Broome to Melbourne via Port Hedland Karijini NP Mt Augustus NP Kennedy Ranges NP Nullarbor Menindee Lakes 2019

 

28/11 378km

There is always a problem at the start of a trip isn’t there, we were late getting ourselves organized so it was 9.30 when I went to start the Troopy to hitch it up to the caravan, it started okay, but when I put it into 1st gear and started to move off it wouldn’t budge, there were no ground impediments, something had seized in the drive train. I put it into 4wd and dug a big hole with the rear wheels, but the front wheels weren’t moving, it was about 10mins later when I thought about trying the diff locks, so in low range I tried again, there was a loud clang, and the car moved, everything seemed to be alright, problem solved, but when we went to transfer food from the caravan fridge to the troopy fridge, the fridge was warm, I had turned it on when I got up so it should be cold, try as I might I couldn’t get it going. The other day we’d been out in the car and the fridge had taken ages to turn itself on so I hoped it would do the same this time. The caravan is being stored at my workplace, so we trundled round there, put the cover over it and headed off, filling up the tank at the United Servo it being the cheapest diesel in the region and we were on our way at last. It was already 38 degrees away from the coast so I didn’t expect much at my survey sites, first was Roebuck Plains rest area which had some Wedge-tailed Eagles and the decaying head only of an Australian Bustard, which suggests that it was killed by humans for food. Lunch was taken at 210km NE of Sandfire, and on to Goldwire camp, where in the relentless heat there were only 2sp, Shelamar Station Rd was down to a lone Singing Honeyeater, Ck 1 Great Northern Hwy had a family of Bee-eaters zooming around, but not getting close enough to nab the flies zooming around me, a culvert east of Sandfire had no birds at all that we could detect, and we finished the surveys at Wallal Downs 80mile beach, the tide was out but a few waders were close enough to count in the survey, I was accosted by the caravan park manager as I strolled through the park and told to get out even after I explained what I was doing and told him I won’t be long, won’t be using that caravan park ever. Went back down the road a bit, found a track off and camped a short way down. It was a beautiful balmy evening with a light wind coming off the ocean. The fridge never went on, so we got a bag of ice at Sandfire, and dumped it in to the expensive esky, at least I’ll have cold milk on my cereal in the morning.

30/11 263km

We were up at dawn and drove the 100km to 11km west of Pardoo where there is a small rest area with 3 eucalyptus trees, this was enough to sustain 11 Yellow-throated Miners with a few other birds in the surrounds. We then went to De Grey River where there is a bigger rest stop with facilities, but they’ve had Noogoora Burr infestation, so access down the track to the river was blocked, I walked around to the bridge and scampered down the rocks to get to the river only to find that cattle have access all the way along the river’s edge, including where I was blocked, that just doesn’t make sense to me. There were some pools in the river which never seem to dry out and the place was thronging with Cockatiels, and a few Budgerigars, Little Corellas and Galahs. Into Port Hedland where I found a man to have a look at the fridge, he suggested that it was probably a dead compressor, which is what I thought, the Snomaster fridge isn’t even a year old, so it’s under warranty, but it means I’ll have to detour to Perth to see the supplier. We did my survey point at Front Beach which had the tide coming in so all the waders were coming to a roost site a few hundred meters down the beach, there were 12 species of migratory wader, with 500 Grey-tailed Tattler being the most numerous. We then went to the cheapest caravan park in town, the Black Rock, which is in South Hedland, and put all our fridge food into their camp fridge, and wiled the afternoon away in the shade. At 9.15 we drove into Cemetery beach in Port Hedland to help with the monitoring of Flatback Turtles as they come up onto the beach to lay their eggs, we had about 7 throughout the night,and we got to watch the whole process from hauling up the beach, through digging the body pit, and the egg laying chamber, then the laying, covering up and the final haul back to the water. The last one that we watched hauled up the beach at about midnight and didn’t lay her eggs until 2.30, mainly because she dug 5 body pits before she finally did the laying. We then drove back to the caravan park and were soon asleep.

