Month: May 2017

9/2/17 317km

We’ve had a few days catching up with friends and relatives and getting medical appointments taken care of and last night we drove down to Lynn and Colin’s in Ocean Grove to start our 15,000km commute to work. Unfortunately I came down with a cold, so the trip is starting in 30 degrees and I have a sniffling nose and sore throat. Undaunted we set off at 7.30, our first stop was Inverleigh flora reserve S for 17sp, next was Wingeel rail, there was a pool beside the railway line with Horsefield’s Bushlark, and White-fronted Chats among others, so a nice start. We then got into some of my lake surveys, all the ones we did had water thanks to ongoing falls right through the seasons. Lake Martin E had Brolga and Gull-billed Tern, 4,000 Australian Shelduck and the Black Swans had 5 separate broods, Koorawerra lakes NR 1 had some more White-fronted Chats, Milangil lake had 2,000 Australian Shelduck. Deep Lake Derinallum had an on shore wind so there were few waterbirds at my survey point. 2km E of Dundonell & Darlington rd  had Pink-eared Duck, Woorndoo Olympic wetland had Shoveler and Hardhead. Creek at Chatsworth was looking good for 10sp. By now a cooler wind was blowing from the south but it was still around 30 degrees having reached 37. Lake Kennedy NR Hamilton had too much wind and only had 9sp. We picked up supplies in Hamilton and then did Lake Hamilton. There was a hoon on a jet-ski using the low speed markers to zoom around, at one point he attempted to run over a waterbird that was a bit slow getting out of his way as Buggs Bunny would say “What a maroon”. We stopped at Wannon falls camp where one camper had his dogs running around off the leash and ran his generator non-stop. There was little more than a trickle going over the falls, disappointed again.

10/2 169km

I’d hoped for a nice sunny morning to get a photo of the falls, instead I got a cloudy one. Ended with 26sp, and after a bit of re-arranging the car to accommodate too much stuff we set off at 8.45 for Mackwoods Ln lookout Castleton for only 4sp, it’s the first time I’ve not seen Blue-winged Parrots here, perhaps the grass is too long. Penola Casterton rd was better with 15sp and an early lunch at Lake Mundi to eat our fruit before we passed into SA netted 15sp, it’s the only lake I’ve seen dry out here so far. Telford Scrub CP had 13sp. I went and had a look at the canopy walk, but it’s only about 2 ½ meters off the ground and not in the canopy at all, it does cross a shallow gully and the birds were active here. Hacket Hill reserve had 8sp, Lake Edward is a pleasant little lake, but there were no waterbirds on the water and only a few bush birds. Stopped at Lake Leake south and camped in the shade on the edge of the devastatedly clear-felled forest and didn’t get many birds before dark.

Wandering Percher female

11/2 230km

Had a go at getting down to the lake, but after struggling through head high bracken for 100m or so I came across an impenetrable ring of blackberries, so I ate a few and headed back to the camper and with a tally of 24sp we headed off for the coast. The Canunda tip road Eagle Corner had 12sp, the Geltwood beach had fishermen with a dog that was being fed the under-sized catches, in a National Park they are allowed to drive on the beach, unfortunately, they are probably allowed to fish, unfortunately, but they aren’t allowed dogs in a National Park. At some points along the track to the beach the fence has been overcome by sand, do you think the motorbike riders respected the boundary, not a chance, now there’s bike tracks all over the sand dunes in the National Park. There were some Blue-winged Parrots here in the campground taking advantage of no one camping there, the first Rufous Bristlebird for the trip and 11 other species. Lake Frome Canunda CP  had 3 calling Spotless Crakes but couldn’t see any of them and 28 other species. The lake is still overgrown with reeds so the long walk to the birdhide had the usual fizzer of an ending. Millicent sandbuggy club had only 7sp. Lunch was taken at Big Dip lake walk, on the track there was a lone Beautiful Firetail calling and 16 other species. Whilst Bev went shopping at Foodland Robe I got 7sp in the area, but nothing was using the small pond in the park. Cape Jaffa had the first Peaceful Dove, a lone Musk Duck in the bay in the lee of the wind, 17 other species. Wyomi Beach had a couple of cars on the beach, 150 Common Starlings and 12 other species. Arrived at The Granites Long Beach and only had 4sp by sundown, it’s quite cool with a strong southerly. With so many vehicles using the beach here there is never much in the way of birds on the beach, just a few Crested Terns and Silver Gulls. I wonder if South Australians will ever come to realize or care about the damage they do to the beach ecology when they drive over it repeatedly.

12/2 283km

The wind picked up early morning with a few showers, by dawn the rain had gone but it was a coat and beanie morning, in fact most of the day. Only had 15sp for the survey which is if not the lowest the very close to it for an overnight survey, particularly in a National Park. Tilley Swamp is still recovering from a bushfire, the shrub/heathland is still not supporting any birds, so only got 4sp. Salt Creek The Coorong had 18sp with White-browed Babblers, Messent CP SW corner had a disappointing 10sp with Brush Bronzewing, Jack Point Coorong NP had 12sp with 200 Red-necked Stints, Pelican Island had a good number of Pelicans on it but it is impossible to count from the mainland. Coorong Wilderness Lodge Tk had 11sp, Parnka Point Coorong had 11sp, Meningie had 13sp. We had run out of gas last night so I went to a servo in town and tried to do a swap and go, but all their cylinders were fitted for caravans not stoves, the swap and go rate is $25.90 for a 3.7kg bottle. I got my 4kg bottle filled for $25.00, so swap and go is a bit of a rip off. Poltaloch at the bottom of Lake Alexandrina had 18sp. We had a delay at the Wellington ferry of ½hr in the line up, then on to Lake Alexandrina reserve for 9sp, the old pier has gone so it’s not as attractive a place for birds as it once was, disturbed some neophema parrots on the track on the way in but couldn’t tell which ones they were. Westcreek rd Boggy lake had 15sp with Cape Barren Geese, Tolderol Game reserve had 12sp and we camped at Frank Potts reserve Langhorne Creek at 18.20 and had 16sp by dark when the mozzies emerged en mass from the nearby channel to torment me.

 

 

13/2 206km

Ended the survey with 22sp and headed off at 8.00 for Finniss rail which had 18sp, with a Hobby Falcon which when it took flight increased my count of New Holland Honeyeaters considerably as they all gave off their warning calls from the entire area. Goolwa sewerage had 31sp with White-browed Babbler, on to the Fleurieu Peninsula to Parsons Beach Newman heads CP for only 7sp in the low heath. We booked ourselves on the 18.00 ferry to Kangaroo Island and got on the standby list for the 15.00 and 16.00 ferries, the return cost was $356. We went to my site at Lands End Cape Jervis for a long lunch overlooking the rocks and got 12sp with Elegant Parrot. We got on to the 15.00 ferry and saw some Short-tailed Shearwaters on the 45min ride. We booked ourselves into the Murray lagoon campsite for $15.00. The first survey for the island was at Pelican Lagoon CP for 5sp with Silvereye and White-browed Scrubwren as subspecies ticks and an Osprey circling overhead, I could hear a juvenile calling nearby so it was obviously checking me out for any threat I might pose. Arrived at Murrays Lagoon at 17.30 and had 21sp by dark, Brown Thornbill and Superb Fairywren as new subspecies and an Echida.

 

 

 

14/2 316km

There was light drizzle in the morning that cleared quickly to a nice day, I closed out the survey with 28sp, the lake looks like it’s a lot higher than usual, so there’s a nice diversity of waterbirds. Drove down to the visitor centre at Flinders Chase NP, paid our $11 each day fee and did the Platypus  walk, it’s a bit of a walk from the centre but a pleasant one and I got 25sp with a pair of Beautiful Firetails, Bev saw a Shy Heathwren that I missed and we both got a look at a Black Tiger Snake trying to get itself as flat as possible to heat up in the still weak sun. Cape Du Couedic only had 5sp in the low heath. There were lots of Australian Sea-lions on the rocks. Remarkable rocks are indeed remarkable and had 7sp with the easiest and best look at three Southern Emuwrens that kept hopping around the boardwalk at my feet, another pair of tourists also got to see them, there were also good looks at Tawny-crowned Honeyeater. Bay of Shoals was a disappointment with only 5sp and then it was time to head for the ferry for our 17.30 crossing. We saw some Hutton/Fluttering Shearwaters feeding with a flock of Crested Terns. We stopped at Yankalilla Bay at the lookout which is popular with the sunset watchers and just after sunset a semitrailer with livestock stopped, oh great, thump bang crash the stock will go all night.

 

 

 

 

 

15/2 120km

They actually went crash bang wallop all night long, the truck left at 5.30 and we got the calming sounds of the sea lapping at the shore again, (the truck had blocked the sound) until it was time to rise. Added a few species in the morning with a few birds on the shore, then headed for Wakefield rd Pages Flat, met the owner of the property along the road I survey who said he’s doing what he can to preserve the remnant habitat here, now that’s what I like to hear, 14sp. Kuitpo forest reserve was back to 7sp which being mostly pine forest with only a small patch native forest isn’t surprising. From there we drove into Adelaide to spend time with one of Bev’s old friends.

16/2 299km

We left at 8.30 and headed for Parham which was chockers full of caravans, jammed in cheek to jowl. The sea grass was all over the shore, so no shorebirds, but did get White-browed Babbler and White-fronted Chat. Around to Clinton CP for 10sp, Wills Ck CP was a bit better with 14sp, Rouges Point also had 14sp, Oyster Point Stansbury had 17sp with a few more bush and town birds than the prior surveys. Troubridge hill reserve only had 6sp in the sparse vegetation, but with Elegant Parrot, White-bellied Sea-eagle and the first Eastern Reef Egret for a long while, I enjoyed the spot. Point Gilbert had 7sp and we arrived at Sturt bay camp at 16.50. The day has been cool and sunny with the wind gradually picking up from the south. Early in the survey I got 3 adult Hooded Plover with a juvenile scooting along the beach, not long later an elderly lady came along with her dog off the leash. Dogs off leashes are one of the main causes of death for juvenile Hooded Plovers, mainly when the can’t fly, which thankfully this one could. The sign warning people of the plight of these smart looking birds isn’t obvious from where she was, so perhaps she was oblivious, but I suspect she was a local, so I think she knew what she was doing and didn’t care.

17/2 248km

Ended the survey with 21sp though the highlight of the morning was watching a pod of about 10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins moving slowly along the shoreline, one was so close to the shore I could almost reach in and touch it. There was a cool wind and showers all day which subdued the birds. The first stop was Foul Hill lookout, which although it wasn’t quite foul it wasn’t pleasant either with 5sp. Into Innes NP with its day fee of $10 per car. Cape Spencer only had 3sp though there were three Rufous Fieldwrens giving me good views as they called from the tops of the shrubs. Deep lake Innes NP wasn’t deep and had 6sp with only Red-capped Plover using the water. Royston Head had 8sp with Purple-gaped Honeyeater. Warrenben CP NW had 5sp, Corny Point was down to a single Singing Honeyeater and a lone juvenile Pacific Gull. Leven Beach CP 7sp, Flahertys Beach was better with 10sp with Stubble Quail and one of my favourites, White-browed Babbler, a group of 6 of them were babbling away, preening each other, taking a look at me and scooting through the bushes, I can watch them interact for ages and not get bored, but time was getting on and we moved to Minlaton, got some fish and chips from the Rendezvous cafe, non of the fish is local, but the chips were very good. We went down to the dry Minlaton lake to eat them and count the virtually non-existent bird population there. A short drive down to Barkers Rocks Minlaton arriving at 19.00, we found that what was a free campsite now costs $10 per car for zero services, not even a drop toilet, it was the same deal at Sturt Bay campsite, not happy Yorke Peninsula council! On the beach were some Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings that were happy to ignore me as I got quite close to them feeding away until it got too dark, there was also a pair of Hooded Plover.

 

 

 

 

 

18/2 295km

Added Pied Oystercatcher amongst others to end with 13sp. Went through Point Pearce aboriginal community to get to Port Victoria bay site for 9sp with Brown Quail and Blue-winged Parrot. Chinaman Wells had 14sp with 9 Pied Oystercatchers and 4 Grey Plovers. Around to Bird Island CP for 8sp. Lunch was taken at Mona Ruins with only 4 Yellow-throated Miners and a Magpie-lark as company. Port Broughton boat ramp had 14sp with a howling southerly blast. Inland at Broughton river Merriton there were 7sp. With my first stint on the main highway I immediately struck an impatient truck driver, such ignorant arrogant people who expect you to pull off the road for them, but do they ever get out of the road for me, no. Weeroona Island had only 4sp again with a cold southerly keeping the birds subdued. We stopped at Germein Gorge at 15.50 and soon had our jackets on with the wind funneling up the gorge, the site is still recovering from a bushfire with a lot of dead old trees and a lot of 2 year old trees that aren’t old enough yet to sustain anything other than 7 variegated Fairywrens and the usual hardy Spiny-cheeked and Singing Honeyeaters.

