted it on Facebook a few days ago and we had discussed it with Siri and Tanya who both agreed it seemed like good value. So we rang up Trip a Deal that is partnered with Qantas and booked a 21 day tour of southern Africa for September next year. Fingers crossed we have a better experience than our last tour with Imagine Holidays and Norwegian Cruise Lines. It took a while to get ourselves booked so it was lunch time when we got to Karinga Ck which was dry but had a Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring overhead. It wasn’t a good spot for lunch so we delayed it until Kalamurta Ck and dam where we could get off the road a bit, I got White-browed Babbler here. We camped at the Northern Territory border rest stop at 15.00.

9/7 213km

Ended the survey with 13sp and headed on south to Agnes Creek Station which had some Red-capped Robins. Eataringinna Ck was dry with the usual creekline birds. Agnes Creek rest area has a bigger creek but still dry with more of the creekline birds. 79km north of Marla only had 3sp. Granite Downs dams had some water in it with some Wood Ducks, a White-necked Heron, some Australian Grebes and a Black-fronted Doterrel, a few water needing birds like Little Corella and Zebra Finch were also present. Small ephemeral lake 50km south of Kulgera saw the return of the Chiming Wedgbill. We stopped at Marla to do internet stuff then headed on south to old quarry 35km south of Marla for 8sp. We camped at Wintinna Swamp which now has a fence across the track so we had to camp by the road which thankfully goes quiet overnight, the trucks don’t even run for which I for one am thankfull, and I suspect the farmers are losing less cattle. There’s certainly less road kill which means less Whistling and Black Kites too. There is always a consequence to our actions, good or bad.

10/7 202km

There was no water here and I ended with 13sp, which seems to be the new number. Appreetinna Ck had pools with some Grey Teal. Ephemeral lake 5km south of Cadney had pools with a pair of Banded Lapwing and the first Pipit for a while. Dam 102km south of Marla was dry with a Bushlark. Just down the road at 107km south of Marla the pool was behind another new fence with nothing visible in the area. Terminus Ck had pools with more Grey Teal. I was hopeful of pools in Pootnoura Ck channel 2 as I’d seen Eastern Waterholding frog here previously and was hopeful of recording it on FrogID but there was no water, the only creek today that had no water, so we had lunch here and went to track 197km south of Marla up on the Gibber plateau where there were quite a few small pools with lots of Zebra Finches and flowers in bloom. We stopped for the night at the Oasis Caravan Park in Coober Pedy, where they charge you $40 for the night and then $1 for 7min of shower and also to use the gas in the camp kitchen.

11/7 244km

After my shower that I completed in 7min we headed on south, first stop was Ingomar Station that was dry but still had Zebra Finches around. Old Peake Ck had some cattle fouled pools with some Pied Butcherbirds looking like they’re making a nest. 80m tower Mt Eba Station had a pair of Magpies harrassing a pair of Australian Ravens, the Magpies won and chased the ravens off. Dry creek bed was indeed dry but the good tall shrubland had some Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, 2 Chiming Wedgebills and a call that with Bev’s app I figured out to be a Banded Whiteface, but I never saw it. We camped at 17km north of Glendambo down a small track that hasn’t been fenced off yet and added Bluebonnets to the trip list.

12/7 94km

Added Sitellas to the site list, but they wouldn’t sit still long enough for me to get a shot of them. A short drive down to Glendambo to do more internet stuff and then a shorter drive down to south of Glendambo where all I could find was a lone White-browed Babbler. Next stop was Stuart Hwy grid near rail bridge where Bev saw some Emus that I missed. Lake Hart west had a dead Wedge-tailed Eagle by the roadside. Sadly these magnificent birds often don’t get off the roadkill that they feed on quick enough and are killed by vehicles that don’t slow down. Even more sadly the next site at ephemeral pond 58km south of Glendambo also had a dead Wedge-tailed Eagle on the side of the road. There was no water here but more Bluebonnets. We stopped to have lunch at Lake Hart and decided to stay for the night. There is no access to the main lake and the smaller lake just down the track only had mud.