1/12 66km

Up at 5.30 and drove back to the beach to help with the research again. There had been no more turtles haul up the beach after we left, but there had been clutch of hatchlings scamper down the beach at some stage, we missed it, but counted 39 tracks, so that’s not a bad count considering they only lay on average 50 eggs in a clutch. At the carpark there were some Budgerigars that were crying out to have their photo taken, so I obliged, it’s a distinct possibility that they are cage escapees. We made our way back to the caravan park and snoozed the day away, with a break to go fill up the tank and get food for the next leg of the journey. The tide was later tonight so it was 23.00 when we went back to Cemetery Beach to help with the turtle research. There were some meteors, some quite bright, and two may have hit the ground, they were apparently from the pheonicid meteor shower which appears each year at this time, we had a front row seat. we stayed until 1.30 this time and just as we were about to leave we got our first turtle emerge from the water, so we notified Sarah, she came down, we said our goodbyes, headed back to camp and were soon fast asleep

2/12 377km

It was 6.oo when I woke, 7.00 when we exited the gate, got a bag of ice from a nearby servo and headed south and stopped at our first survey point for the day, 50km south of Port Hedland, where it was already hot and windy, there weren’t many birds active, this would be the trend all day. There has been some rain through the region but still little standing water. Down the road was park bay 2 south of Port Hedland, then park bay south of Port Hedland, Coonarie Ck lacked the usual birds under the bridge, Bea Bea Ck north was the standout survey in the good woodland around and in the creek with a Red-browed Pardalote calling, though neither of us could find it. 228km south of Port Hedland was back to poor in the spinifex hills, and 211km north of Newman wasn’t any better in good Mulga woodland. Lunch was taken at a creekline Munjina Rd Karijini NP, just east of Auski Roadhouse. We then back tracked and headed west along the Nanutarra road past Wittenoom to a creekline west of Wittenoom. then on to Hamersley Gorge Karijini NP. The waterfall was running with what looked like new water running into scungy pools, the birdlife was poor, but there were some interesting dragonflies, one being a Yellow-fronted Riverdamsel pair laying eggs. Back to the main road and a short dogleg to the north a short unmarked track led us to Hamersley Gorge camp, which was our final stop. There has been a large destructive fire through here, burning all the spinifex, it will be years before this site will be productive, the Bloodwoods and Snappy Gums look forlorn in the blackened habitat. There are some cliffs above the camp which for the most part the fire wasn’t able to reach, and where the spinifex was its magnificent prickly self, here a few birds were hanging in there. The scree slope was treacherous and I toppled over twice, I’m not as sprightly as I used to be, it gets very frustrating! On my tour I picked up a heap of passengers, native bees, I absolutely love the little darlings until they start climbing into my nose, they look like half size house flies and behave in a similar manner, but somehow it’s more fun to have them buzzing around me in an eager swarm than a similar swarm of eager house flies.

3/12 450km

There was a beautiful gentle breeze wafting through the camper as I drifted off to sleep last night. During the night an Owlet Nightjar came a visiting, but in the morning’s dawn there was no dawn chorus, on my round however I got some Hooded Robins and a Red-backed Kingfisher, and as we left a Bustard flew over, giving me 12sp for the site, which for an overnight survey is poor, but considering the damage to the habitat in the area, it’s not bad. We were on the road at 6.30 with the first stop at floodway Wittenoom Rd for 6sp with Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, then into Tom Price to top up with fuel and another bag of ice. A few kilometres west of town on the Nameless valley Rd is Kings Lake, a small mostly reed covered lake in parkland for 17sp with Barking Owl and Western Bowerbird. We turned left onto the Nanutarra Rd, and stopped at a creek off Witenoom Rd, down a small track. At 9.45 it was already hot and the birds were inactive, this would be the picture for the rest of the day as the temperature rose to 40 degrees. We headed south along the Ashburton Downs Rd and the quality of the habitat took a dive, with cow dung all over the place, virtually no ground cover anywhere, with whirlwinds whipping up what’s left of the disturbed soil into the atmosphere, it has always been my contention that cattle do not belong in this fragile environment, that is marginal at best for farming. Creek and grid Ashburton Downs Rd had a Chiming Wedebill, Floodway Meekathara Rd had two families of Variegated Fairywren, one either side of the road. The property south of Ashburton Downs was in better nick, but still the birds were inactive at Pingandy Ck where we got a Spinifex Pigeon. A few kilometres down the road we turned west along Pingandy Rd, and the habitat improved some more, but floodway Dooley Downs Rd which was the best woodland all day only had a lone Rufous Whistler. We stopped by a dry creek on Cattle Yard Tk a few kilometres off the Dooley Downs Rd at 17.30 and only had 4sp by dark including an early calling Owlet Nightjar and the usual quick glimpse of a Crested Bellbird.

