Mareeba via Great inland Hwy, central NSW to Ocean Grove 2017

30/10/2017 122km

Up at dawn, but it was still 9.30 before we finally got the caravan hitched up to leave Mareeba Wetland and drive the 14km into Mareeba.  Bev did some shopping then we introduced ourselves to the Real Estate agents that will be managing the rent for the house that we bought last week in town, we then drove down to Rocky Creek memorial park for the first survey, when I got back to the car I saw that one tyre on the caravan was flat, upon inspection I saw that the valve stem was broken, so I had to change the tyre, so lunch and that took an hour. Next stop was Hastie’s Swamp, the usual cacophony of Plumed Whistling Ducks was absent, there was one, just one, so instead of the mad cacophony that I’ve been seing recently here it looked like a normal wetland with a good array of wetland species, the walk along the road produced a good array of bush birds. Down to Mt Hypipamee NP and a walk along the road shows that I still have a lot to learn about rainforest bird calls, I still got 19sp but I missed out on a few. Over the top of the range there was a brief shower as the temperature dropped to 20 degrees, and we stopped at Archer Ck camp at 16.15 and relaxed by the noisy road, I fell asleep in my chair. A small thunderstorm came through just after dark and cooled things down.

 

31/10 415km

After the storm last night there was some light rain for quite a while, I was just dropping off to sleep last night when something wet landed on my feet that were poking out the bottom of my sheet, I thought the roof had sprung a leak, then I realized it was alive, I tracked it down and evicted a Green Tree Frog. Yesterday in my pre-trip check of the car I evicted what looked like a Bumpy Rocket Frog from the engine bay, I hope there aren’t too many more hitch-hikers. There were a few vehicles overnight but not many. Up early and left at 6.50, down to Wurruma swamp where there were no cattle but there was some pig damage, not many birds. The Mt Garnet petrol station I usually use had no compressor so nothing was working, I didn’t need fuel so drove on down to Smiths Ck which had a small flow, then 40 mile scrub which had had a fire on the west side, which is my site, I still got 13sp. Dam on Lava Plains station was green after the recent rains, but there wasn’t much water in the dam. 8 Mile Ck 3km W of Conjuboy had Squatter Pigeon, Redbank Ck Greenvale was the worst count for the day with 6sp. Clarke river 57km S of Greenvale was also quiet but a few flowering trees held some birds. Harvey range Rd T junction was the surprise, last time I was here I nearly had a no bird survey, this time at 15.00 in 38 degrees heat there were 14sp detected. Basalt river had Black-winged Stilts and a Royal Spoonbill. We stopped at 16.25 at Fletcher Creek camp, a large camping area on both sides of the creek and both sides of the road, it’s very popular in the dry season, but now only had a few campers.

1/11 415km

There were 3 Boobook Owls strung out along the creek calling last night. Up early and had a look along the creek, ended with 32sp. First stop was Bryants Rd N of Charters Towers, then we spent 2hrs in Charters Towers picking up fuel, shopping and Bev had to send some emails, so it was 10.00 when we got to Little Policeman Ck and got Singing Honeyeater and Zebra Finch. Pullover 50km S of Charters Towers had a lone Budgerigar and Rufous-throated honeyeaters. Vaquera Station had a lone Singing Honeyeater in the Mulga/Acacia woodland. Mazeppa NP S boundary was hot and dry with 6sp. We had to go to the library in Clermont so Bev could send off some signed papers for the new house, and we stopped at 17.40 at Naumans Rd Crescendo station, it wasn’t long before the sun set and the mozzies came out, the really small ones that are hard to see and hurt heaps when they sneak through the defenses.

 

 

 

2/11 439km

There was a good chorus of mainly friarbirds this morning, though by the time I got up there were few to be seen, headed off at 6.30 with 33sp and into Emerald, picked fuel at $1.33cpl, it was cheaper in Clermont at $1.25cpl. Down Selma rd to Fairbairn dam picnic area, there were a few terns and cormorants around. Back out to The Gregory Hwy and down to Canopus Ck Meteor Downs station and got Pipit and Budgerigar, I found a wing feather from a bustard’s wing, it’s close to if not the biggest feather I’ve seen. Panorama Ck Rolleston was jumping with Pacific Baza and Plum-headed Finch, the finches were on the fence by the road and I was just about to take their photograph when a car came by and they got spooked, a few minutes later they were back and I was just about to take their photograph when two trucks thundered by they took off a long way so I gave up on them, on my way back from the creek I saw them again, this time I got a shot before they were disturbed again by the busy traffic. We went down the dirt road to Consuelo Ck Rewan Rd in amongst the big River Red-gums there was a Fan-tailed Cuckoo. Into Carnarvon Gorge main camp where I discovered a flat tyre on the car, so changed it though I can’t see anything obvious. Back out to the Gregory Hwy to Doonkuna SF rest area, which despite the heat and the busy road still had 7sp in the late arvo. We stopped at Hutton Ck NE Injune at 17.15 and had a Spotted Nightjar and Boobook Owl calling just after dark.