Tread Lightly

Tread lightly upon the world

For it is terribly damaged

Tread softly upon the substrate of your forefather’s land

For it was they that raped and pillaged like there was no tomorrow

Tread gently in the footsteps of your only one

For it is time to heal this polluted place, this battered place, this shattered face

The time has come to about face

Or it will be the end of this human race, tomorrow

Tread carefully through this depleted mess, this minefield of choices, this chorus of wrong voices

Conspicuous consumption is out

Tread lightly as you go

19/2 215km

Ended with 17sp, so definitely not in good nick at the moment. Down to Port Germein pier which is undergoing restoration at the moment so there is no access. The tide was out so the birds were too far away to survey, ended with 14sp. Winninowie CP road had 7sp with Redthroat and Elegant parrot. Just down the track a bit Winninowie CP beach had 8sp with another Redthroat. We spent a long time doing shopping and filling the car up at the Puma petrol station at $1.26.9cpl when the Mobil in town had it for $1.24.9cpl, rats. Had lunch at the Port Augusta W estuary and 12sp. It was 16 degrees and showers as we headed inland, the showers stopped, the sun came out and it was 27 degrees when we stopped. The first survey at 36km N of Port Augusta had 3sp with Splendid Fairywren, 111km S of Pimba had 4sp: White-browed Babbler, Inland Thornbill, Red-capped Robin and Southern Whiteface. Ironstone lagoon S of Pimba only had White-winged Fairywren on the hillside and Red-capped Plover by the water. We stopped at 129km N of Port Augusta, there were a few birds in the low sand dunes to the north of the road, like Zebra Finch and the ever beautiful Splendid Fairywren.

20/2 255km

Ended the survey with 15sp and headed off at 7.50. At 21km S of Pimba my site had Rufous Fieldwren, Wirramunna had 9sp with Mulga Parrot, Eucolo ck had 12sp with a few pools of water. Lake Hart E had 7sp. The ephemeral pond 58km south of Glendambo was dry but had 9sp with Chiming Wedgebill, one of the most sonorous of our birds, I appreciate that they never, never sing out of tune. Less than a kilometer up the road and the habitats all of a sudden lacked birds. Lake hart W had 5sp, Stuart Hwy near rail bridge, had 7sp, then the bird count really took a dive, with S of Glendambo only having White-winged Fairywren in the unhealthy looking Mulga woodland. 17Km north of Glendambo only had that hardiest of Honeyeaters the Yellow-throated Miner and a Magpie. Dry creek bed despite looking okay had no birds at all. We stopped at 80 tower Mt Eba station at 15.25, it was only 28 degrees with a pleasant southerly breeze, but there was only a lone Willie Wagtail. Later as the cool of the evening came the birds started to come through, the first were a band of Sitellas, the most interesting bird looked like a rusty Southern Whiteface, which turned out to be a juvenile, I tried getting a photo of it, but they all ended up blurred, damn camera refuses to focus on what I want it to, often choosing the most obscure thing to focus on, very frustrating.

 

21/2 248km

Ended the survey with 15sp, I found the Whitefaces again but they wouldn’t let me anywhere near them. Up to Old Peake Ck for 5sp with Brown Falcon and Red-backed Kingfisher, then Ingomar station S of Coober Pedy, no trees here and only low vegetation so only some White-winged Fairywrens and a lone Zebra Finch. Into Coober Pedy and filled up at Bull’s Mobil station for $1.44.9cpl, the next cheapest was the BP at $1.49cpl so it’s worth going to the north end of town to fill up. It’s also on my site at Oasis Caravan Coober Pedy which had 10sp, there was some water in a factory lot and some Little Corellas were taking advantage of it. Off the main road is track 197km S of Marla, where we had lunch, the habitat looked very sparse, but despite the heat there were 7sp with Black-eared Cuckoo and the first Brown Songlark on a survey for this leg of the trip. We stopped at Pootnoura channel 2 at 14.15 as the heat was above comfortable. There has been a lot of water down here recently, and under the bridge is still a waterhole, just a little way upstream was a smaller waterhole with Water-holding Frog and Red Tree-frog both easily visible. The birdlife though was pretty ordinary.

 

 

 

22/2 236km

19sp was the tally, with a Barn Owl calling overnight. We headed north, the first stop was Terminus Ck for 3sp, then 107km south of Marla for only 2sp but there were 3 Cinnamon Quail-thrush as well as the ubiquitous Zebra Finch. The dam 102km south of Marla was dry with 3sp, and then things got more interesting, I’m not sure if they had a bigger or just a more recent rain event, but the vegetation seemed to get greener, certainly the birds remained active even in 40 degree heat on the rest of the surveys. Ephemeral lake 5km south of Cadney HS had a small pool and 8sp with Red-kneed Dotterel. Appreetinna Ck has a dam on it which held a lot of water and had 14sp with 400 Zebra Finches, the prickly acacia bushes were festooned with their nests, but I could only find 2 that were still active. Old quarry 35km south of Marla had a feeding group of Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, Red-capped Robin, Splendid Fairywren, Variegated Fairywren, Redthroat and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, there were also Chiming Wedgebill, Crested Bellbird and the drab female Crimson Chats, 3 of them. We stopped in Marla to see how my stocks are faring, upwards which is unusual, and emails etc. Diesel here is $1.62.9cpl, glad I don’t have to fill up here. Next was small ephemeral lake 150km south of Kulgera which was dry, but still lush around the edges and had 16sp. Granite Downs dams had a lot of water in them, I only survey the south one which had 20sp, There was a strong southerly which when blown across the dam made the north shore a very pleasant place to be in the heat. We pushed on though to 79km N of Marla which although it looked good habitat only had 6sp, it was 40 degrees by now, and so Agnes Ck was where we called it a day at 15.55 and found a tree to park under and put out the awning for the first time on the trip to try and sheild the fridge from the heat, had 14sp by dark with the first Pied Butcherbird for this leg of the trip.

 

 

23/2 249km

Despite turning off the fridge twice during the night, the fridge had flattened the battery by the morning, it was still cold inside though, and as soon as the sun came on it started up and hasn’t stopped running all day, this Waeco fridge is no good, any sort of sustained heat and it doesn’t cope. Only added Crested Pigeon and Variegated Fairywren to the list in the morning to end with 16sp. Headed north, the first stop was Eateringinna ck for 10sp, the farmer has fenced off the creek so there’s no access to it now for people, different matter for the stock though, they get access to the whole creek. Down an unused track to Agnes Ck station north in dense Mulga we only got 5sp. The Northern Territory Border rest stop had 5sp and we took the Mulga Park Rd west. It wasn’t very far in when my Hema navigator jumped from its mount and crashed to the floor, it’s done it many times before, but this time it cracked the back of the touch screen, everything is done off the touch screen and during the afternoon it progressively died, we managed to do No8 bore Mulga Park rd for 8sp, at Nulchara Ck I couldn’t put in a waypoint, so wrote out the gps reference in my note book as I used to have to do with my old gps. By Mulga Park station Nth I couldn’t get the thing to open a map, so I’ll have another go in the morning, otherwise I can’t get a gps reading, which means I can’t survey.

24/2 221km

Bev managed to get the navigator up and running, but we daren’t touch the screen. The survey finished with 13sp. Stopped at Mulga Park Rd track junction which had some spinifex and a small escarpment, some little calls turned out to be a begging Red-capped Robin. Stopped briefly at Curtin Springs where the diesel is $1.85.0cpl. On to a Quarry track Lassiter Hwy for 7sp in low sand dunes with a few Dessert Oaks moaning in the light wind, it’s wonderfully evocative sound. Drove to Uluru and paid $50 entry fee for 3 days, though we’ll only need it for tomorrow, and did the Mala walk, there were two pools in the rock where the Zebra Finches were coming and going in droves. Interestingly the pool at the Kantju chasm was devoid of all birds. Around to Kuniya walk for 9sp, the permanent waterhole here has some intriguing insects in and around it. Camped at Yulara, got a powered site for $44, had a nice hot shower, did our washing etc.

 

 

 

 

Ligyra cingulata a Bee Fly

 

 

25/2 308km

Up before dawn and did our first survey at the Uluru sunset carpark at a bit after sunrise, and got 3sp in what still looks like good spinifex, though one isn’t allowed to go trawling through the spinifex anymore, one has to stay behind the fence which limits one’s ability to find one’s birds. Drove down to the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) viewing platform for a nice early view of the Olgas but only found a dead Red-capped Robin and a flock of around your feet Crested Pigeons being sustained by breakfast left-overs and handouts from tourists, particularly the bus tours. We set off on the Valley of the Winds walk at 8.10, the 1^st lookout really isn’t all that good, but down in the valley there were pools and we got Painted Finch, in the air and on bushes were Little Woodswallows. The walk up the canyon floor to the 2^nd lookout is well worth the effort, for some views second to none. Walpa Gorge is not quite as spectacular but still a belittling experience beside the towering walls on either side. There was a trickle of water attracting a lot of Zebra Finches to the pools. Filled up with diesel at Curtin Springs as it was $1.95.9cpl at Yulara. Saw a Black-breasted Buzzard but it didn’t get on to a survey, instead we surveyed Sandy way rest area for 5sp, then Curtin Springs E rest area for 2sp, probably not doing thse two sites justice. Headed north to Salt Creek rest area Luritja Way and camped behind the dune. Had 9sp by dark with Major-Mitchell’s Cockatoo as a late arrival. An early arrival at this and any other place one cares to stop at in Australia is the House Fly, they are usually ‘sticky’ which means they stay with you until you kill them or escape them, usually by getting into the car and driving off. They are really annoying as they get into your food, your eyes and nose, with a disgusted splutter your mouth, but the worst ones are the ones that get into your ears, as they panic when you waft at them and they try to fly into your earhole with a God-almighty buzzing and you are momentarily discombobulated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26/2 138km

Only added Cockatiel in the morning to end with 10sp, stopped at a floodway Luritja Rd with a small escarpment nearby for 8sp. Into Watarrka (Kings Canyon) NP and walked up the Kathleen Spring track to the spring and got White-backed Swallow and Red-browed Pardalote, 100 Masked Woodswallows along with 14 other species, booked ourselves in to Kings Canyon campground got some fruit from the store and then went to the main canyon and did the Kings Canyon creek walk which was a disappointing experience, the walk is quite nice on the side of the creek with gnarled old River Red Gums and spinifex festooned hillsides , but before you get to the main gorge a fence intrudes upon the scene and you you can go no further. There was a board at one stage saying that vandals had damaged the sacred trees of the aborigines, so I suspect that they have stopped people going up to stop further vandalism, it’s the same old story, there are always the antisocial few who give our species the bad reputation that is well deserved, and I suggest that until everyone, and I mean everyone is conditioned/educated/brainwashed whatever into never committing a destructive act, we as a species will always be effectively spiraling towards an inevitable demise, and this cruel little fence is but an indicator that we still have a long way to go, and at the rate we are going we will never attain the cohesion necessary to escape that demise. In the carpark were some very tame birds including Diamond Dove that I got to within a few feet of and surprisingly a pair of Male Hooded Robins, that I also got to within a few feet of. There is free wifi at the NP unlike at the campground where you have to pay for it, figure that one out! Went back to find a camp spot and could only find prickle infested weedland, had a few icypoles from the fridge and went for a swim, having the pool was almost worth the $20ea camping fee, and having to camp among the prickles and having no wifi, almost. As it got close to dark I changed the front tyres to the rear as we have a lot more dirt roads from now on. Changing tyres with one jack amongst the prickles and dirt in the heat was no fun and required a shower afterwards.