4/12 356km

Just after we got to bed a Spotted Nightjar started calling, their call always makes me smile. In the morning it was dead quiet and on my round I added only a few birds, disappointing as the woodland looks quite good. It was a quick run down to Mt Augustus NP where we did the loop road from the east, stopping at Ooramboo, and doing the walk past the rock painting to find a small rock pool that was very active, we sat back and observed until my bum went numb on the rocks, then idled back to the car, and on to The Pound, where a short walk leads up to a saddle with good views. Our final stop in the park was Cattle Pool, which had a good level of water, but was indeed cattle infested, just what cattle are doing in a national park I don’t know. If you or I took our pets there we’d be fined, but they are doing damage to the water’s edge, defecating in the pool and damaging the surrounding ground cover. The owners of the cattle should be fined… heavily. We headed west along Gifford Rd, stopping at Gifford Rd Cobra Station grid, where there was a Hooded Robin in the 40 degree heat sheltering in the shade. Lyons River had a few pools of water so we stopped for lunch, at the pools there were heaps of birds including 50 Spinifex Pigeons, never seen so many. Next stop was Mangaroon Ck which had no water and only a few birds sheltering in the shade. Our last stop for the day was done in 44 degree heat at Howells Ck, we found a few more birds here, still sheltering from the heat, the Crimson Chats were vying for the best spots with some Black-faced Woodswallows. We drove in to Kennedy Range NP and stopped at the Temple Gorge campground, which is free this time of year. As I pulled up I noticed that a tyre was going flat, so I pulled it off, found the leak and plugged it. The Bridgestone Dueler tyres are only 30000km old, but are falling to pieces and have excessive wear, I’m not happy with this lot. There was a Grey Butcherbird in camp with only 2 other species found before dark.

5/12 810km

The gorge didn’t produce much on the morning walk, pumped up the tyre and did the short drive to Drapers Gorge where there was only a Grey Butcherbird, up north to Honeycomb Gorge where there were a few more birds, then left the park and headed south to Coongarracaroo floodway and to Fred’s Landing Hackers Hectare on the Gascoyne River where there a few pools. We picked up ice and pumped the tyre up again at the roadhouse in town, then headed west, surveying Nalbra Well where the tank was dry, so there were few birds around, the dunes were slowly recovering from the damage that the cattle do since they weren’t around either. Lunch was taken at Meeragoolia Rd where all the birds were sheltering from the heat inside the culvert under the road in the shade. From there we sprinted down to Cliff Head camp south arriving at 21.30 with stops every few hundred kilometres to pump up the tyre, a quick dinner and bed.

6/12 319km

Up early and got a Crimson Chat on my round along with all the usuals. I decided that the other tyre with a hole in it might last longer so I changed the tyre pumped it up and headed south to Perth to see Quick Pitch Campers about the fridge, they were very good about it, ascertaining that there was a problem and swapping the fridge for another one and we were on our way, top service, top marks. We had lunch at Lake Joondalup where I got a Brown Songlark, then around to Jim and Emma’s for the night.