 

 

 

3/11 484km

It was a beanie-putting-oning 8 degrees in the morning with the smell of smoke from all the burning off going on at the moment. We had our act in gear this morning and left early. Our first stop was Freemans Rd E of Roma, I found a bower of a Spotted Bowerbird and crouched down near it in the hope that it might offer a photo opportunity, instead it was a Yellow-rumped Thornbill that came in close to have a look at me crouched in the shrubs whilst the bowerbird flitted around too much. South to Green Swamp Brucedale SF, which was dry but had some Grey-crowned Babblers. Picked up fuel in Roma at the BP at $1.31.9cpl. Next stop was Rest stop S of Surat which despite being dry forest at 11.00 was jumping with birds, a testament to the quality of the forest here, unfortunately just north of here a bulldozer was knocking down all the forest except the Bottle Trees, which you aren’t allowed to knock down, but they looked forlorn in the middle of the all that destruction, for what? So the farmer can put a few more cattle on to make a few more bucks, he’s happy to massacre an entire community of animals and birds? Such short-sighted selfish foolishness. How much of our woodlands are we going to allow to be destroyed? Many of our woodland species are already on the threatened list, do we have to wait until they become critically endangered before we do something about it, and then have to spend millions of dollars rectifying the situation that we’ve put these species in? Stupidity, short-sighted stupidity, our governments are all guilty of it. We spent some time in St. George getting papers for the new house in order, then went to Kia Ora irrigation and wetland, the wetland was dry as it was last time I was here, there was some water in the channel with a lone Black Duck, some Fairy Martins making use of the tunnel under the road and more Grey-crowed Babblers. Down the dirt road to Balonne river N of Dirranbandi for Crested Shrike-tit which gave very close views. Narran river N of Hebel only had a pool and had Variegated Fairywren, we popped over the border into NSW and stopped at Lake Angledool NW edge. The farmer has locked the gate which means he really doesn’t want anyone in there, so we camped near the gate on a very pleasant balmy evening, except for the first pesky flies for the trip.

 

 

 

4/11 442km

Ended the survey with 27sp and headed south to Coocoran Lake 83km N of Walgett, but it was rather quiet here, I did find a Red-capped Robin feeding a Horsefield’s Bronze Cuckoo and tried in vain to get a photo, these point and shoot cameras are really hard to get photos in anything but simple circumstances, the cuckoo was behind some twigs which the camera insisted on focusing on, the robin was in front of the twigs that the camera insisted on focusing on, so I got neither bird, never mind the feeding event, very frustrating. Walgett town pool area had 50 Little Friarbirds and a pair of Common Mynas, not good to see them out here. A 5km detour to Barwon river W of Walgett saw Red-rumped parrots. Gungalman Rd N of Corinda only had 4sp, with White-winged Fairywren. Macquarie Marsh NR 1 had Variegated Fairywren. Macquarie River Gordon Rd had a Stiated Pardalote nesting under the bridge in a hole in the balustrading. Carinda Rd Macks Rd had an adult with two half grown Emu juveniles, Warren sewerage had 26sp with 185 Pink-eared Ducks. It was 25 degrees around Warren, but as we headed south the temperature slowly dropped to be at 16 degrees with some light rain at Bogan River Tabratong, the birds were still active and I got 25sp before dark with Sacred Kingfisher feeding a rather unsteady fledgling.

 

 

 

 

5/11 447km

early in the morning a dog started barking, no it was a Barking Owl, no it was a dog, no it was a Barking Owl, this went on for quite some time, as I really wasn’t sure of what I was hearing, in the end the only way I could really convince myself that it was indeed a Barking Owl was that it was moving around through the forest barking. The day dawned cold and crisp, after my morning amble I had 37sp. At Tullamore W on the back road there were 9sp with Bluebonnet. Coppers Rd Derriwong Mt had 14sp in the mixed Calitris Pine forest with Yellow Robin and Chestnut-rumped Thornbill. Sandy Camp Rd Condobolin had a surprising 18sp crammed into the small woodland in the middle of the wheat fields. Humbug Ck Ridleys rest area had 15sp. Hiawatha SF had quandong in fruit and 8sp with Inland Thornbill. Redwin 3km N of Reefton has had a fire through the eastern part of the green strip and had 12sp with more Bluebonnet. Bradshaws Ln N of Coolamon had 9sp with Grey-crowned Babbler, we stopped at Murrumbidgee river Millwood right by the road a small track runs up to the river on the SW side, but it’s a popular spot for beer drinking vandals who toss their empty bottles and cans onto the ground and leave the place in a mess, this should be a really nice little spot, but it’s just an ugly sore.