 

 

 

 

27/2 236km

Up just as dawn was breaking, packed and headed down to the canyon and commenced the climb at 7.20. It wasn’t really all that bad, I mean it went straight up a steep spur, but there was a little flat spot and just beyond that I found a pair of Dusky Grasswrens and the last steep bit didn’t seem so bad after that. The views into the chasm from the top are still spectacular, but by the end of the walk I was a bit deflated, not because of the heat, but the steps are all concreted, there are signs up everywhere, and even in the height of summer there are so many people crawling around all the time, I think it just spoils the aura of the place. We got our $5 permit to use the shortcut to Hermansberg and set off, the road is sometimes good and sometimes very rough or corrugated, just a normal dirt road. From Namatjera way they are bitumenizing the road, so I reckon in a few years it’ll all be bitumen around here. We stopped at Merinee Oil Rd for 7sp with Little Button-quail and Inland Thornbill, then to Areyonga T junction for 4sp. We stopped to check emails at Hermansberg where there is phone reception, then took the 4wd track down to Finke NP. I got past the first crossing with no probs but then got stuck in the sand just beyond the river, I was still in 2wd and going too slow for what looked like an innocuous bit of sand, I tried digging us out, but the sand was too soft, so I had to let the tyres down, the back ones down to about 10psi to take the weight of the camper. Once out of the sand I pumped the back ones up to 25psi and had no probs for the rest of the way in. The river had a bit of flow to it, so was a nice drive down to the NP. We arrived at the Palm Valley NP camp at 18.20, and had our obligatory 2 icypoles each and watched the sun go down over the ranges, for $6.60 each it’s unbeatable value as they even have hot showers here. There is also just enough water in the creek at the moment for a swim, though I doubt that is usual.

28/2 277km

Up at dawn, and finished the survey with 23sp, into Alice Springs and shopped around for a Hema navigator, and found that the only people that kept them in stock were ARB, paid $699 for an HX1 and whilst Bev did the shopping I fired it up. We filled up the tank at the Woolworths Caltex petrol station at $1.29.9cpl and headed south. The first waypoint on the new navigator was Brewer Plain S of Alice Springs for 5sp in the heat of the afternoon, we had a late lunch and got to Hugh River Maryvale Station at 17.30 and camped, it was 38 degrees and I drank a 1.25L bottle of water out of the fridge without it touching the sides, put up the top and put out the solar panels and relaxed in the shade.

 

 

1/3 243km

On my search this morning I found the watering hole for all the parrots last night, there were Budgerigars, Galahs and 15 Major Mitchell’s Cockatoos, unfortunately the waterhole is small and disgustingly cattle fouled, I shudder to think of all these birds having to drink the sickly green water. On a brighter note I also disturbed the Boobook Owl I heard last night, though I don’t think it was the highlight of its day as a Sacred Kingfisher was disturbed by its flight from me and continually divebombed it. We made our way down the road mainly in 3^rd and 4^th gears in 2wd to Chamber’s Pillar, and spent a bit of time looking around, got 11sp then headed back to Titjikala and found the small unmarked track heading east that saves you having to go all the way back to the main junction, at the end of the Titjikala access track I got 6sp with all three possible fairywrens in the area. Headed south in 40 degree heat along the rough track to Finke, stopped at Bundooma siding for only a pair of both Magpies and Variegated Fairywrens, on to Rumbalara Swamp Resort (a reference to a marker on the Finke off road track that runs parallel to the main track). The area has had a layer of water over it recently and the birds are still active here despite the heat, we got 14sp. Through Finke and headed west towards Kulgera. We took the slow rough but easy 4wd track to Lambert’s centre of Australia and drank all the cool water we had, ate our two icypoles each, had salad and fruit salad for dinner, but still craved more cold stuff to eat and drink, it’s been a hot day getting to over 41 degrees. Poor old Lambert would be a bit disheartened by what he’d see here, the place isn’t being maintained and looks really run down, the toilets are just plain grotty.

 

 

 

2/3 288km

Ended the survey with 14sp, the population was quite low, I suspect one of the reasons is the lack of dead wood around, the place is quite popular, and there are some humongous left-over mounds of what must have been ginormic campfires, the area looked depleted. Campfires are destructive of habitat. There were some nice looking spinifex clumps around the low sand dune but couldn’t find anything in the way of birdlife using it, plenty of of other small animal tracks though. Back to the main road and west, stopping at Hillocks Finke-Kulgera Rd for 13sp with a Spotted Nightjar that I disturbed from its roosting spot on the ground at the base of a Mulga bush. Hamilton Ck E of Kulgera had 9sp with the first Grey Butcherbird for a while. We stopped at Kulgera roadhouse and used their free wifi to get the survey spots up the Stuart Hwy to Alice Springs (with no access to all my sites listed on my old dead Hema, I have to get any sites I want to survey off the database at Birdlife Aust. and enter them onto the new Hema, tedious), then had a late lunch in the heat at Kalamurta Ck and dam, I used the gate at the south end to walk up to the dam and got some Little Woodswallows, their favourite act was to balance on the barbed wire fence that was swinging in the howling southerly, I had real trouble holding the camera steady enough to get a shot of them, even at 1/2000^th of a second. Creek bed with puddles was dry and only had White-winged Fairywren and Singing Honeyeater. This site is a significant one for me, as it’s where I saw graphically for the first time the difference that excluding cattle from a wetland can make. There are two bodies of water, one the cattle have access to, and one they don’t, the first time I got here there was water in both, but just about all the birds were using the pool with no cattle access. It was an ah-ha! moment. 160km south of Alice Springs only had 3sp, and we stopped at Finke river rest area at 17.10 and after setting up relaxed in the shade, Bev went down to the still flowing river for a wash, had 13sp by dark with the first Red-tailed Black Cockatoos for a while on a survey, though we’ve seen a few today. It got to 41 degrees again today.

 

 

3/3 133km

The river was at a meager trickle, but it’s enough to attract the birds, so I ended with 22sp with both Sacred and Red-backed Kingfishers. Up to the arbitrary Stuart Hwy site for 2sp, and Rest area south of Alice Springs for 7sp and into Alice. Did some shopping, getting a replacement hat for my dying Akubra hat with a $55 leather hat that hopefully will prove more resilient, and a few long-sleeved shirts at the Op-shop for $6ea. And booked in to the G’day Mate caravan park which is nothing special, but quite acceptable in quality, and spent the rest of the day doing things that needed to be done.

Australian Emperor dragonfly

4/3 315km

Filled up the tank and jerrycans at the United servo just down the road from the caravan park, they accept either Coles or Woolworths discount vouchers which brought the cost down to $1.25.7cpl. Headed up to the Tanami rd only to find that one can’t get through as some parts are closed, I’d have thought that they would have kept a road like this open, I was quite disappointed, so we went up to do Kunoth Well for 13sp, the tank had a lot of water in it, but there were also a lot of cattle and the ground cover is now mostly weeds. On to 64km Tanami Rd for 8sp, then retraced our steps and headed up the Stuart Hwy to 147km S of Ti-Tree along fence for 9sp, then Connors well for 12sp, there was a feeding group with 9 of the species in it, one of which was a Hooded Robin. Prowse gap rest area had 11sp also with a pair of Hooded Robins one being a juvenile male. Stopped at Skull Ck at 15.45. The day has been hot again, but compared to the last few days the habitat looks a bit lusher, though a lot of that lushness is the now ever-present Buffel grass, which is one of many imported grasses wrecking the ecology of the north to satisfy the cattlemen.

 

5/3 353km

Ended the survey with 33sp, so a good spot, away from the main road the ground cover is quite diverse and with some water still in the creek it keeps the area active, got Hooded Robin again, I think that it’ll be the first time I’ve ever had Hooded Robin on three surveys in a row. It was nearly a 200km drive to the first survey as one of my waypoints was way out of line and not accessible. At 10.05 the dry grasslands around Devils marbles campground was buzzing with with 12sp. Bonney Ck had a large pool with 12sp also. Then 65km S of Tennant Creek only had Budgerigars and Singing Honeyeaters, just up the road was 51km S of Tennant Creek where there was a lone Budgerigar and Singing Honeyeater and add a Crested Pigeon. Picked up diesel in Tennant Creek at $1.46.9cpl, there was a United Servo further south that was much cheaper, darn again. Stopped at Lake Mary Ann recreation reserve where there was a menagerie of imported birds from Peacock to Guinea-fowl to feral chicken, there were also 32 Red-kneed Dotterels lined up on the dam wall as well as 14 Banded Stilts and 33 Hardhead, so an interesting mix of birds, there’s no camping allowed there so we found a site at Phillip Creek mast and camped amid some threatening thunderstorms. My ploy of heading high to avoid the mozzies didn’t work, we were lazing around the camper as it started to get dark when they descended upon us, several getting into the camper, and we spent some time trying to squish them all.

 

 

6/3 377km

Not long after dark there was the sound of a freight train as a blast of wind came through the tower and then came upon us, some time before it died out I drifted off to sleep. We didn’t managed to get all the mozzies last night, but I got the little blighter as it got light. On my morning stroll I only added that most majestic of our birds, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. First stop heading north was Banka Banka WWII site which only had 4sp. An old camping spot, gravel pits 164km N of Tennant Creek had 12 with Spine-tailed Swift and the first of the northern birds, Banded Honeyeater. 25Km N of Elliott had 10sp with Rufous-throated Honeyeater and Red-browed Pardalote. At 40km N of Elliott the tank was full and the birds busy, there were 24sp with 9 small Plumed Whistling Ducklings in tow behind a parent. At the Buchanan Hwy turnoff I had a dilemma, the road closed signs were turned over, but not put away, so we took a chance and headed up the highway, not far up the road at Buchanan Hwy 1 was a pool with 7sp. We stopped at Buchanan Hwy 2 about 50km west, and managed to dodge the worst of the afternoon storms whilst having dinner, the light rain that we had activated the birds and I soon had a bevy of northern birds, Little Friarbird, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Varied Lorikeet, Red-backed Fairywren, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, White-throated Honeyeater, Red-winged Parrot, Blue-winged Kookaburra and Brush Cuckoo, arrived at our camping spot in that order, by dark I had 28sp. We were all done and hiding in the camper before dark to avoid the inevitable mozzies.

 

7/3 265km

We had a bit of rain overnight, and the short track to the road was flooded, but it was not soft and I had no probs getting on to the road, the road itself was pretty good, there were a few spots that I put it into 4wd for but on the whole it was easy going. Stopped at Buchanan Hwy floodway where the lowland was a large lake in the woodland, we got 20sp with Black-necked Stork and Red-kneed Doterrel. The road continued to be reasonably benign until one innocuous looking bit, I slowed down to get a look and put it into 2^nd gear and got most of the way through it but there were some large rocks and I was sinking into the mud, I got beached, and engaging the diff-lock moved me backwards but then I’d sunk too deep into the mud, I was stuck. So we got out the hand winch and attached it to a nearby tree, and with Bev idling the car in reverse we were out, packed everything up and went around the bog hole, which if I’d have noticed how easy it was would have saved a lot of hard work. We came to some roadworks where they were repairing a washed out culvert, did a survey at Illawarra Ck Buchanan Hwy for 9sp with Crimson Finch, and got to the road house, and sure enough at this end the road closed signs were up in the middle of the road. I couldn’t get any info on the Buntine highway at the roadhouse, though they thought it was open, so we took a chance and headed off down the bitumen, through lush grasslands and running creeks. Stopped at Cullen Jackie Ck Buntine Hwy for 15sp, and Buntine Hwy Camfield River for 13sp and stopped at Truck stop Buntine Hwy at 15.35, just as the afternoon storms were coming in and the humidity soared.

 

 

8/3 379km

Overnight there was a lot of cricket noise, the incessant whine of mozzies trying unsuccessfully to get through the flyscreen, the occasional machinegun rattle of a Cane Toad, and several times a covey of Little Button-quails was heard. No rain. Left at 7.45 with 20sp Got in to the Kalkaringi community at 8.00 and it was all locked up, we couldn’t even get into the toilet block. There were no road closed signs anywhere so we headed off down the road. The first stop was 380km E of Halls Creek Buntine Hwy for 7sp. It wasn’t too far down the road from there that I thought this road should be closed as we came to a small patch of black soil and almost got stuck, not far down the road from that was a roadtrain stuck in the mud, it was a bit tricky getting by him, from there on though the road was pretty good, I put it in 4wd a few times for stability through a few spots and all creek crossings. We stopped at Limbunya Rd for 10sp with the first Grey-fronted Honeyeater for this leg of the trip. 270Km E of Halls Creek had 15sp with the first Restless Flycatcher and Horsefield’s Bronze Cuckoo for a while. Bunda station Buntine Hwy had water in what looked like an old shallow quarry, there were 100 Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, 3 lots of Grey Teal chicks with adults, all up 24sp. Duncan & Buntine Rds junction had 9sp with Pictorella Manikin and surprisingly the first Double-barred Finch on this leg of the trip. To the north was a station but between us and it was an unpassable bog, so we turned left along the Duncan Rd. From there the Duncan road was very tricky, some parts were easy 2wd, in others I almost got stuck. We had a big thunderstorm come through at 14.00 that we were forced to sit out just above a creek crossing, I walked down to the creek as the road was very boggy after the storm, it looked okay so I put the diff-lock in and through we went, I left the diff-lock in for a long while as we went along the road that had just gotten a soaking, but it was quite solid, and I had no real dramas after that, though there were still some difficult sections to negotiate. I took a much needed break from the high tension driving at Button creek Duncan Rd for 12sp, and we stopped at Johnston river Duncan Rd at 17.15, I was getting tired and the road was getting difficult to read, so better to stop than make a mistake. The river has a nice flow to it over the causeway, the sunset was dramatic with all the clouds and a thunderstorm off in the distance.