7/12 20km

Went around to the nearest Bridgestone Dealership to try and sort out the tyre problem, but they are a franchisee and wanted nothing to do with problems with my tyres, the head office was closed so we tried another dealership in Victoria Park, and they were much more helpful, we took photos of the tyres and details, and promised to get back to me. meanwhile we arrived at my friend Smathi’s place, where we relaxed for the arvo. The tyre people eventually got back to me and told me that it’ll have to wait until Monday. We spent 5hrs wandering around the edge of Lake Herdsman and got 65sp. Later we went to Shi Wei Chinese Restaurant just around the corner and had the best satay ever (as far as I’m concerned) at a reasonable price, and all left slightly too much sated.

8/12 80km

Headed down to Thomson’s Lake and walked the circuit taking 5.5hrs as we searched each grassy knob for interesting waders, but found no vagrants. Nevertheless there were thousands of birds and some interesting dragonflies on and around the lake. From there we moved to North Lake, to find the Eurasian Hobby, possibly the same one that we got last year, then to my site on the Canning Creek, after the survey it was time to do some shopping and head back to Smathis’s for dinner.

9/12 127km

We said goodbye to Smathi at 8.30 and went to Bridgestone in Kewdale for an engineer to scrutinize the tyres, his verdict was not in my favour, he said I was running the pressures too low suggesting fully loaded I should have the rear ones at 65psi. They gave us a reasonable discount paying $960 for 4 tyres, and I kept the one tyre that wasn’t destroyed from the original batch as the spare. We left at 11.30, picked up food and fuel and headed to Whiteman Park Mussel Pool for lunch. We had just vacated the park when I felt something sting me on my thigh, so I gave it a good rub to squash whatever was there, but shortly thereafter I received another sting, this time I felt the insect, pulled it off my thigh and squashed it, but again a short while later I got another sting, this time I held on to the insect through my trouser legs and pulled over, dropped my dacks and was surprised to find an over-sized flea, it was dispatched. It was then up to Valley camp Avon River NP to camp arriving at 15.00. I was disappointed to find there was no access to the river because of the railway line, that sort of negates the idea of coming here, and it looks like there is no camping on the other bank, it all being ripped up, but 4wders with big tyres and small minds have bashed their way through the bush anyway. There is a causeway across the slowly trickling river with a large pool up stream. Late in the arvo as the sun was going down a gentle breeze wafted through the trees, the Carnaby’s Cockatoos came calling out as they zoomed down the valley to their evening roost, a Brown Goshawk perched briefly a stone’s throw away and a Red-capped Robin almost in reach, very pleasant, and then the mozzies came out.

10/12 374km

Well before dawn a Boobook Owl called a few times, and not long after dawn we arose. I didn’t add much to the bird list for the site, but as the sun crested the hills above us the birds began to move through the campground. We hit the road not long after and went to my site at retard basins Sawyers Valley for only 3sp, down the hill to Wariin Brook Flynn Rd which was busy with birds despite the brook being dry, with White-breasted Robin, Western (Golden) Whistler and Western Thornbills. Next to Wandoo NP Quinkitchmunging, which was a bit quieter. Beverley Cemetery had some White-browed Babblers. Lunch was taken at Collins Rd Westbury where a lone Brown Quail was found. Dam Falcon Rd Boyagen NR was hot and was quiet despite water in the dam. In the eastern section of the park Thornbill Rd Boyagen NR was a bit busier with an active feeding group that had Western Yellow Robin. On our way into Eagle Tk Tuganning NR the track was blocked by a fallen tree, I used a strap to pull it aside, giving enough room for us to get by, but the survey was a dud with only some Weebills active. We used some back roads to get to Yomaning Dam which wasn’t much cop with only a single Black Duck in the water, and not much activity in the big trees in the surrounds. We did a slow cruise through Dryandra CP in the hope of spotting a Numbat without luck and camped at Congelin camp dam, where I had a good wander around before dark. There are some good prospects for Numbats in the area but I couldn’t find any. There was a Baudin’s Cockatoo at the dam with the likes of Common Bronzewings and Ringneck Parrots coming in for their evening drink. Red-capped Robin and Scarlet Robin males adding a splash of colour to the site, there were also some Purple-crowned Lorikeets in the trees, but they remained out of sight. Once again the mozzies were abuzz around the campsite necessitating an early retreat to the camper.