13/7 226km

Ended the survey with 14sp with Mulga Parrot the highlight, there were some Southern Whitefaces that I couldn’t transform into a more interesting Whiteface, but they are adorable little birds nevertheless. Eucolo Ck had a pool in the survey area and a few birds in the bushes on the banks. Wirramunna only had 3sp in the cold windy conditions. 21km south of Pimba only had an Australian Raven on the windswept hills. 129km north of Port Augusta had Red-capped Robin, and Ironstone Lagoon despite having lots of water was back to a lone Australian Raven. 111km south of Pimba was lunch with some Chestnut-rumped Thornbills. Grid 36km north of Port Augusta didn’t have much activity in the still cold blustery conditions despite being good woodland. We went to Auto Pro in Port Augusta to get a 19mm socket to fit my wrench since I discovered yesterday afternoon that I don’t have a wheel wrench to undo the trailer tyres. Kings in their wisdom don’t supply a kit with the trailer and I’d never thought that the nuts were a different size until I went to swap the tyres around so they wear evenly. Thankfully I haven’t had a flat tyre yet or I’d have been in trouble. Bev did some shopping then we did the site at Port Augusta estuary and got Silver Gull and Pied Oystercatcher. I’d have liked to have got a shot of the oystercatchers but between me and them were some drunk very agressive aboriginals that very nearly came to blows with each other, when will they ever learn? I turned and went the other way. Got a new bird for the trip here, Common Starling. We then went to the G’Day mate caravan park just to the north along the river for the night.

14/7 287km

Just across the river the trains were shunting all night so I didn’t sleep well. We filled up the fuel tanks at 177.9cpl at the deisel only card only depot on the north edge of town so it was 9.30 by the time we left Port Augusta and started our trek west along the Eyre Hwy. First stop was Kenrick Dam which had some water in it and 10sp in the area. Dry gully and dam was indeed dry and saw a Collared Sparrowhawk soar overhead looking for somewhere to hunt. Barna Rd Gillies NP had the first White-eared Honeyeater with some Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters. We stopped in Kimba for lunch and internet stuff, so it was 13.40 when we stopped at Darke Peak Rd. The thin line of greenery beside the road only yielded 2sp. Over to Polda Rock which had water in the dam at the base and 10sp in the area. We back-tracked a bit to Corrobinnie Hill CP where we arrived not long before dark so didn’t get many birds.

15/7 277km

The morning dawned dull and cloudy with the threat of rain, nothing arrived as I did my morning walk and got Southern Scrub Robin and Brush Bronzewing. It did arrive as we got to Kulliparu CP so Ollie got wet doing the habitat shot. I got the biggest flock of Yellow-throated Miners that I can remember with 30 of them in the area. South Head Venus Bay was done perfectly in between showers where I saw some Bottle-nosed Dolphins just off the head and the surprise bird being a Sacred Kingfisher, they should only be here over summer, I doubt it’s enjoying the 15C days and 3C nights. Deor Way EBA Anchorage had both Sooty and Pied Oystercatchers on the small spit. We camped at Acraman Creek CP by the beach and arrived as the sun came out to herald a cold night. This campsite now has fees with no facilities, very poor indeed.

16/7 254km

On my morning stroll I found a Grey Plover, another summer bird. I saw a stingray in the shallows but couldn’t ID it. Backshall Rd saw the long overdue sighting of Yellow-rumped Thornbill and Jacky Winter. We filled up with fuel at Perry’s card only in Ceduna, then went to the laundrette to get the washing done, Bev did some shopping and by the time we left it was lunchtime which we had at the Ceduna head of bay site where there were not many birds. Rail reserve Ceduna had more Yellow-rumped Thornbills and another missing bird, Grey Fantail. Cundilippy Station Penong had 6 ordinary species and we went out to Wahgunyah CP east edge to camp and had Brown Songlark and not long before dark we got our first live Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat, all the others, and there were quite a few west of Ceduna were all road kill on the side of the road. I do wish we could ban night driving.

17/7 283km

It was 1 degree this morning and the birds were reluctant to come out, ended with 17sp for the survey and went back to the highway and stopped at Yalata and got Yellow-plumed Honeyeater. Coombra Track Yalata had 5 ordinary species in the good woodland. 50km east of Nullarbor had some duelling Grey Shrike-thrushes having a sing off. 23km east of Nullarbor had a lone Rufous Fieldwren. My spot just east of Nullarbor didn’t disappoint again with another Rufous Fieldwren and 4 Nullarbor Quail-thrushes, the other surprise was a pair of Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoos. Truck stop 103km east of WA border had a pair of White-browed Scrubrens, I haven’t heard this subspecies before and it sounds very distinctive, I wouldn’t have picked the calling, thankfully they came out into the open briefly, but well enough for me to positively ID the bird. We camped at Great Australian Bight lookout which isn’t in the best spot and set too far back from the edge to get a good view. Up until dark I only had Singing Honeyeater and Australian Raven, but just on dark a pair of Rufous Fieldwrens sang briefly before the cold and the dark came. It was so cold early that I couldn’t eat my dinner fast enough and it went cold.