 

 

 

9/3 253km

Just before dawn a light rain started and continued until we left at 8.15 with 22sp, the rain made birding difficult and I didn’t want to hang around with the road getting wet. In the end we were on the northern edge of the rain and as we headed north we were soon out of it. The road was quite easy if slow as we were on mostly rocky roads. I got out at one river crossing to check its depth and the best way across, it was up to my kneecaps which is just okay as far as what the car can go through. We stopped at Palm Springs camp for 25sp with Great Bowerbird, Cicadabird and White-gaped Honeyeater as new for this leg. When we got past Old Halls Creek we saw the inevitable road closed sign, that referred to Duncan road, there was no reference to the Buntine Hwy. We got some food and fuel in Halls Creek, the Shell accepted discount vouchers so I got diesel at $1.39.9cpl and headed west. First stop was Rockhole creek which was alive with birds, with 20sp with Long-tailed Finch as new for the leg. Laura river was quieter with 17sp with Red-browed Pardalote that I’ve had on a few surveys recently. Marypool Mary river has changed its access point as one doesn’t have to cross the causeway which would have been impossible as the river was streaming over it, 15sp here. Park bay w of Halls Creek had 7sp, the pool just over the fence had an Australian Grebe. We stopped at Ngumban cliff lookout at 14.50, it also has a pool with an Australian Grebe in it. The afternoon thunderstorms all managed to evade us as we relaxed in the shade.

10/3 368km

We had not a drop of rain overnight, but in the morning a large rain event was heading towards us, I finished the survey with 18sp with a Spotted Nightjar calling just before dawn. We headed west and drove through the rain and did a survey at floodway E of Fitzroy Crossing and were on our way to the Fitzroy river site when we came across a queue of vehicles, the first thought was an accident, but no, a look up the road and we could see that there was a lot of water over the road, we went up to the water’s edge and it was a good 500m to the other side of the creek, with 1.5m of water going over the causeway. We were going nowhere, this was the result of the rain that we’d just caught the edge of yesterday morning. After some deliberation we turned back and retraced our way to Halls Creek, redoing all the surveys we’d just done, all had changes to the birds, adding some and losing some. We got into Halls Creek at about 15.00, did some shopping, filled up the tank at the same price as yesterday and went to the Halls Creek caravan park. It’s a drab place for $38 for a powered site, we were the only visitors, which is a good thing because when I went to take my shower only one shower head worked properly, all the others were clogged up. It’s a Friday night and the pub is next door, they have live music on Friday nights, loud live music on Friday nights, not very good loud music on Friday nights. Don’t stay here on Friday nights if you have any taste in good music, in fact don’t stay here at all unless you really have to.

11/3 282km

After the loud music finished last night the loud patrons spilled out onto the street and there they remained all night, yelling out their grievances. The trouble with alcohol is that it sucks at your soul, it’s the same with any drug, the more you take it the less human you become and the more feral. We left this unhappy town at 7.30 and headed north. Little Panton River was the first stop for 15sp, then Leycesters rest Ord River, it was already hot and the area didn’t have many active birds with 10sp. Next was 220km S of Wyndham for 15sp, with Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, there was a small pool and despite the heat the birds were active, perhaps because of the pool and the muddy substrate, but also the vegetation here looked more diverse than at the last stop, there was a dead Boobook Owl on the road. Lissadell Rd park bay had 12sp with more Chestnut-breasted Mannikins. The area is in full bloom, it’s no south west WA but in some spots there is a nice profusion of colour, this site was one of them. 120Km S of Wyndham had 9sp, and we stopped at Dunham rest area, with the nearby Dunham river in low flood. Most creeks are still flowing, some strongly, but all are well below full flood level. Here there is a dead Tawny Frogmouth on the road, and 19sp before dark.

12/3 305km

Had Bush Stone-curlew and Boobook Owl calling on a hot sticky night, ended the survey with 33sp and headed north at 7.30 First stop was The Grotto S of Wyndham, there were only 7sp here but one was Bar-breasted Honeyeater and another was a White-quilled Rock Pigeon sitting out on a rock as if surveying its territory. The Grotto itself was a very hot and humid spot, but a good waterfall nevertheless. Went out to Wyndham Jetty and got Striated Heron and Mangrove Gerygone. Had a look at Five rivers lookout, I don’t usually rate lookouts, but this one is a standout, there is a sweeping view of Cambridge Gulf, and the rivers that feed it, with some of the Kimberley mountains as backdrop. Had a look at Three mile valley but only 5sp could be found in the stifling heat, despite the pleasant stream. We went to Molly Springs for lunch and spent the afternoon relaxing in the waterfall pool, very nice to escape the heat, 9sp here with Leaden Flycatcher and Black-chinned Honeyeater. Then went up the King river road and camped at Valentine Rockhole, which is of course part of a river at this time of year. We arrived at 16.45 but still had 11sp by dark with Varied Sitella. Again it is stiffingly hot and humid in the camper with no breeze to waft through our large windows and cool us down.

 

 

13/3 133km

Somehow I managed to drift off to sleep in a lather of sweat, and eventually it cooled down overnight. Added a few birds in the morning to get 18sp, but I don’t think I did the place justice. Headed across the deep creek crossing and up to Middle Spring Ngamoowalen CP for 13sp with more White-quilled Rock Pigeons, Silver-crowned Friarbirds for the first time on the trip and a White-throated Gerygone. Up to Black Rock falls just up the road, the falls are quite spectacular in the wet, here we got 8sp with the distinctive Silver-backed Butcherbird, it’s still only a subspecies of the Grey Butcherbird, but it’s call and it’s silvery back make it quite a different bird. Into Kununurra to Lily Creek Lagoon Kununurra that had 12sp in the park with yellow-rumped Mannikin, but not a single waterbird on the lake. Did shopping and filled up at the Ord River Co-operative on Weaber Plain rd, it’s a fair way out of town on the corner of Mills rd they only sell diesel, and you have to pay by card, but it was $1.29.8cpl, the next cheapest was Puma at $1.35.9cpl. Out along the Lake Argyle Rd to a spot by the lake at Lake Argyle 1, where we stopped at 12.15 and relaxed in the shade of the camper. We had a close call with a thunderstorm, but a huge blast of wind from it sent Bev’s chair and bird book tumbling towards the water 50m away, and they nearly made it. The solar panel also skidded across the ground face down but only sustained a small scratch, we got a light shower from it, and after it stopped I went to see if it had activated the birds, it had, sort of, I had 20sp by dark with Common Sandpiper.

 

 

14/3 248km

The day dawned threatening, and we had just about packed up when the rain came, I ended the survey with 25sp, adding Northern Fantail and Northern Rosella to the trip list. We had a look at the dam, the lookout, the picnic spot all in the rain, and had a wander around the caravan park just as the rain cleared. Back to the main road and headed east. There are no restrictions on food coming into NT so we stopped next at Cockatoo lagoon Keep river NP. Most of the park is closed and there wasn’t much on the lagoon probably because there’s water everywhere now, got 14sp with Magpie Goose and Comb-crested Jacana. We next stopped at a truck park Victoria Hwy where the birds were still active, there were 17sp with Breeding Long-tailed Finches, with two nests under an old raptor’s nest, and a juvenile Pied Butcherbird begging mercilessly for more food. Kennedy ck Victoria Hwy had 10sp got mostly by calls as there was virtually no movement. We stopped at Big Horse Creek campground at 14.30. As the afternoon sweltered away we cowered in the shade, the lack of any sustained breeze really exacerbates the humidity. Had 26sp by dark, the muddy river isn’t supporting much in the way of birds, though we had an Osprey go sailing down the river.

15/3 273km

Even with a clear sky overnight it really doesn’t cool down much, we left at 8.10 in 29 degrees heat, with 28sp, only adding Sacred Kingfisher and Restless Flycatcher on my morning’s stroll, and a fridge that really isn’t, having sucked the battery of all available juice overnight as usual, it was on the way to becoming an oven. First stop was Timber Creek to pick up some food at the boutique IGA, first survey was at 38km E of Timber Creek, at 9.10 the birds were already mostly inactive with 15sp achieved mostly by call. At Joe Creek picnic Gregory NP we had 11sp with a Leaden Flycatcher pair. Agate Ck W of Katherine was down to 7sp. Mathison rest area Victoria Hwy had a nice woodland with 13sp. We stopped at King river W of Katherine finding the old road at the back of the rest area and following it down to the river, that was fast flowing. There were more butterfly species than birds active, the recent flooding has left a legacy of mud beside the river which the butterflies love, we identified Jewelled Grass Blue, Black Spotted Grass Blue, Wattle Blue, Common Grass Blue, Varied Eggfly, Lesser Wanderer, Common Crow, Meadow Argus, Blue Argus, Lined Grass Yellow, Orange Ringlet, Chequered Swallowtail and Tawny Coster which is a self introduced butterfly that has recently made its way into Australia from India and is now bent on colonizing as much of Australia in as short a time as it can, and an other species I couldn’t identify. Only 9sp of bird.

 

 

 

 

16/3 337km

The tumbling torrent close to the camper meant that I had no hope of hearing any night activity, on the plus side I couldn’t hear Bev snoring either. In the morning I meandered the track and ended the survey with 26sp. Into Katherine and out to my site 10k E of Katherine for 11sp with some Brolga, which we’re not seeing a lot of. Did shopping and filled up the tank at United servo at $1.29.9cpl. It was midday and hot by the time we got to my Gouldian Finch site 2km e on Edith Falls road, but I couldn’t find any, the consolation was a Banded Honeyeater. Had a look at Pine Creek sewerage and cemetery for 10sp with Hooded Parrot. Then up to Dugal Rd and down to Douglas River Bond bridge, there is good riverine habitat here with a nice row of Pandanus aquaticus on either bank, the trouble was that the birds weren’t very active and there were a few calls that sidestepped my memory, still ended up with 10sp with Shining Flycatcher, but there should be three more interesting birds on the list too that I just couldn’t identify. We took the Dorat Rd which is a nice drive on quieter roads and stopped at Robin falls at 17.30 just after a thunderstorm cooled things down from 35 degrees to 25 degrees, the trouble is that as soon as the storm passes up goes the humidity and up goes the temperature again. At dusk another storm came nearby but we only got the very edge of it. Had 11sp by dark with Forest Kingfisher and Dusky Honeyeater.

 

17/3 172km

Had a look at the waterfall, another gusher in the wet, ended the survey with 15sp and finished off the Dorat rd, it’s a much nicer alternative to the main highway, though the bitumen is a bit lumpy. First stop was Rum Jungle lake for 16sp with Rajah Shelduck and Spangled Drongo as new for the trip. Into Litchfield NP to Magnetic Termite mounds. There were too many people here and it was already hot, so there was little birdlife, as a concession to the tourists they mow the tall grasses so that you can see a few of the termite mounds, otherwise all you’d see is the very tips of the biggest mounds above the tall grasses. Buley rock hole was full of people and again not many birds. We took a look at Tabletop swamp, which was flooded, I had to get my gumboots out to get a look at the main swamp, there were a few more active birds here with Lemon-breasted Flycatcher. Went down to Wangi falls which were quite spectacular, the swimming hole was closed because they’d recently caught a Saltwater Crocodile in the stream, there was a quite tame Freshwater Crocodile just under the boardwalk, and a colony of Fruit bats in the trees, but not many birds again, though we did get an Orange-footed Scrub-fowl picking over what the feral pigs had left. Drove back and camped at Florence falls campground, and went for a swim in the plunge pool, on the way back up the stairs we got Green-backed Gerygone, but only had 10sp by dark.