11/12 449km

Up not long after dawn and walked the log strewn hill in the hope of seeing a Numbat, I was disappointed, but had a consolation prize of a Quokka that wasn’t nearly so human friendly as the ones on Rottnest island and scarpered off as soon as it saw me. Into Narrogin to top up with fuel and do my survey and got some Yellow-rumped Thornbills in a park. Over to Kerr Rd Wikepin in the farmland, with predictably poor birdlife in the single row of trees amid the monocultured farmland. Took a few back roads to get to Toolibin Lake NR, which is suffering from over-salination that is killing the Flood Gums, there were some Pink-eared Ducks on a small pond and a few birds in the trees. East to Boundary Rd Tarin Rock Rd quarry. Through Lake Grace to Heathland NR Pelham Rd for lunch, but not much life in the good looking heathland. 40Km west of lake King had some Purple-gaped Honeyeaters in some flowering gums. At Norseman Rd Ladyman Rd Lake King I found some Redthroats. I had just found the Redthroats when I felt an itch on my right breast, rubbed at it and felt a lump, but it was too high to be my nipple, so I unbuttoned my shirt and found a small tick lodged in there. So we killed it with fly spray then pulled it off with tweezers. I was disappointed to find that the road through Frank Hann NP was closed so had to angle SE instead of NE along Cascade Rd. We stopped at Culvert Cascade Rd and got a pair of Southern Scrubrobins, so not bad compensation. We stopped for the day at Griffiths NR Edwards Rd down a small track that lead to another monoculture field, but it was only a short walk back to the reserve where I got both Southern Scrubrobin and Redthroat before dusk, as the sun set it was a chilly for us 21 degrees, jumpers on. Grey Butcherbird Robberfly sp

Southern Scrubrobin

12/12 397km

It was a decidedly cold 9 degrees at dawn when we arose. On my walk I didn’t add much and left the site with only 8sp. First stop was Lort River Rolland Rd which isn’t much of a river and was dry. Not long before we stopped we’d seen some Regent Parrots, but there were none at the site which was recovering from a big burn in the last few years, here we got our first White-fronted Honeyeater for the trip. We got to the bitumen at Red Lake school site which although it had good trees in the woodland, the undergrowth was rather poor, and we only got 3sp, but there were a lot of Barred Wedge-snouted Ctenotus skinks in the leaf litter. Heading north Quast Rd Kumarl was busier despite being mostly treeless farmland with only a thin strip of trees along the roads and railway line. At Dundas Rocks I found a small rockhole that was abuzz with bees and wasps. We did some shopping at the IGA, filled up the water tank and had a shower at the visitor centre. The water cost $5, the showers $2.50 for the use of hot water, if you just want cold showers they are free. We filled up with diesel at the Caltex, which is 8cpl cheaper than the BP that is just up the road, so well worth traveling the short distance to the south. We eventually headed east and stopped in some great woodland at Buldania Eyre Hwy that at lunchtime still had 8sp active. The rest stop at Dundas NR that is at Southland Hills rest stop had Redthroats and honeyeaters in the flowering eucalypts. Parkbay Frasers Range only had Weebils in the good looking woodland, that had little variety in the species of trees and had poor undergrowth. Newman Rocks waterhole was dry and we only found a lone Blue-breasted Fairywren in the desiccated bushes around the rocks. We revisited Yadadina Rockhole for our campsite for the night, which was also dry with the area also looking extremely dry, the only excitement was having a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles overfly us in the search for food, doing more flapping than soaring in the cool afternoon with a stiff southeasterly blowing. damselfly sp Spider Wasp sp