 

 

6/11 175km

It started to rain before dawn, at around 6.00 a thunderstorm came through with persistent rain, after that it was pointless surveying so we headed down to my friends in Beechworth for the day.

7/11 81km

It was 9.00 when we headed off down the hill and onto the freeway and south, we stopped at Pincic Reef Hills, which being in the middle of the forest with not a great deal of variety in the vegetation isn’t great birding, but it’s a nice spot, and we wiled away the hours in the bright sunshine but cold southerly wind, and got some Buff-rumped Thornbills.

8/11 300km

Added Sitella in the morning. It was a simple run down the freeway to Rippleside Park in Geelong where we had lunch then on to Ocean Grove, for a few day’s rest with Lynne and Colin in preparation for our trip to Tasmania on Saturday.

Bird list for the trip. % is of the 54 surveys done, B is for breeding

• Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae 1 (1.85%) (B)
• Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata 1 (1.85%)
• Plumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoni 1 (1.85%)
• Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata 1 (1.85%)
• Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus 2 (3.70%)
• Hardhead Aythya australis 3 (5.56%)
• Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 7 (12.96%)
• Grey Teal Anas gracilis 3 (5.56%)
• Chestnut Teal Anas castanea 1 (1.85%)
• Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 2 (3.70%)
• Australian Brush-turkey Alectura lathami 1 (1.85%)
• Orange-footed Scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt 1 (1.85%)
• Brown Quail Synoicus ypsilophora 1 (1.85%)
• Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae 3 (5.56%)
• Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1 (1.85%)
• Rock Dove Columba livia 3 (5.56%)
• Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 1 (1.85%)
• Brown Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia phasianella 1 (1.85%)
• Squatter Pigeon Geophaps scripta 4 (7.41%)
• Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera 9 (16.67%)
• Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 16 (29.63%)
• Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida 11 (20.37%)
• Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis 3 (5.56%)
• Wompoo Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus magnificus 1 (1.85%)
• Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus 6 (11.11%)
• Eastern Koel Eudynamys orientalis 4 (7.41%)
• Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae 7 (12.96%)
• Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis 6 (11.11%)
• Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis 1 (1.85%)
• Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus 4 (7.41%)
• Pallid Cuckoo Heteroscenes pallidus 3 (5.56%)
• Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides 2 (3.70%)
• Spotted Nightjar Eurostopodus argus 2 (3.70%)
• Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus 3 (5.56%)
• Australian Swiftlet Aerodramus terraereginae 1 (1.85%)
• Buff-banded Rail Hypotaenidia philippensis 1 (1.85%)
• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 2 (3.70%)
• Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa 1 (1.85%)
• Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 3 (5.56%)
• Black-winged Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus 3 (5.56%)
• Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops 1 (1.85%)
• Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 7 (12.96%)
• Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea 1 (1.85%)
• Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae 2 (3.70%)
• Pacific Gull Larus pacificus 1 (1.85%)
• Australian Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon macrotarsa 1 (1.85%)
• Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 1 (1.85%)
• Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 1 (1.85%)
• Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus 1 (1.85%)
• White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica 1 (1.85%)
• Great Egret Ardea alba 3 (5.56%)
• Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia 2 (3.70%)
• White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 3 (5.56%)
• Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus 2 (3.70%)
• Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis 1 (1.85%)
• Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia 3 (5.56%)
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 1 (1.85%)
• Australasian Gannet Morus serrator 1 (1.85%)
• Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos 3 (5.56%)
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1 (1.85%)
• Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 2 (3.70%)
• Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 1 (1.85%)
• Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae 1 (1.85%)
• Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata 1 (1.85%)
• Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax 1 (1.85%)
• Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus 2 (3.70%)
• Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus 9 (16.67%)
• Black Kite Milvus migrans 8 (14.81%)
• Barn Owl Tyto alba 1 (1.85%)
• Barking Owl Ninox connivens 1 (1.85%)
• Southern Boobook Ninox boobook 5 (9.26%)
• Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 4 (7.41%)
• Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 14 (25.93%)
• Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii 4 (7.41%)
• Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus 10 (18.52%) (B)
• Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 12 (22.22%)
• Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii 3 (5.56%)
• Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides 4 (7.41%)
• Brown Falcon Falco berigora 3 (5.56%)
• Black Falcon Falco subniger 1 (1.85%)
• Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus 8 (14.81%)
• Galah Eolophus roseicapilla 16 (29.63%)
• Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea 2 (3.70%)
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita 11 (20.37%)
• Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii 1 (1.85%)
• Red-winged Parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus 5 (9.26%)
• Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus 7 (12.96%)
• Blue Bonnet Northiella haematogaster 4 (7.41%)
• Pale-headed Rosella Platycercus adscitus 9 (16.67%)
• Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius 4 (7.41%)
• Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius 3 (5.56%)
• Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna 1 (1.85%)