 

 

 

 

18/3 256km

Had some light rain into the early morning, with such a short day the fridge went off early, and things got quite warm by the morning. The new setup here cost us $6.60ea, but when I went to take my shower last night the lights didn’t work, so I had my shower this morning and there was no hot water, I want my money back! Added a few more birds, but the stairs weren’t productive, walked up the easy way to the carpark in good looking habitat, but only got a Grey Shrike-thrush there. Went back to Buley rock hole which was much better early in the morning with no people, likewise the Magnetic Termite mounds, Rum Jungle lake which isn’t on the tourist map was quite a similar survey to yesterday’s. Back to the Sturt Highway and north to Manton dam recreation reserve, it wasn’t as good as I’d hoped but did get Green Pygmy-goose and Northern Fantail. Drove up the Cox peninsula to Wagait Beach and got some Grey-tailed Tattlers. Then found the small track that leads to Pioneer Beach arriving at 16.20, the place is full of humpies with generators going all the time, one bloke was net fishing by the shore, the fish though were playing with him, he would be at one end of the beach and a fish would splash at the other end, he would curse and move up the other end, dutifully the fish would then splash at the end he’d just come from, I was barraking for the fish, my side won, he never caught anything. There was a steady parade of birds in the mangroves such as Red-headed and Rufous-banded Honeyeaters, and along the beach with Fairy Tern, more Grey-tailed Tattlers, Whimbrel, a Common Sandpiper, but best of all was a slow fly by of a Great-billed Heron. At one stage I looked down at my trouser leg and noticed a blood stain on it, sure enough when I checked I found a leech had done its job and dropped off long ago, when I checked the other leg it also had been attacked by a leech, I have no idea where I picked the little suckers up from, but they got away with it. There are a few mangrove no-see-ums here not many, but they sure hurt when they get you.

 

 

 

 

19/3 116km

We had a few periods of light rain overnight after being just north of a big storm before sunset. Ended the survey with 26sp and headed off at 8.10. Leaving this messy slum looking place behind. The track back to the main road was still okay, and we took a left turn to head out the Fog Bay road. There are a lot of people living out this road with no shops, we got some milk and bread at Dundee Beach at the end of the bitumen road, then went back, taking the back track into Stingray Head, it’s also possible to drive along the beach, but I frown on such practices as beach driving kills the small creatures that live under the sand that then feed the birds, crabs etc. We arrived at 11.30 and spent the rest of the day perched on top of the small cliff watching the waves roll in and the tide go out, by sunset I had 20sp, nearly all sea or shore birds with the standout some Lesser Sand-plovers in breeding plumage. The vegetation here isn’t supporting many bush birds. Late in the arvo we had some whaler sharks come right into shore to feed, I couldn’t see enough of them to get a proper ID.

Slender Skimmer dragonfly

20/3 160km

We had quite a night with three thunderstorms dropping quite a lot of rain on us, one went right overhead, with one of those flash instant crash events that make your hair stand on end. Another clap was close enough for us to feel the shockwave. In the morning we had some water on the floor of the camper, just enough to be annoying, but no damage. The track out was no real problem, the only difference to the way in was that all the puddles were full, and they’re big enough to have names you know. Ended the survey with 23sp with a few more bush birds found. Stopped at Charlotte River Fog Bay Rd for 12sp with Varied Triller and Large-billed Gerygone as new, though again I was caught short with a few calls I didn’t know. Blackmore River CR at Tumbling Waters had 14sp, again with a few getting away from me. Berry Springs Nature Reserve is an interesting mix of park and bushland, with the pools being closed because of the floodwaters there was no one around, we got 15sp here with Torresian Pigeon and Little Bronze Cuckoo. Had a look at Channel Island, the park is off limits, but the walk up to but not onto the bridge (also off limits for pedestrians) was enough to get 14sp with Yellow White-eye and Osprey. Picked up some food in Palmerston and booked in to the Oasis caravan park which is the same park we stayed in the last time we were here, lots of trees make this a pleasant place to be, if a bit muggy.

21/3 107km

It was 9.40 before we got away, after a good night’s sleep apart from the traffic noise, give me the waves any day. First stop was Charles Darwin NP, there is no access to the mangroves, no one’s thought of putting a boardwalk through them yet, 11sp. East Point reserve has a mixture of shoreline plus monsoon forest, and parkland, 12sp with Grey Whistler and Emerald Dove. Buffalo Ck Casuarina had a lot of waders on the beach, a Mangove Gerygone in the mangroves and a few other bushbirds. We had to stop at the Holmes Jungle hilltop, because the lower parts are closed at this time of year, 10sp. Howard Springs reserve had 16sp with a pair of Little Kingfishers and Rose-crowned Fruitdove. We stopped along the Gunn Point rd at a creek and had 19sp by dark with Forest Kingfisher which took a huge Huntsman spider and made well sure it was dead before he swallowed it, there was also a Little Egret making a killing on little fish as they emerged from the pipe under the road in the creek. I stepped out of the camper in the dark and to my amazement saw a miniature plane go slowly flashing it’s navigation light past me, I looked around and found hundreds of them landed on the ground, gently glowing, they stretched for a hundred meters or so along the road, it was so dark I couldn’t see what kind of bug was attached to the light.

 

 

22/3 95km

Added a few more birds in the morning and we set off at 8.15 with 27sp and headed back to Howard Springs, I did the same walk as usual and got both Rainbow Pitta and Little Kingfisher, 22sp all up. Had a fruitless search for Lambell’s lagoon, there are signposts to it, but no lagoon was accessible from the road, On to Fogg dam, the dam wall wasn’t crossable as there was water flowing over the causeway and apparently there’s a big croc in there. So I walked up to the little pontoon and back, then walked the monsoon forest track and then the forest to waterlilly track, there were lots of mozzies on both of the tracks, but between fighting them off or squishing them I got 35sp with Broad-billed Flycatcher and another Little Kingfisher. Just around the corner is Harrison dam we got here at 14.10 and decided to camp, it isn’t nearly as good as Fogg dam in any respect, but I still had 32sp by dark, on a very muggy afternoon, the mozzies were out early and they just kept coming, we gobbled down our dinner just before dark and hid in the camper.

 

23/3 158km

It had been to no avail hiding in the camper, for as we settled down it became apparent that we had unwanted company, lots of unwanted company. Often as we come and go from the camper a mozzie or two will manage to get in, but I killed upward of 20 of the things, and Bev killed quite a lot too, so it was a good hour before we were satisfied we’d got them all, we set the mozzie coil going nevertheless. In the morning the flyscreens were covered in the ever hopeful things probing into the screen in an attempt to get at us. Inevitably as we left with 39sp with Barking Owl, many mozzies had also got into the car, we spent the rest of the day killing them as they came out from hiding. We stopped at Leaning Tree lagoon, which was flooded, I donned my gumboots to get a look at the main lagoon, there wasn’t much using it, but what has been using it is shooters in their confounded machines called quads, churning up the grasses around the edge of the lagoon it looked worse than if a herd of pigs had churned up the place, the destructive insensitive takers, giving nothing back to the environment that they abuse, leaving their spent shells behind, oh they claim to be responsible don’t they, but how many roadsigns have I seen shot out, trees shot at, even bridge structures, as far as I can tell there is no such thing as a good shooter, they are all sadists, enjoying killing for the fun of it. We left the mess the shooters had left behind and went to Scotts Ck Djubkinj NP, there were some Pied Herons with juveniles on the flooded causeway along with a Little Heron and some Rajah Shelduck, 17sp all up. Both Bird Billabong with 7sp and Mary River Billabong with 9sp were disappointing the area was flooded, so there was no open water available to see, and there was little activity in the trees. The most exciting thing were some Spotted Rustic butterflies and others in the flowered meadow at Mary River Billabong. Mistake Billabong was more accessible with a good lookout over the billabong, but again there was little using it or the woodland around it. We stopped at Shady Camp Mary River NP. There is a boat ramp here, there were 40 plus cars with trailers in the car park, and we’d seen a steady traffic of them on their way out, so imagine if you can the number of fishermen out there just in this stretch of river each and every day, and this is the quiet time of year, the pressure on the fish cannot be sustainable, I noted in Mary River Billabong, that all the trees and animals are protected in the National Park, but you’re still allowed to fish, why is that so? The river is gushing over the causeway and a determined Nankeen Night-heron was in the thick of it along with the only fisherman without a boat, neither seemed to be catching much, not an unusual experience these days, I think I know why.

 

 

 

Chalky Percher dragonfly

24/3

The flyscreens were plastered with mozzies again this morning, and the car park was full with 50 or more boats in the water, with a queue of more boats waiting to get in. I added quite a few more species to end with 49sp, the best so far this trip. Went back to Mistake billabong Mary River NP and had a better count of 12sp, still poor for a wetland in a National Park. Stopped at Kakadu NP old info bay for 12sp, and Sth Alligator River offshoot for 16sp. The Sth Alligator picnic area still has no access to look at the river other than to walk up to the boat ramp, 12sp here also with the first Black-shouldered Kite for a long while. Stopped at Anbinik caravan park, which used to be the old Lake view caravan park, with no lake views, perhaps that’s why they changed their name. We walked down to the Jabiru town lake, which is a bit scungy with some rubbish in the water. The crocodile trap was empty, not sure what that means! The caravan park is empty, with no other caravans, there are a few people in the units, they call themselves a resort, but it’s a long way from what you’d expect from a resort. We have our own little ensuite block house with shower and toilet that no one else can use, which is a bit unique, and a powered site cost $38, no complaints.

25/3 59km

Up early, shower, breaky, made lunch and out the front by 8.00 Ryan came and picked us up along with 17 other people and we headed up to Magella ck where we got on a boat with Roman a tortuous route down the creek to a billabong and back up to the road where we got on another bus and out to Ubirr Rock. It was already hot when we set off, but the rock paintings are all in the shade, there is a mixture of old and relatively new paintings. A short walk to the lookout for some fantastic scenery, a large expanse of water with spectacular rocks all around, and a lush green hue over the entire area. There weren’t many birds but we did get a Sandstone Shrike-thrush. We then retraced our steps. In the billabong we were shown an active crocodile’s nest, we also got a look at a Large-billed Heron and a Black Bittern on the tour. We copped a big downpour whilst we were on the boat. We were back at about 13.30. The cost $156ea, would I recommend the tour, maybe, would I go on it again knowing what what it entailed, maybe. Both guides were knowledgeable, had good character and spoke with enthusiasm on their topics. It’s a bit of everything tour, and the morning flew by, which is an indication that it wasn’t a boring trip. When we got back it was still raining hard on and off, we were lucky that the rain hadn’t gotten much into the camper as we’d left it open. We headed south, the Malabanjbandju campsite was flooded so we couldn’t do the survey there, the nearby Burdulba Ck was of course flowing and I got 9sp there with a Black Bittern. A storm caught up with us at the end of the survey, and we headed for the Mardugal camp. The fees here are unfair, with $15ea for a patch of dirt for the night, there is no access to the billabong, I think they aught to have lower wet season rates. Had 17sp by dark. I wandered down to the boatramp and heard a croc growling away, I suspect it could see me, as it growled as I arrived and growled again as I turned to leave, couldn’t spot it though. A horse was availing itself of the nice lush grass around the camp, and seemed not in the least concerned about my presence.

 

 

26/3 166km

Up early and finished the survey with 24sp, I heard the croc again, it had moved a bit down river from last night. Headed to Nourlangie Rock, a spectacular outlier of the main range, there’s some good rock paintings here too as well as a good lookout, but not many birds, 13sp. Did the Nawerlandja lookout and Anbangbang billabong with only 12sp, there is no real access to the billabong from the lookout during the wet season, and the lookout is nothing spectacular. Then did the Gubara walk, a 3km walk to a small patch of monsoon forest beside a pleasant stream, the walk is below the outlying rock formation, this time of the year all the small creeks are flowing and there’s lots of small flowers out, all in all an exhausting experience on such a hot day, 12sp for 3hr 15min including 1/2hr for lunch on return. Went back to Mardugal camp and got 16sp, on to culvert 59km SE of Jabiru for 8sp, and 103km S of Jabiru for 11sp with Brown Quail in the culvert beside the road. We stopped at Gungural campsite which at $6.00ea is still not cheap for a spot to stop for the night with a table and drop toilet. The walk to the river is short but there’s nothing much to see but water running through trees, 13sp by dark. Most afternoons are getting up to around 35 degrees, and as we stop there is a nice breeze that we can make use of as we sit in the shade. But every night without fail the wind dies on dark, and we’re left in a state of sweat that is most uncomfortable. There is a nice chorus of frogs happening outside after dark, hopefully snapping up all those mozzies, unfortunately one of the sounds is the machine-gun rattle of a Cane Toad.