18/7 249km

We had some mist in the morning, it was coming off the sea and roiling against the cliff face, quite spectacular. I only added a lone Willy Wagtail to yesterday’s meagre tally. 60km east of WA border had some White-browed Babblers and White-browed Scrubwrens. At Border Village we ate the last of our fruit did a 10sp bird survey and crossed into WA. Lunch was taken at Eucla dunes where on the seashore I found no seabirds. Hearder Hill repeater Rd had the first Inland Thornbills for a long while. Mundrabilla repeater had a starling trap which is a few starlings in a cage within a cage trap. There were no wild ones in the trap. Bev went on her loop around the area and found a campfire that wasn’t properly put out and was smoldering away, she used some of our water to douse it properly. This is one of the reasons why I have some sympathy for farmers stopping tourists camping on their property, campfires and rubbish, it really isn’t hard to do the right thing. There are just far too many irresponsible tourists that should stay in the city where they belong. We camped at gravel pit east of Madura and had four Wedge-tailed Eagles come by, a couple of them were doing the rollercoaster thing high up, the other two were thermalling round and round to get up to where the other two were and they all headed off west together.

19/7 448km

In the early morning the wind got up and buffeted the camper making sleeping difficult, it kept on building slowly during the day making birding difficult, so all the surveys today only had between one and four species. The surveys were Hampton Tableland west of Madura, Eyre Hwy 63km west of Madura, Carpark for Eyre bird observatory which had White-fronted Honeyeater, Nuytsland NR Eyre Hwy 1 had a Pipit, track near Oodlegabbie rockhole had a Pallid Cuckoo. As we approached here the temperature got to 25C and the wind was howling out of the NW at hold-me-bleedin’-hat-on speed. Dark clouds were gathering and I just got back to the car before the rain came. The temperature dropped to 10C as we headed for 90km east of Balladonia which had 3sp, wrecked house Eyre Hwy was back to one species and we made it into Yadadinia Rockhole after dark. It was quite difficult winding our way along the track that now threads its way through fallen trees in the dark. The track is ostensibly closed and has been since the 2019/20 bushfires but the occasional vehicle has been through. We had a quick dinner in the biting wind.

20/7 262km

It was a freezing night litterally so a struggle to get out of my nice warm sleeping bag, but out I went and had a look in the burnt out woodland in the area. There were a lot of fires in the region in 2019/20 that the area is still recovering from. There were a handfull of species to find. On our way back out we found some Bustards. Newman Rocks was less affected by the fires but still only had 6sp. Park bay Frazer Range had the first Rufous Treecreeper. The lake at Dundas Nature Reserve was dry with only 2sp. Lunch was taken at Buldania Eyre Hwy in excellent woodland and saw the first Inland Thornbill for a while. We booked in to the Acclaim Caravan park for another freezing night.

21/7 303km

Went up to Hyden Norseman track east and found the area fire damaged again with two birds and 2 species. The track was closed so we had to take the southern route along the Hyden Norsemen Rd. We stopped in a small unburnt area amid the sea of blackened dead trees with low lush new growth around the bases. The surveyed area at Hayden Norseman Rd 1 only had a lone Striated Pardalote. McDermid Rock Rd had the now commonly seen White-eared Honeyeater being the dominant species here. Norseman Hyden Rd track was also fire damaged and I couldn’t find any birds. We camped early at Lake Cronin NR with little hope of finding much, but the area here wasn’t burnt so I had a few species by dark including the first Western Yellow Robin.