• Purple-crowned Lorikeet Glossopsitta porphyrocephala 1 (1.85%)
• Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus 16 (29.63%)
• Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus 1 (1.85%)
• Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus 2 (3.70%)
• Spotted Catbird Ailuroedus melanotis 1 (1.85%)
• Tooth-billed Bowerbird Scenopoeetes dentirostris 1 (1.85%)
• Spotted Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus maculatus 3 (5.56%)
• Great Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis 4 (7.41%)
• White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea 1 (1.85%)
• Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus 3 (5.56%)
• Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti 3 (5.56%)
• Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus 4 (7.41%)
• Red-backed Fairy-wren Malurus melanocephalus 5 (9.26%)
• White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus 2 (3.70%)
• Scarlet Honeyeater Myzomela sanguinolenta 1 (1.85%)
• Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata 8 (14.81%)
• Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus 7 (12.96%)
• Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis 18 (33.33%)
• Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta 7 (12.96%)
• New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae 2 (3.70%)
• Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis 14 (25.93%)
• White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis 8 (14.81%)
• Rufous-throated Honeyeater Conopophila rufogularis 1 (1.85%)
• Lewin’s Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii 4 (7.41%)
• Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis 6 (11.11%)
• Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata 2 (3.70%)
• Bridled Honeyeater Bolemoreus frenatus 1 (1.85%)
• Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens 4 (7.41%)
• White-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata 10 (18.52%)
• Yellow-faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops 3 (5.56%)
• Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala 18 (33.33%)
• Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula 11 (20.37%)
• Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus 1 (1.85%)
• Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus 13 (24.07%) (B)
• White-throated Gerygone Gerygone olivacea 3 (5.56%)
• Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca 2 (3.70%)
• Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris 16 (29.63%)
• White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis 2 (3.70%)
• Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 2 (3.70%)
• Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis 1 (1.85%)
• Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis 2 (3.70%) (B)
• Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides 1 (1.85%)
• Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis 5 (9.26%)
• Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera 1 (1.85%)
• Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae 12 (22.22%)
• White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis 4 (7.41%)
• Cicadabird Edolisoma tenuirostris 2 (3.70%)
• White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor 11 (20.37%)
• Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris 12 (22.22%)
• Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis 2 (3.70%)
• Little Shrike-thrush Colluricincla megarhyncha 2 (3.70%)
• Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica 11 (20.37%)
• Crested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus 1 (1.85%)
• Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis 1 (1.85%)
• Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti 3 (5.56%)
• Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus 7 (12.96%)
• Pied Currawong Strepera graculina 9 (16.67%)
• Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen 20 (37.04%)
• Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis 20 (37.04%) (B)
• Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus 18 (33.33%)
• White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus 3 (5.56%)
• White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus 2 (3.70%)
• Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus 1 (1.85%)
• Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys 19 (35.19%)
• Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons 1 (1.85%)
• Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa 3 (5.56%)
• Torresian Crow Corvus orru 8 (14.81%)
• Little Raven Corvus mellori 5 (9.26%)
• Australian Raven Corvus coronoides 16 (29.63%)
• Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula 1 (1.85%)
• Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta 2 (3.70%)
• Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca 27 (50.00%)
• Black-faced Monarch Monarcha melanopsis 1 (1.85%)
• White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos 6 (11.11%)
• Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea 15 (27.78%)
• Victoria’s Riflebird Lophorina victoriae 1 (1.85%)
• Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii 2 (3.70%) (B)
• Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Microeca flavigaster 3 (5.56%)
• Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans 1 (1.85%)
• Grey-headed Robin Heteromyias albispecularis 1 (1.85%)
• Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis 1 (1.85%)
• Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum 7 (12.96%)
• Chestnut-breasted Mannikin Lonchura castaneothorax 1 (1.85%)
• Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis 2 (3.70%)
• Plum-headed Finch Neochmia modesta 1 (1.85%)
• Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata 3 (5.56%)
• Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii 1 (1.85%)
• House Sparrow Passer domesticus 2 (3.70%)
• Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus 1 (1.85%)
• Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae 1 (1.85%)
• Common Greenfinch Chloris chloris 1 (1.85%)
• Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi 6 (11.11%)
• Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis 2 (3.70%)
• Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel 4 (7.41%) (B)
• Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans 2 (3.70%)
• Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 5 (9.26%)
• Silvereye Zosterops lateralis 1 (1.85%)
• Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 9 (16.67%)
• Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 3 (5.56%)
• Common Blackbird Turdus merula 1 (1.85%)

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