 

 

 

 

27/3 125km

Went back down to the river and up to the lookout, finished the survey with 32sp, with both Red-backed and Red-chested Button Quails. Stopped at 128km S of Jabiru for 7sp then to Yurmikmik walk, we had a look at Boulder Ck falls then to the lookout, where we sat and enjoyed the breeze for a while, I walked up the track towards Motor car falls a way then we returned to Boulder Ck falls to enjoy the coolness, Bev had a dip, I didn’t. We got back to the car with 20sp for 3hrs away. Had lunch at Kambolgie campsite for 13sp with partridge Pigeon, this used to be a free camp, but they whacked a fee on it without any improvement, unfair! E bank Big Nellie River had 12sp and we camped at Harriet Ck camp, it’s still free, and had 17sp by dark when a large thunderstorm headed our way, so we packed up and took refuge in the camper.

28/3 175km

Sure enough there was a lot banging and crashing going on for a while, and then we had a band of rain. In the morning though there was little to show for it except a lot of dew. Ended the survey with 21sp and went to our spot at Pine Creek sewerage pond and cemetery for 15sp with a Wandering Whistling Duck pair that had 12 young dutifully following them around. Edith falls Rd 2km from hwy had 12sp and 10km E of Katherine had 11sp. Back into Katherine and had lunch in a small park on the Katherine Gorge road, then did shopping, filled up the tank at the United Servo in town, still at $1.29.7cpl for diesel. Booked in to the Boab caravan park that costs $40 for a powered site, so a bit more than usual, it’s a nice little park with good facilities. We met up with Michael, Bev’s nephew and Ange his girlfriend and sat around chatting down at the airport where Michael works as a pilot. Back at 7.30 for dinner and bed.

29/3 271km

It was 10.00 by the time we got away, we still had wet clothes from yesterday’s wash, but a lot of the time was spent putting in old waypoints into the navigator from the Birdlife website. 41Km N of Mataranka was hot and dry only 5sp with Jacky Winter. It was lunch when we got to Bitter Springs Elsey NP, the causeway was closed to cars, but it was a short walk to the springs, that were an eerie aquamarine, we spent a hour here for 9sp with Green-backed Gerygone and Leaden Flycatcher. At the springs a St. John’s Cross spider had caught an Australian Tiger in its web, the dragonfly was still weakly struggling every now and then but was clearly had it, the spider was inching closer and closer I suspect still worried that the dragonfly might have too much energy left for it to tackle, the end of the story was predictable. 39km S of Mataranka had 6sp in the rest area. Just down the road 56km S of Mataranka was a different story, at 14.45 the birds were active here and I got 11sp. 300m N of Alexander Forrest cairn was also active, probably because of the dam over the fence, 16sp with White-bellied Sea Eagle and 40 Apostlebirds. 87km S of Mataranka had 11sp with Tawny Grassbird. We stopped at 17.40 at Nutwood Downs Station Rd grid and it didn’t take long to get the 20sp before dark. The area south of Katherine is a lot dryer than the north with little to no water in the culverts, and the lush vegetation is aleady starting to wilt in the 41 degrees of heat that we got to today. The evening is still insufferably humid, and we sweat rivers into our sticking clothes.

 

 

30/3 274km

Off to the east there was a spectacular light show after dark, but it never came our way, what did come our way were a lot of mozzies getting into the camper again, we had several sessions during the night killing them, ended with 29sp and headed east along the Carpentaria Hwy. First stop was Carpentaria Hwy mast for 12sp with four Brown Falcons battling, several times locking talons, and once going all the way to the ground, a fifth falcon, probably a juvenile stayed out of it. Bullwaddy CR rest stop had 14sp with Fork-tailed Swift and 40 Little Woodswallows. 309km W of Bing Bong was a busy woodland with 19sp with Apostlebirds nesting and 3sp of finch. October Ck Carpentaria Hwy had 14sp with Red-chested Button Quail. 234km W of Bing Bong had 11sp with Hooded Robin. We stopped at Little River Carpentaria Hwy at 15.15, we waited for the worst of the heat to die off then we blew up our inflatable kayak that we bought in Darwin and headed up the river , we could only go a few hundred meters, and downstream of the bridge there was no navigable water, but it was a pleasant ½hr, the Sevylor brand kayak that we got for $170 at Rays Outdoors was easy to manoever and paddle, I had a go in it by myself and that was okay too, we even added a few birds that we hadn’t seen at the campsite. Had 24sp by dark.

 

31/3 372km

We had an unfortunate serenade last night, if you can call it that, after dark we had a lot of Cane Toads rattling away and what’s worse is I couldn’t hear a single native frog. Ended with 32sp and set off at 7.40, 30km E of Cape Crawford had 16sp, 2km n Mcarthur river had 17sp with the first Spotted Harrier, I’ve only seen one other for the trip and that one didn’t get on to a survey. Caranbirini CR had no water birds on the pond but 14 bush birds and an Azure Kingfisher. 89K sw Bing Bong had 10sp. Bing Bong port facility had 8sp with 180 Little Corellas and a flock of 16 Australian Figbirds. Bing Bong boat ramp had 9sp with 13 Lesser Sandplovers most in breeding plumage and 5 Whimbrels. We went back via Boroloola to pick up supplies at the well stocked supermarket, the diesel was $1.53.0cpl, so I put a jerrycan in to the tank and topped it up so I should get to Mt Isa with what I have. We then retraced our steps. 89km SW of Bing Bong had 6sp with the first Singing Honeyeater for ages. Caranbirini CR had 12sp with Bar-breasted Honeyeater. 2km N of Mcarthur river had 24sp, so all three of the repeats had substantially changed their bird population. It was getting too dark to do the last one so we bypassed it and went back to Little River camp getting in just on dark. We celebrated 10 years of marriage with tomato flavoured chips and a steak for dinner with strawberry cheesecake for dessert.

1/4 287km

Because we arrived so late last night and again I heard no night birds, probably killed off by all the cane Toads that we certainly did hear again, I did a 20min survey this morning and got 28sp, some of the birds that I didn’t get on the longer survey were Cockatiel, Black Bittern, Masked Finch, Long-tailed Finch, and a lone juvenile Gouldian Finch. 39km S of Cape Crawford had 8sp, 44km S of Cape Crawford had only 4sp, Tablelands Hwy truck park bay had 8sp, all of these sites were in an area that looks permanently heavily grazed by cattle, the result is low diversity in plants, which means low diversity in animals. We had followed a truck for about 20km on the lumpy road, he was only going 60kph but although he had plenty of opporunity to pull over and let us pass he hogged the one lane of bitumen, which meant that we and another car couldn’t get by, that is why when a truck ranges up behind me and gets impatient because he can’t overtake me for a couple of minutes I have no compunction about holding my line and speed. Walhollow station turnoff was better habitat despite two bulldozed lines which I presume are fire breaks, but more likely just an excuse to knock over some trees with a ruddy great bulldozer, I can picture his feral grin as he went about his destructive job, we got 13sp with the first Variegated Fairywren for a while. 181km N of Barkly Homestead had 8sp with Crimson Chat, all the birds apart from a few Singing Honeyeaters were in the same small patch in the survey area as when I was here on the Calvert rd Ranken rd trip last year. The ephemeral wetland 146k had 4sp. Rest area 148km N of Barkly Homestead had 10sp with Spotted Harrier and Little Crow. We stopped at Boree Ck Tablelands Hwy at 15.30, I went and hid under the bridge in the shade and watched the pool of water and got Whiskered Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Australian Pratincole, Black-tailed Native Hen, Buff-banded Rail, Budgerigar, Flock Pigeon, Glossy Ibis and Channel-billed Cuckoos, amongst the 27sp before dark. It’s been decidedly cooler today with a brisk headwind all day as we head south, the humidity has also gone, it got to 31 degrees, and I’m gonna have to put a jumper on and a pyjama top tonight for the first time in months.

 

 

2/4 263km

Ended the survey with 33sp, which considering that there’s virtually only grasslands here is a good variety. It got down to 16 degrees which is the coldest we’ve had for a long while. Continued south doing surveys that were put in at wetlands on the 2009 Darwin trip, most are dry already. One bird of note here is the Australian Pratincole, we haven’t seen a single bird until we got onto the Tablelands Hwy, here there are hundreds of them on the road that runs through the grasslands, the first four surveys had them and then they weren’t seen again. So Floodway 308km S of Cape Crawford had 6sp with some more Flock Bronzewing, and this was the last we saw of them. 310km S of Cape Crawford had 5sp, The standout site was 326km S of Cape Crawford which on a 500m survey incorporates the Playford river, which still had water in it and had 30sp with Black-winged Stilt, Orange Chat, Common Greenshank, Pictorella Mannikin, Red-necked Avocet and Australasian Shoveler as standouts. 329km S of Cape Crawford had 10sp, 1km S of repeater tower 333km S of Cape Crawford was a bush site and had 9sp with the first site for quite a few without the praticole or the Horsfield’s Bushlark. Fence 375k S of Cape Crawford had 9sp, there is a water trough here and the Zebra Finches were taking full advantage of it. Diesel was $1.84.0cpl so we made the right decision to fill up at Boroloola. Headed east along the barkly Hwy and put in survey sites at Barkly Hwy rest stop for 8sp with Grey-headed Honeyeater, and Barkly Hwy 1 for 6sp also with Grey-headed Honeyeater. We stopped at Ranken rd 3 which is just north of the highway at 16.20 where it was very quiet. We’d had a strong southerly all day, which didn’t do my fuel economy any good and we got to 34 degrees, but the low humidity makes it much more bearable.

 

 

3/4 293km

Ended the survey with only 12sp, it’s obviously poor habitat here, there are some native grasses but the shrubs and trees are all small and thinly spread, both the Crested Pigeons and Zebra Finches were fly-bys probably in transit to water. The Telstra site Barkly Hwy had 4sp with Flock Bronzewing, there had been a few Australian Pratincoles on the road to the site, but none in the survey area. Nowranie waterhole Camooweal NP had 29sp with Little Woodswallow. We had a look at the Great Nowranie cave, an impressive hole in the ground, but no access. On the way back in to town I got a flat tyre which took 20min to change. Carpentarian Grasswren site c57 only had 2sp, there was no really good habitat for the Carpy despite there being a lot of spinifex here. In contrast The site at Barkly Hwy and Burketown rd had some good habitat up a gully and I heard one calling, but when I used a recording, I only got contact calls and the briefest of views of of a Carpentarian Grasswren near a site where we got them on the survey last year, 21sp all up. Inca Ck had 13sp and some cattle in the creek, where I don’t think they should be allowed to be, messing up the habitat. Mt King Ck had 7sp in the heat of the late afternoon. My new Hema Navigator which does very annoying things decided to show us 5km behind where we were, thankfully I knew the road I wanted to go on, it was only when I tried to reset it that it informed me that it wasn’t working, very poor technology. We stopped at Mt Isa grasswren survey site 543 at 17.20. I pumped the flat tyre up and was relieved to find I hadn’t destroyed the side walls of the tyre that went flat today, I found a sharp piece of rock that had gone through the tread, so was able to put a plug in it.

4/4 128km

We were having breaky in the camper when we heard a Carpentarian Grasswren call just outside the camper, Bev used the recording and got good views of 2 wrens. We then did a circuit around the area and found a lone wren about 1km from the pair, we used the recording again but although the bird crept a bit closer it gave no vocal response. We also got a pair of Painted Finches, 18sp all up. We used the navigator to track where we were and it was even more capricious hand held doing all sorts of weird things. When we went down the road to find the Carpentarian site 125 it seized up again and I sailed past the site, again I knew about where the site was so reset the thing and sure enough we were 2km away from it, cursed thing. Bev stayed behind and I did a curcuit around the site, but there was no really good habitat, there was lots of Buffel grass and some cattle, I played the recording a few times to no avail, did get a Black-chinned Honeyeater in a generally quieter site with 10sp all up. On the way down to Mt Gordon turnoff I noticed that the waypoint had disappeared from the map which is another annoying trait of this navigator, I’m continually having to re-turn on the waypoint list. We got only 5sp at a hot dry site. Lake Moondarra had 21sp. Filled up at the Woolworths servo which was $1.24.9cpl minus a 4cpl discount, even without the discout it’s usually the cheapest one in town. We went to Sunset caravan park which cost $30 for a powered site, the ground is dust rather than grass but it’s not a bad place to stay, the shower block is dated but clean and functional. I went and did the Mt Isa sewerage ponds, I didn’t get there until 15.00, they all go home at 15.30 so it was a case of speed birding, the numbers are very approximate, I went for a wander along the tracks around the horse paddocks and got quite a few more species, all up 44sp in an hour including Wood Sandpiper.