22/7 262km

I ended the survey with 20sp the best for a long while including the first night bird for a while, the bird of the site were some Southern Scrub Robins. It was -4C in the morning, the coldest yet, but the sun was out and the day warmed up okay. Bald Rock Rd east of Hyden had Banded Lapwing in the field. Wave Rock had a few ordinary birds. We stopped at the bakery in town for morning tea, I had a cream doughnut, it was small for $7 but tasty. Graham Rd south of Kondinin had a Black-shouldered Kite. We had lunch at George Rock picnic area which had a good population of birds, 15sp in the hour. Quairading Rd creek was flowing but didn’t look healthy as it flowed through the denuded farmland lush with new crops being sprayed. I did get a Western Gerygone in one of the few tall trees by the road. We camped at Toapin Weir camp which on paper looked better than Georges Rock but the habitat isn’t as diverse so I only got ordinary birds.

23/7

Yesterday as I was wandering around I heard a frog call in the dam. I forgot to go back at night, so went to the best looking spot as soon as I got up and just after I’d walked away thinking that they wouldn’t call, one called. So I went back and waited, and waited, all the time my backside saying you gotta go! You gotta go! Thankfully it eventually gave a call before I burst and I got a recording, It was a Bleating Frog. Ended the bird survey with 13sp and headed for St.Jacks Rd Balkuling which had a fly by of some Western Corellas. Avon River York had some waterfowl in the river. We had lunch at Wariin Brook Flynn Rd which can be a pleasant spot, but on a Sunday afternoon it was taken over by noisome boys on noisome motorbikes. Some boys never grow out of being annoying jerks, worst of all some were teaching their kids that making a mess of the habitat is still okay. At one stage I was standing still by the messy brook when a Grey Fantail breifly landed on my head, I guess it didn’t recognise me as human not being on a mororbike. I also got a brief look at a Western Spinebill. This is a water catchment area, you’re not allowed to camp here but they allow motorbikes to roar through the bush and just up the road is a quarry. Logic just doesn’t seem to play a part in many rules. Just down the road is retard basins Sawyers Valley which despite the burgoining traffic surging noisily along the highway I got Scarlet Robin and Red-capped Parrot in the woodland to the south of the road. From there we went into Perth and to my friend Smathi’s place. We’ll be in Perth now until November when we’ll hit the road again.

Over the next week or so I had to have some repairs done to the Troopie, I was gobsmacked when I got the bill for $4200. Even though I travel slow the weight of the camper is too much for the troopie. Toyota isn’t making their 4wds as robust as they used to.

Pictures from Herdsman Lake 6/8

28/8

We have a few days gap between house sits so we’re heading bush with the hope of seeing some orchids as well as resurvey some sites. It was after midday when we left the house sit at Greenwood, and dropped off the trailer at Emma and Jim’s, filled up the tanks at a nearby BP and went up to Mussel Pool Whiteman Park for lunch. For a while there I had more frogs than birds with the first Quacking Frogs for a while, eventually I started getting more birds including an aggressive Magpie that was able to get a snatch of food right out of my hand. I do wish people wouldn’t feed the wildlife, especially aggressive species like Magpies. From there we headed up to Chittering lakes Bindoon and then to Julimar SF where we camped. Bev found a few orchids up the valley I found none to the south, Just on dark I had duelling Slender Treefrogs in the trickling creek.

29/8

In the morning I went up the gully and found a few orchids on the hillsides. We headed down through Toodyay to Dumbarton bridge Avon River which was flowing. On down to Broome Tce Northam to see the Mute Swans, through Avon River York, and got some cakes at the Beverley bakery did the Beverley cemetery site where we had lunch and a half a cake each. Thornbill Tk Boyagin which didn’t have many active birds, on down to Tomingley Rd Dryandra and camped just down the road at Congelin camp.

30/8

Had a few birds sit nicely for me this morning. Once I’d done my round we headed off to Boddington cemetery then further west to Coolup. Lunch was taken at Lake McLarty west which had a high level of water, so no early waders. Snuck into Len Howard reserve in Mandurah then it was time to head to our next house sit.

Some flowers in a Marangaroo park in Perth.