5/4 176km

Left the park at 8.15 and got to Mica Ck Mt Isa at 8.30. The two sites that had the Kalkadoon Grasswrens last year were still inhabited by two pairs, 19sp all up with Little Woodswallow. Back through Mt Isa and along the Barkly Hwy to Clem Walton reserve, the gate is always unlocked and the site is through the second gate and down to near the dam wall, we spent an hour and a half here including lunch and got 21sp with Painted Finch, at the base of the dam someone has constructed a little pen and put some fish carcasses in there, this has attracted Red Claw Yabbies, not sure how legal it is to do that here though. Further along the highway to Chinaman Ck dam which is picturesque with Mt Leviathan in the background, only 14sp though and apart from an Australasian Darter no waterbirds. We stopped at the rail crossing E of Cloncurry at 14.50, there is a track that runs along the railway line. It was 35 degrees so the birds were rather inactive, but in the late arvo we had Crimson Chat and a few others.

6/4 311km

It was a bit of a noisy night with several trains and quite a few trucks on both highways. Ended the survey with 24sp at 7.40 and headed east. Oorindi rd N of Oorindi was looking poor with mainly grasslands, but had a flock of 350 Galahs moving through the grass like a plague of locusts, there were also 7 other species so a surprisingly good spot. McKinley rd N of Gilliat was more like what I expected with 3sp, Yorkshire Nelia rd S of Flinders Hwy was also sparse with 3sp. An old campsite at Boundary Ck had water so 22sp was expected. We had a look at an early stop at Alice Ck Maxwellton but decided against it and went to Richmond. My map showed that Boree downs was a park, so we went there only to find that it was a private road, so we found a track off the track to Boree Downs that led to the Flinders river and found a spot on the bank by the main channel that had water in it and camped at 15.30, which was enough time to relax and enjoy a balmy afternoon, a nice dinner and then just on dark the mozzies came a whining and spoilt it, ah well the peace was welcome whilst it lasted.

7/4 303km

Had Barn Owl, Boobook Owl and Tawny Frogmouth calling overnight, but didn’t add much in the morning, ended with 29sp, had a hard time finding a toilet in Richmond, they’re doing roadworks on the main street, and nothing is well signposted here. East to Rail crossing Marathon rd for 10sp in sparse acacias with 35 Apostlebirds and a young Spotted Harrier, the surprise was some Red-capped Robins. Through Hughenden where we got fuel at the United servo at $1.22.9cpl and some food at the Foodworks supermarket and went to Prarie then headed south to Kooroorinya Falls, there was no water flow over the causeway which is the falls, there was plenty of water though but we only got 8sp. Up the Prarievale rd and took the short-cut to Shirley station which is now inside Moorrinya NP and got to Moorrinya NP camp at the old shearing sheds of Shirley station at 14.50, the camp is too far from the river bed with no cover, so not a well planned camping area. The shed is still intact with a lot of artefacts still around, the shearing quarters each had a banana bed and a table for furniture with no air-conditioning or fly-screens, looks like a hard life. The bird list at sunset is 32sp with Plum-headed Finch and Black-tailed Native Hen, which is why these national parks are so important, because these birds are largely absent from the farmlands because all the vegetation around the water has gone into the cow’s stomach, I believe that riparian species in general would profit from having stock excluded from the water’s edge.

 

 

8/4 174km

Ended the survey with 41sp adding the likes of Spotted Bowerbird, and headed off at 7.30. Put in a survey spot at Torrens Creek airstrip with 9sp, then went east to White Mountains NP and followed the fenceline up to the main track in and stoped at Canns Ck camp White Mountains NP, there was only a puddle in the creek and the birds were largely inactive, 6sp with Pied Currawong. Drove out to Poison Valley on a mostly easy track though near the end was a difficult creek crossing, there were pools in the creek and 12sp with Laughing Kookaburra. Back to Canns ck camp arriving at 15.00, the birds were still inactive and we got 13sp before dark.

9/4 207km

Added no night birds, but a few more day birds in the morning to end with 18sp. Took a look at Sawpit Gully, no Grey Falcons, just a Nankeen Kestrel and 4 other species. Went back to Torrens Creek Airstrip for 9sp. Prairie cemetery had a pool in a nearby dam so had 14sp. The short-cut to the Kennedy Hwy was closed so went back through Hughenden and got more food and fuel at the same places as before, then up to Porcupine Gorge NP lookout for lunch. The gorge is as spectacular as any I’ve seen in Australia, well worth a look, there were some Whistling Kites and Nankeen Kestrels cruising the gorge, a few Zebra Finches and Cockatiels using the water at the bottom and feeding in the grasslands above. Stopped at Pyramid camp Porcupine Gorge NP at 14.00, did the 1.1km track down to the creek at the bottom. In the evening some young people arrived and got out their chainsaw and started sawing up some of the bigger logs around the camp, I told them that you can’t chop firewood in a National Park, thankfully that stopped them, some people just don’t get it do they?

 

 

 

 

 

10/4 247km

29sp was the eventual tally with Owlet Nightjar and Boobook Owl calling overnight. Headed off at 7.25 and stopped at Mosquito Ck & dam for 19sp, then Gregory Springs Rd Kennedy Hwy for 11sp. Went into Blackbraes NP, up the 17.5km track in 2^nd and 3^rd gear founding our way to Emu Swamp camp Blackbraes NP, the water level was quite high and we got 13sp with Hobby Falcon and Great Crested Grebe, I was wandering along the bank looking at the water when I heard a rustle next to me, I looked down to see the tail of quite a thick brown snake disappear into the grass, it must have been right next to me, I tell ya that got the adrenaline pumping, and I was a bit jumpy for a while! Made our way back to the main road and stopped at Hospital Ck for lunch got 11sp with Western Gerygone and Lemon-breasted Flycatcher. Onwards to Enasleigh river Lyndhurst for 9sp with Squatter Pigeon, Great Cormorant and Intermediate Egret. Stopped at quarry SW The Lynd and camped down by the dam and watched a steady procession of birds through the late afternoon.

 

11/4 204km

Up early, but that didn’t help as I added no new birds and no night birds last night either. Headed off at 7.10. First stop 8 mile ck 3km W of Conjuboy for 8sp, then dam on Lava Plains station for 11sp, the environment here is an absolute contrast to the last time I was here when cattle were dying in the dam with no food around the dam, now the grass is long and the cattle are quickly munching their way through it, so I can see a repeat of last year, holding too many cattle for too long. 40 mile Scrub NP was very quiet with only 4sp. Smiths Ck SW Mt Garnet had 8sp, but very little activity. Wurruma Swamp had lots of water and lots of cattle around the edge, there were hardly any water birds with 2 of the ones detected just doing a fly over. We stopped at Archer Ck camp at 12.50 and lazed away the afternoon.

12/4 133km

It was a misty start to the morning, but it soon cleared, I added a few birds to finish with 25sp. Backtracked a few kilometers to the Silver Valley road, which is a slow rough but pleasant road through the forest, to Silver valley ck SW of Herberton for 8sp with White-rumped Swiftlet. Around Herberton it started to drizzle, and persisted through the survey at Cherry Tree ck NW Herberton, the birds were inactive here, just a few calls. There was still a light drizzle at Hastie’s swamp which was almost covered in weed making counting difficult, and the birds along the track were few and far between, but I got 24sp with a Barred Cuckoo-shrike. We did a few things in Mareeba and had lunch from the Corner bakery, which is very popular and not bad value, the pie Bev had was good, I had an plain sausage roll which was okay and a spinach and feta roll which as usual didn’t have enough feta, the cherry slice was huge, so we split it, bev got 3 cherry bits, I got 1, darn. We got to Mareeba wetlands our home for the next few months at 14.00 and settled in.

Bird list for the trip. % is of the 365 surveys done. B is for breeding

• Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae 1 (0.27%)
• Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata 5 (1.37%)
• Plumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoni 11 (3.01%) (B)
• Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata 2 (0.55%) (B)
• Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus 5 (1.37%)
• Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae 3 (0.82%)
• Black Swan Cygnus atratus 9 (2.47%) (B)
• Radjah Shelduck Radjah radjah 11 (3.01%)
• Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides 10 (2.74%)
• Hardhead Aythya australis 7 (1.92%)
• Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis 4 (1.10%)
• Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 23 (6.30%) (B)
• Grey Teal Anas gracilis 25 (6.85%) (B)
• Chestnut Teal Anas castanea 3 (0.82%)
• Musk Duck Biziura lobata 3 (0.82%)
• Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 4 (1.10%)
• Green Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus 3 (0.82%)
• Orange-footed Scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt 8 (2.19%)
• Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 1 (0.27%)
• Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus 1 (0.27%)
• Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis 6 (1.64%)
• Brown Quail Synoicus ypsilophora 6 (1.64%)
• Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae 16 (4.38%) (B)
• Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus 4 (1.10%) (B)
• Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1 (0.27%)
• Rock Dove Columba livia 10 (2.74%) (B)
• Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 5 (1.37%)
• White-quilled Rock-Pigeon Petrophassa albipennis 3 (0.82%)
• Spinifex Pigeon Geophaps plumifera 7 (1.92%) (B)
• Squatter Pigeon Geophaps scripta 2 (0.55%)
• Partridge Pigeon Geophaps smithii 1 (0.27%)
• Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera 12 (3.29%)
• Brush Bronzewing Phaps elegans 6 (1.64%)
• Flock Bronzewing Phaps histrionica 3 (0.82%)
• Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 61 (16.71%)
• Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata 52 (14.25%)
• Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida 113 (30.96%) (B)
• Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis 63 (17.26%)
• Brown-capped Emerald-Dove Chalcophaps longirostris 3 (0.82%)
• Torresian Imperial-Pigeon Ducula spilorrhoa 3 (0.82%)
• Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus regina 2 (0.55%)
• Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus 21 (5.75%)
• Eastern Koel Eudynamys orientalis 3 (0.82%)
• Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae 4 (1.10%)
• Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis 6 (1.64%)
• Black-eared Cuckoo Chalcites osculans 1 (0.27%)
• Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites minutillus 2 (0.55%)
• Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus 14 (3.84%)
• Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus 1 (0.27%)
• Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis 3 (0.82%)
• Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides 3 (0.82%)
• Spotted Nightjar Eurostopodus argus 3 (0.82%)
• Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus 13 (3.56%)
• Australian Swiftlet Aerodramus terraereginae 2 (0.55%)
• Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus 3 (0.82%)
• Buff-banded Rail Hypotaenidia philippensis 1 (0.27%)
• Spotless Crake Zapornia tabuensis 1 (0.27%)
• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 6 (1.64%) (B)
• Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa 6 (1.64%)
• Black-tailed Native-hen Tribonyx ventralis 3 (0.82%)
• Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 14 (3.84%) (B)
• Brolga Antigone rubicunda 4 (1.10%)
• Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius 6 (1.64%)
• Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris 3 (0.82%)
• Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae 1 (0.27%)
• Black-winged Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus 9 (2.47%)
• Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 1 (0.27%)
• Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva 1 (0.27%)
• Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus 9 (2.47%)
• Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus 3 (0.82%)
• Hooded Plover Thinornis cucullatus 2 (0.55%) (B)
• Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops 9 (2.47%)
• Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 42 (11.51%)
• Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus 5 (1.37%)
• Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea 5 (1.37%)
• Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 4 (1.10%)
• Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis 1 (0.27%)
• Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 1 (0.27%)
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 2 (0.55%)
• Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata 1 (0.27%)
• Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis 5 (1.37%)
• Sanderling Calidris alba 1 (0.27%)
• Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago megala 1 (0.27%)
• Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus 1 (0.27%)
• Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 3 (0.82%)
• Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes 4 (1.10%)
• Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 2 (0.55%)
• Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 1 (0.27%)
• Red-backed Button-quail Turnix maculosus 1 (0.27%)
• Red-chested Button-quail Turnix pyrrhothorax 3 (0.82%)
• Little Button-quail Turnix velox 6 (1.64%)
• Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella 6 (1.64%)
• Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae 39 (10.68%)
• Pacific Gull Larus pacificus 11 (3.01%)
• Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 4 (1.10%)
• Little Tern Sternula albifrons 2 (0.55%)
• Australian Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon macrotarsa 4 (1.10%)
• Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 10 (2.74%)
• Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 9 (2.47%)
• White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 1 (0.27%)
• Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 13 (3.56%)
• Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus 6 (1.64%)
• Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus 12 (3.29%)
• Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis 3 (0.82%)
• Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus 3 (0.82%)
• Striated Heron Butorides striata 3 (0.82%)
• Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 1 (0.27%)
• White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica 14 (3.84%)
• Great-billed Heron Ardea sumatrana 1 (0.27%)
• Great Egret Ardea alba 12 (3.29%)
• Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia 7 (1.92%)
• Pied Heron Egretta picata 6 (1.64%)
• White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 37 (10.14%)
• Little Egret Egretta garzetta 5 (1.37%)
• Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra 5 (1.37%)
• Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus 12 (3.29%)
• Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis 11 (3.01%)
• Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes 2 (0.55%)
• Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia 5 (1.37%)
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 2 (0.55%)
• Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 1 (0.27%)
• Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos 16 (4.38%)
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 5 (1.37%)
• Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 5 (1.37%)
• Black-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens 3 (0.82%)
• Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 9 (2.47%)
• Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae 7 (1.92%)
• Osprey Pandion haliaetus 4 (1.10%)
• Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris 3 (0.82%)
• Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax 12 (3.29%)
• Swamp Harrier Circus approximans 2 (0.55%)
• Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis 5 (1.37%)
• Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus 17 (4.66%)
• Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus 5 (1.37%)
• White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 4 (1.10%)
• Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus 63 (17.26%)
• Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 3 (0.82%)
• Black Kite Milvus migrans 88 (24.11%)
• Barn Owl Tyto alba 4 (1.10%)
• Barking Owl Ninox connivens 3 (0.82%)
• Southern Boobook Ninox boobook 9 (2.47%)
• Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 60 (16.44%)
• Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 25 (6.85%)
• Little Kingfisher Ceyx pusillus 3 (0.82%)
• Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus 12 (3.29%)
• Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii 17 (4.66%)
• Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus 41 (11.23%)
• Red-backed Kingfisher Todiramphus pyrrhopygius 8 (2.19%)
• Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 10 (2.74%)
• Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii 38 (10.41%)
• Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides 28 (7.67%)
• Australian Hobby Falco longipennis 3 (0.82%)
• Brown Falcon Falco berigora 29 (7.95%)
• Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus 25 (6.85%)
• Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii 17 (4.66%)
• Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Zanda funereus 6 (1.64%)
• Galah Eolophus roseicapilla 60 (16.44%)
• Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo Cacatua leadbeateri 2 (0.55%)
• Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea 37 (10.14%)
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita 24 (6.58%) (B)
• Red-winged Parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus 41 (11.23%)
• Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus 2 (0.55%)
• Blue Bonnet Northiella haematogaster 4 (1.10%)
• Mulga Parrot Psephotellus varius 4 (1.10%)
• Hooded Parrot Psephotellus dissimilis 1 (0.27%)
• Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans 8 (2.19%)
• Northern Rosella Platycercus venustus 9 (2.47%)
• Pale-headed Rosella Platycercus adscitus 9 (2.47%)
• Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius 12 (3.29%)
• Blue-winged Parrot Neophema chrysostoma 2 (0.55%)
• Elegant Parrot Neophema elegans 3 (0.82%)
• Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna 5 (1.37%)
• Little Lorikeet Glossopsitta pusilla 2 (0.55%)
• Purple-crowned Lorikeet Glossopsitta porphyrocephala 3 (0.82%)
• Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor 13 (3.56%)
• Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus 18 (4.93%)
• Red-collared Lorikeet Trichoglossus rubritorquis 35 (9.59%)
• Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus 49 (13.42%)
• Rainbow Pitta Pitta iris 1 (0.27%)
• Spotted Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus maculatus 3 (0.82%)
• Great Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis 22 (6.03%)
• White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea 6 (1.64%)
• Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus 1 (0.27%)
• Black-tailed Treecreeper Climacteris melanurus 2 (0.55%)
• Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti 20 (5.48%)
• Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus 26 (7.12%)
• Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens 10 (2.74%)
• Red-backed Fairy-wren Malurus melanocephalus 40 (10.96%)
• White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus 19 (5.21%)
• Southern Emu-wren Stipiturus malachurus 1 (0.27%)
• Carpentarian Grasswren Amytornis dorotheae 2 (0.55%)
• Kalkadoon Grasswren Amytornis ballarae 1 (0.27%)
• Dusky Grasswren Amytornis purnelli 1 (0.27%)
• Rufous Bristlebird Dasyornis broadbenti 2 (0.55%)
• Dusky Honeyeater Myzomela obscura 8 (2.19%)
• Red-headed Honeyeater Myzomela erythrocephala 2 (0.55%)
• Helmeted Friarbird Philemon buceroides 1 (0.27%)
• Silver-crowned Friarbird Philemon argenticeps 28 (7.67%)
• Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus 2 (0.55%)
• Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis 30 (8.22%)
• Banded Honeyeater Cissomela pectoralis 4 (1.10%)
• Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta 71 (19.45%)
• Crescent Honeyeater Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus 4 (1.10%)
• New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae 21 (5.75%)
• White-eared Honeyeater Nesoptilotis leucotis 1 (0.27%)
• Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis 18 (4.93%)
• Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis 3 (0.82%)
• Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris 1 (0.27%)
• White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis 38 (10.41%)
• White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus 1 (0.27%)
• Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Glyciphila melanops 2 (0.55%)
• Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris 3 (0.82%)
• Rufous-banded Honeyeater Conopophila albogularis 9 (2.47%)
• Rufous-throated Honeyeater Conopophila rufogularis 30 (8.22%)
• Bar-breasted Honeyeater Ramsayornis fasciatus 4 (1.10%)
• Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor 10 (2.74%)
• Orange Chat Epthianura aurifrons 2 (0.55%)
• White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons 9 (2.47%)
• White-gaped Honeyeater Stomiopera unicolor 36 (9.86%)
• Lewin’s Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii 3 (0.82%)
• Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis 47 (12.88%)
• Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera 1 (0.27%)
• Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata 25 (6.85%)
• Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens 70 (19.18%) (B)
• Grey-headed Honeyeater Ptilotula keartlandi 14 (3.84%) (B)
• Grey-fronted Honeyeater Ptilotula plumula 11 (3.01%)
• Yellow-tinted Honeyeater Ptilotula flavescens 21 (5.75%)
• White-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata 40 (10.96%) (B)
• White-fronted Honeyeater Purnella albifrons 1 (0.27%)
• Yellow-faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops 9 (2.47%)
• Purple-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus cratitius 1 (0.27%)
• Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala 14 (3.84%)
• Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula 39 (10.68%)
• Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus 2 (0.55%)
• Red-browed Pardalote Pardalotus rubricatus 14 (3.84%) (B)
• Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus 97 (26.58%)
• Green-backed Gerygone Gerygone chloronota 3 (0.82%)
• White-throated Gerygone Gerygone olivacea 9 (2.47%)
• Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris 4 (1.10%)
• Mangrove Gerygone Gerygone levigaster 3 (0.82%)
• Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca 3 (0.82%)
• Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris 84 (23.01%)
• Redthroat Pyrrholaemus brunneus 3 (0.82%)
• Shy Heathwren Calamanthus cautus 1 (0.27%)
• Rufous Fieldwren Calamanthus campestris 3 (0.82%)
• White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis 18 (4.93%)
• Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis 11 (3.01%)
• Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 6 (1.64%)
• Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis 5 (1.37%)
• Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla 16 (4.38%)
• Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis 9 (2.47%)
• Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides 1 (0.27%)
• Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis 26 (7.12%)
• White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus 11 (3.01%)
• Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera 3 (0.82%)
• Barred Cuckoo-shrike Coracina lineata 1 (0.27%)
• Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae 48 (13.15%)
• White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis 41 (11.23%)
• Cicadabird Edolisoma tenuirostris 4 (1.10%)
• White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor 17 (4.66%)
• Varied Triller Lalage leucomela 12 (3.29%)
• Cinnamon Quail-thrush Cinclosoma cinnamomeum 1 (0.27%)
• Grey Whistler Pachycephala simplex 5 (1.37%)
• Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris 54 (14.79%)
• Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis 1 (0.27%)
• Little Shrike-thrush Colluricincla megarhyncha 1 (0.27%)
• Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica 35 (9.59%)
• Sandstone Shrike-thrush Colluricincla woodwardi 1 (0.27%)
• Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis 16 (4.38%)
• Chiming Wedgebill Psophodes occidentalis 5 (1.37%)
• Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti 4 (1.10%)
• Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus 5 (1.37%)
• Yellow Oriole Oriolus flavocinctus 24 (6.58%)
• Pied Currawong Strepera graculina 9 (2.47%)
• Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor 4 (1.10%)
• Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen 91 (24.93%)
• Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis 59 (16.16%)
• Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus 28 (7.67%)
• Masked Woodswallow Artamus personatus 7 (1.92%)
• White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus 3 (0.82%)
• Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus 1 (0.27%)
• Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus 40 (10.96%)
• Little Woodswallow Artamus minor 11 (3.01%) (B)
• White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus 18 (4.93%) (B)
• Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus 13 (3.56%)
• Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris 11 (3.01%)
• Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys 124 (33.97%)
• Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons 1 (0.27%)
• Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa 17 (4.66%)
• Torresian Crow Corvus orru 63 (17.26%)
• Little Crow Corvus bennetti 12 (3.29%)
• Little Raven Corvus mellori 23 (6.30%)
• Forest Raven Corvus tasmanicus 10 (2.74%)
• Australian Raven Corvus coronoides 33 (9.04%)
• Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula 9 (2.47%)
• Broad-billed Flycatcher Myiagra ruficollis 3 (0.82%)
• Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto 8 (2.19%)
• Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta 31 (8.49%)
• Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca 108 (29.59%)
• White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos 1 (0.27%)
• Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea 10 (2.74%) (B)
• Scarlet Robin Petroica multicolor 1 (0.27%)
• Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii 14 (3.84%) (B)
• Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Microeca flavigaster 27 (7.40%)
• Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans 7 (1.92%)
• Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis 3 (0.82%)
• Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata 7 (1.92%)
• Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum 38 (10.41%)
• Yellow-rumped Mannikin Lonchura flaviprymna 1 (0.27%)
• Chestnut-breasted Mannikin Lonchura castaneothorax 8 (2.19%)
• Pictorella Mannikin Heteromunia pectoralis 2 (0.55%)
• Beautiful Firetail Stagonopleura bella 2 (0.55%)
• Painted Finch Emblema pictum 5 (1.37%)
• Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis 4 (1.10%)
• Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton 11 (3.01%)
• Plum-headed Finch Neochmia modesta 1 (0.27%)
• Masked Finch Poephila personata 3 (0.82%)
• Long-tailed Finch Poephila acuticauda 7 (1.92%) (B)
• Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata 78 (21.37%) (B)
• Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii 17 (4.66%)
• Gouldian Finch Chloebia gouldiae 1 (0.27%)
• House Sparrow Passer domesticus 14 (3.84%)
• Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae 10 (2.74%)
• Common Greenfinch Chloris chloris 1 (0.27%)
• European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 7 (1.92%)
• Horsfield’s Bushlark Mirafra javanica 13 (3.56%)
• Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis 2 (0.55%)
• Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis 27 (7.40%)
• Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis 5 (1.37%)
• Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi 18 (4.93%)
• Tawny Grassbird Cincloramphus timoriensis 3 (0.82%)
• Little Grassbird Poodytes gramineus 1 (0.27%)
• Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis 5 (1.37%)
• White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosterna 1 (0.27%)
• Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel 14 (3.84%)
• Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans 7 (1.92%)
• Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 24 (6.58%)
• Yellow White-eye Zosterops luteus 2 (0.55%)
• Silvereye Zosterops lateralis 23 (6.30%)
• Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 13 (3.56%)
• Common Blackbird Turdus merula 3 (0.82%)
• Greylag Goose Anser anser 1 (0.27%)
• Domestic Goose 1 (0.27%)
• Domestic Duck 1 (0.27%)

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