Fine and warm tomorrow          16/10/2023

Meat and three veg for dinner
And Monday's news in on TV
But it's all war and woe
And I think to myself
It's a horrible horrible world
If you're an ethnic minority
But it's fine and warm tomorrow

Meat and three veg for dinner
And Tuesday's news is on TV
But it's all war and woe
And I think to myself
It's an awful awful world
If you're in the wrong country
But it's fine and warm tomorrow

Meat and three veg for dinner 
And Wednesday's news is on TV
But its all war and woe
And I think to myself
It's a dangerous dangerous world
If your skin's the wrong colour.
But it's fine and warm tomorrow

Meat and three veg for dinner
And Thursday's news is on TV
But it's all war and woe
And I think to myself
It's a terrible terrible world
If you're living below the poverty line
But it's fine and warm tomorrow

Meat and three veg for dinner
And Friday's news is on TV
But it's all war and woe
And I think to myself
It's a cruel cruel world
If you are disabled
but it's fine and warm tomorrow

Meat and three veg for dinner
And Saturday's news is on TV
But it's nearly all war and woe
And I think to myself
It's an abominable abominable world
If there's no one there to help
But my team won their game
And it's fine and warm tomorrow

Meat and three veg for dinner
And Sunday's news is on TV
But it's back to all war and woe
I see emaciated bodies lying in the streets
I see nation fighting nation
They're really saying I hate you
I see wild life being brought to the brink of extinction
I see pollution and ugliness everywhere I look
I see little children crying in the streets
And I think to myself
Unless you're white or wealthy
It's just not a nice world at all
But it's still fine and warm tomorrow

27/10 274km

It was about 9am when I left our house sit and headed for Mussell Pool Whiteman Park and got a family of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos with a young one begging fro food. From there it was up the Great Northern hwy to Chittering lakes Bindoon, the water level was well down on last time I was here with little in the way of water accessable but got a Sacred Kingfisher. Further up the highway is Udumung reserve, the area was dry with a handfull of birds still active including a Western Gerygone. Gabalong west Rd south of Walebing was down to 3sp. Dam Indarri and Summer Rd had 120 Little Corellas swirling around the dam. Moller Rd south of Pithara only had a lone Singing Honeyeater. I arrived in Dalwallinu and spent the afternoon slowly adding birds.

28/10 122km

I ended up with 20sp with including Barn Owl and Boobook Owl and went to the local caravan park where I met up with the Malleefowl monitoring team. We soon headed up the road to Jibberding where we split up into teams. Our team had 1 active mound that looks like it had had some chicks recently hatched. We finished at about 12.15. We had lunch by the side of the road then headed down to Carter’s where we had less luck with only a few ambiguous sites. In the late afternoon I went and had a look at Dalwallinu sewage ponds for 11sp. Met with most of the crew at Wheatland Motel for a quite nice meal at cheap prices. Back to my campsite for the night.

29/10 335km

Got 17sp this time with no owls. Met up with the Malle Fowl team again and went up to Arbuckle Rd Nugadong. We only had a pair of ambiguous sites with fresh Mallee Fowl tracks and digging in the mounds. The only bird of note was a Litle Eagle that came and checked us out, unfortunately the photo I snapped of it isn’t all that good. When we got back to the cars there was a feeding group that included Chestnut-rumped Thornbills and Red-capped Robin. We finished at 10.30 and I headed south going back to Moller Rd south of Pither and this time I got a Black-shouldered Kite and an Australian Pipit as well as Singing Honeyeaters. From there I went to Reynoldson rederve where the vericordia were just coming out in flower, but they weren’t as vibrant as I’ve seen them before. There was avery vocal Rufous Songlark. Lake Ninan had a shallow depth of water with no waterbirds and I struggled to find any bush birds, eventually finding a Singing Honeyeater and a Rufous Whistler. The Dumbarton bridge Avon River only had a trickle going over the rocks with a sandbar exposed just upstream where a few waterbirds were feeding. There was a pair of sacred Kingfisher adults, one feeding the other, it’s breeding time. Last stop was Valley camp Avon river NP, but in the middle of the forest and done too late meant I didn’t get a lot of birds. From there it was back to our temporary home.

More birds from Lake Herdsman 4/11

Bird list for the trip. % is of the 316 surveys done, B is for breeding.

• Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae 5 (1.58%)
• Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata 3 (0.95%)
• Plumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoni 3 (0.95%)
• Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata 2 (0.63%)
• Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis 1 (0.32%)
• Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus 2 (0.63%) (B)
• Black Swan Cygnus atratus 4 (1.27%)
• Mute Swan Cygnus olor 1 (0.32%)
• Radjah Shelduck Radjah radjah 4 (1.27%)
• Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides 6 (1.90%) (B)
• Hardhead Aythya australis 2 (0.63%)
• Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 18 (5.70%) (B)
• Northern Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 1 (0.32%)
• Grey Teal Anas gracilis 15 (4.75%) (B)
• Chestnut Teal Anas castanea 1 (0.32%)
• Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa 1 (0.32%)
• Musk Duck Biziura lobata 1 (0.32%)
• Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 11 (3.48%) (B)
• Green Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus 3 (0.95%)
• Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 1 (0.32%)
• Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus 1 (0.32%)
• Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis 5 (1.58%)
• Brown Quail Synoicus ypsilophora 5 (1.58%)
• Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae 15 (4.75%)
• Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus 4 (1.27%)
• Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1 (0.32%)
• Rock Dove Columba livia 2 (0.63%)
• Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 1 (0.32%)
• Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 7 (2.22%)
• White-quilled Rock-Pigeon Petrophassa albipennis 2 (0.63%)
• Spinifex Pigeon Geophaps plumifera 10 (3.16%)
• Partridge Pigeon Geophaps smithii 1 (0.32%)
• Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera 23 (7.28%)
• Brush Bronzewing Phaps elegans 4 (1.27%)
• Flock Bronzewing Phaps histrionica 1 (0.32%)
• Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 58 (18.35%)
• Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata 34 (10.76%)
• Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida 88 (27.85%)
• Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis 21 (6.65%)
• Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus 6 (1.90%)
• Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis 9 (2.85%)
• Black-eared Cuckoo Chalcites osculans 6 (1.90%) (B)
• Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites lucidus 1 (0.32%)
• Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis 2 (0.63%)
• Pallid Cuckoo Heteroscenes pallidus 4 (1.27%)
• Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis 2 (0.63%)
• Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides 4 (1.27%)
• Spotted Nightjar Eurostopodus argus 3 (0.95%)
• Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus 17 (5.38%)
• Australian Spotted Crake Porzana fluminea 2 (0.63%)
• White-browed Crake Amaurornis cinerea 1 (0.32%)
• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 8 (2.53%)
• Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa 1 (0.32%)
• Black-tailed Native-hen Tribonyx ventralis 1 (0.32%)
• Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 5 (1.58%)
• Brolga Antigone rubicunda 10 (3.16%)
• Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius 11 (3.48%)
• Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris 7 (2.22%)
• Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus 2 (0.63%)
• Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae 1 (0.32%)
• Black-winged Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus 6 (1.90%)
• Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 1 (0.32%)
• Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus 3 (0.95%)
• Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops 16 (5.06%)
• Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor 2 (0.63%)
• Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 10 (3.16%)
• Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus 1 (0.32%)
• Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea 2 (0.63%)
• Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 1 (0.32%)
• Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 1 (0.32%)
• Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris 1 (0.32%)
• Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 1 (0.32%)
• Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 1 (0.32%)
• Little Button-quail Turnix velox 7 (2.22%)
• Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella 1 (0.32%)
• Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae 23 (7.28%)
• Pacific Gull Larus pacificus 4 (1.27%)
• Australian Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon macrotarsa 2 (0.63%)
• Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 3 (0.95%)
• Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 3 (0.95%)
• Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis 2 (0.63%)
• Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 5 (1.58%)
• Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica 1 (0.32%)
• Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus 1 (0.32%)
• Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus 8 (2.53%)
• Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus 4 (1.27%)
• Striated Heron Butorides striata 1 (0.32%)
• Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 1 (0.32%)
• White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica 5 (1.58%)
• Great Egret Ardea alba 7 (2.22%)
• Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia 4 (1.27%)
• Pied Heron Egretta picata 1 (0.32%)
• White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 17 (5.38%)
• Little Egret Egretta garzetta 3 (0.95%)
• Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra 6 (1.90%)
• Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus 9 (2.85%)
• Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis 12 (3.80%)
• Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes 2 (0.63%)
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 2 (0.63%)
• Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 1 (0.32%)
• Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos 11 (3.48%)
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1 (0.32%)
• Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 7 (2.22%)
• Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 7 (2.22%)
• Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae 7 (2.22%)
• Osprey Pandion haliaetus 6 (1.90%)
• Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris 4 (1.27%)
• Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax 5 (1.58%)
• Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides 1 (0.32%)
• Swamp Harrier Circus approximans 2 (0.63%)
• Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis 2 (0.63%)
• Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus 13 (4.11%)
• Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus 12 (3.80%) (B)
• Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus 63 (19.94%) (B)
• Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 2 (0.63%)
• Black Kite Milvus migrans 31 (9.81%)
• Barn Owl Tyto alba 3 (0.95%)
• Barking Owl Ninox connivens 3 (0.95%)
• Southern Boobook Ninox boobook 10 (3.16%)
• Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 67 (21.20%) (B)
• Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus 8 (2.53%)
• Red-backed Kingfisher Todiramphus pyrrhopygius 16 (5.06%)
• Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 5 (1.58%)
• Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii 22 (6.96%)
• Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides 23 (7.28%)
• Australian Hobby Falco longipennis 13 (4.11%)
• Brown Falcon Falco berigora 17 (5.38%)
• Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus 37 (11.71%)
• Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii 20 (6.33%)
• Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo Zanda latirostris 1 (0.32%)
• Galah Eolophus roseicapilla 67 (21.20%)
• Western Corella Cacatua pastinator 1 (0.32%)
• Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea 51 (16.14%)
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita 2 (0.63%)
• Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus 1 (0.32%)
• Red-winged Parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus 17 (5.38%)
• Blue Bonnet Northiella haematogaster 3 (0.95%)
• Mulga Parrot Psephotellus varius 2 (0.63%)
• Red-capped Parrot Purpureicephalus spurius 4 (1.27%)
• Northern Rosella Platycercus venustus 3 (0.95%)
• Western Rosella Platycercus icterotis 2 (0.63%)
• Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius 65 (20.57%)
• Purple-crowned Lorikeet Glossopsitta porphyrocephala 3 (0.95%)
• Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor 2 (0.63%)
• Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus 2 (0.63%)
• Red-collared Lorikeet Trichoglossus rubritorquis 16 (5.06%)
• Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus 65 (20.57%)
• Western Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus guttatus 1 (0.32%)
• Great Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis 28 (8.86%)
• Rufous Treecreeper Climacteris rufus 5 (1.58%)
• Black-tailed Treecreeper Climacteris melanurus 1 (0.32%)
• Purple-crowned Fairy-wren Malurus coronatus 2 (0.63%)
• Blue-breasted Fairy-wren Malurus pulcherrimus 1 (0.32%)
• Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti 27 (8.54%)
• Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens 18 (5.70%)
• Red-backed Fairy-wren Malurus melanocephalus 8 (2.53%)
• White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus 27 (8.54%)
• Black Honeyeater Sugomel niger 2 (0.63%)
• Silver-crowned Friarbird Philemon argenticeps 9 (2.85%)
• Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis 27 (8.54%)
• Banded Honeyeater Cissomela pectoralis 7 (2.22%)
• Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta 78 (24.68%)
• New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae 5 (1.58%)
• White-eared Honeyeater Nesoptilotis leucotis 5 (1.58%)
• Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis 9 (2.85%)
• Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis 5 (1.58%)
• White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis 18 (5.70%)
• Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Glyciphila melanops 1 (0.32%)
• Western Spinebill Acanthorhynchus superciliosus 1 (0.32%)
• Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus 3 (0.95%)
• Rufous-throated Honeyeater Conopophila rufogularis 16 (5.06%)
• Bar-breasted Honeyeater Ramsayornis fasciatus 1 (0.32%)
• Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor 1 (0.32%)
• Orange Chat Epthianura aurifrons 3 (0.95%)
• White-gaped Honeyeater Stomiopera unicolor 19 (6.01%)
• White-lined Honeyeater Microptilotis albilineata 2 (0.63%)
• Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis 45 (14.24%)
• Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata 25 (7.91%)
• Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens 107 (33.86%)
• Grey-headed Honeyeater Ptilotula keartlandi 4 (1.27%)
• Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula ornata 14 (4.43%)
• Grey-fronted Honeyeater Ptilotula plumula 3 (0.95%)
• Yellow-tinted Honeyeater Ptilotula flavescens 28 (8.86%)
• White-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata 52 (16.46%)
• White-fronted Honeyeater Purnella albifrons 2 (0.63%)
• Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula 79 (25.00%) (B)
• Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus 1 (0.32%)
• Red-browed Pardalote Pardalotus rubricatus 16 (5.06%)
• Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus 80 (25.32%)
• White-throated Gerygone Gerygone olivacea 2 (0.63%)
• Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris 1 (0.32%)
• Mangrove Gerygone Gerygone levigaster 2 (0.63%)
• Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca 16 (5.06%)
• Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris 77 (24.37%)
• Redthroat Pyrrholaemus brunneus 16 (5.06%)
• Rufous Fieldwren Calamanthus campestris 7 (2.22%)
• White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis 11 (3.48%)
• Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis 3 (0.95%)
• Banded Whiteface Aphelocephala nigricincta 1 (0.32%)
• Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 12 (3.80%)
• Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis 6 (1.90%)
• Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis 24 (7.59%)
• Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis 43 (13.61%) (B)
• White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus 34 (10.76%)
• Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera 4 (1.27%)
• Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae 62 (19.62%)
• White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis 11 (3.48%)
• White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor 19 (6.01%)
• Cinnamon Quail-thrush Cinclosoma cinnamomeum 1 (0.32%)
• Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris 69 (21.84%) (B)
• Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica 59 (18.67%)
• Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis 49 (15.51%)
• Chiming Wedgebill Psophodes occidentalis 12 (3.80%)
• Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus 4 (1.27%)
• Yellow Oriole Oriolus flavocinctus 6 (1.90%)
• Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor 1 (0.32%)
• Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen 43 (13.61%)
• Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis 79 (25.00%) (B)
• Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus 27 (8.54%)
• Masked Woodswallow Artamus personatus 11 (3.48%)
• Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus 1 (0.32%)
• Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus 28 (8.86%)
• Little Woodswallow Artamus minor 6 (1.90%)
• White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus 7 (2.22%)
• Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris 2 (0.63%)
• Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys 116 (36.71%) (B)
• Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa 18 (5.70%)
• Torresian Crow Corvus orru 93 (29.43%)
• Little Crow Corvus bennetti 10 (3.16%)
• Australian Raven Corvus coronoides 55 (17.41%)
• Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula 7 (2.22%)
• Broad-billed Flycatcher Myiagra ruficollis 1 (0.32%)
• Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto 2 (0.63%)
• Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta 26 (8.23%)
• Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca 91 (28.80%) (B)
• Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea 2 (0.63%)
• Scarlet Robin Petroica multicolor 3 (0.95%)
• Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii 24 (7.59%)
• Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans 6 (1.90%)
• Southern Scrub-robin Drymodes brunneopygia 3 (0.95%)
• Buff-sided Robin Poecilodryas cerviniventris 2 (0.63%)
• Western Yellow Robin Eopsaltria griseogularis 2 (0.63%)
• Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata 3 (0.95%)
• Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum 20 (6.33%)
• Chestnut-breasted Mannikin Lonchura castaneothorax 1 (0.32%)
• Pictorella Mannikin Heteromunia pectoralis 2 (0.63%)
• Painted Finch Emblema pictum 2 (0.63%)
• Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton 9 (2.85%)
• Star Finch Neochmia ruficauda 3 (0.95%)
• Masked Finch Poephila personata 6 (1.90%)
• Long-tailed Finch Poephila acuticauda 18 (5.70%) (B)
• Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata 75 (23.73%)
• Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii 22 (6.96%)
• Gouldian Finch Chloebia gouldiae 2 (0.63%)
• House Sparrow Passer domesticus 1 (0.32%)
• Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae 10 (3.16%)
• Horsfield’s Bushlark Mirafra javanica 1 (0.32%)
• Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis 2 (0.63%)
• Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis 3 (0.95%)
• Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi 18 (5.70%)
• Little Grassbird Poodytes gramineus 2 (0.63%)
• Spinifexbird Poodytes carteri 1 (0.32%)
• Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis 5 (1.58%)
• Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel 9 (2.85%) (B)
• Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans 31 (9.81%) (B)
• Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 24 (7.59%) (B)
• Yellow White-eye Zosterops luteus 2 (0.63%)
• Silvereye Zosterops lateralis 6 (1.90%)
• Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 3 (0.95%)
• Greylag Goose Anser anser 2 (0.63%)
• Domestic Goose 1 (0.32%)
• Domestic Duck 1 (0.32%)

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If you would like to contribute the the well being of this world, our world, your world, an easy and effective way to do it is to join a quality environmental group. There are many spread across the world all plugging away trying to make the world a better place for wildlife. We belong to Birdlife Australia, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) and Bush Heritage. You can donate your time and or money to these and many others knowing that the world will be a slightly better place because of your effort.