13/12 479km

The only visitors we had last night were a feral camel and a feral dog/Dingo, and the morning brought little cheer as far as birds go. We were on the track back to Balladonia by 6.00 and we headed on east, first stop was at a wrecked house Eyre Hwy, being the old Balladonia Homestead, it is slowly crumbling to bits which is a shame. Next was 90km east of Balladonia which only had Grey Butcherbird, this one or two species would be the tone for all the surveys today, no matter how good the habitat, there was little active during the day. Track near Oodlegabby Rockhole was the exception with no birds at all. Nuytsland NR Eyre Hwy was back to one species, we then went down to the carpark for Eyre Observatory, which is still recovering from a devastating fire, we had lunch here. Back to the highway on the rough road and on east again to Eyre Hwy 63km west of Madura, then Hampton Tableland west of Madura. The track into my next site has been bulldozed, so we headed on to Mundrabilla repeater where we camped for the night up against the escarpment, and had 10sp by dark.

young male Red Kangaroo Young male Red Kangaroo

14/12 466km

After a brief wander along the base of the escarpment where I found a family of 10 White-browed Babblers, making me wonder how they all fit into their nest at night, with six the usual number seeming to be a tight fit. We were soon heading east ever east, with the first stop being at Hearder Hill Repeater Rd in good woodland, then to Eucla dunes where we park on the flats on the north side of the dunes and walk the track down to the beach rather than drive it, there were the usual suspects in the dune shrubs. Border Village always has good numbers of human tolerant species. 60Km east of WA border had a Crested Bellbird in the good shrubland and I had a Redthroat that sat up on a bush not far from me and sang long enough for me to get a few photos. My next survey spot down a track to the cliff’s edge has been blocked off, so we drove on to truck stop 103km east of WA border where we had lunch. Next stop was just east of Nullarbor roadhouse in some samphire, which usually has something interesting lurking in the low shrubs, the site didn’t disappoint with some Slender-billed Thornbills this time. 23km east of Nullarbor had another Redthroat. 50Km east of Nullarbor has good woodland but there was little activity which would be the story at all the afternoon’s sites, which were, behind park bay 20km west of Yalata, Coombra Tk Yalata, and Yalata. We decided to go have a look at Wahgunyah CP, the first 15km west off the highway was 2wd and a bit rough, the last 18km was a slow 4wd through sand, but with only the last drop into the campsite at Wahgunyah CP beach access needing any skill. The diff-locks were enough to get me through, but it may need a drop in tyre pressure to get me back out. I walked down to the beach which is disappointingly accessible by vehicles, and the dunes have had quads roaming them, so much for conservation park. Australian Raven Redthroat Common Pyrgomorph

15/12 453km

With the time zone change we had a sleep in to 6.30 at sunrise rather than the cruel 4.30 sunrise. I went for a wander in the morning and saw more quad bike tracks in the sand dunes, despite the pretty please notice asking people to drive only on tracks. Didn’t add much, there was a Pied Oystercatcher on the rockshelf, one of the beach nesting birds that has their nests destroyed by beach drivers. I warmed the engine up before tackling the soft sand dune, and I got Bev to video me getting stuck, but apart from a few bounces the troopy quite easily made it. On our way out we stopped at the entry gate at Wahgunyah CP east edge and got a pair of Bustards, I think an usual record here. Back to the highway and east to Cundillipy Station west of Penong which was quiet, then rail reserve west of Ceduna and Ceduna head of bay where the tide was out, with only Red-capped Plovers and Red-necked Stints in the shallows, got the first of the ferals on a survey with starlings and sparrows. Picked up fuel at the card only Perrys Fuels on McKenzie St, at 20cpl cheaper than the BP on the main road it’s well worth the effort of finding it. Got food from the Foodland and headed east to Backshall Rd 12km east of Ceduna, then west of Poochera. At Wudinna we turned off the highway and had a look at Polda Rock which has a dam at its base and some nice woodland. Further east we headed into Pinkawillinie CP now known as Corrobinnie Hill CP and found a place to camp in nice woodland. I went for a walk further along the track and my first encounter was with a Shy Heathwren, on my way back I found a striking dragon that turned out to be Ctenophorus ibiri, a newly discovered sand dragon.

Ctenophorus ibiri

16/12 381km

Up at dawn as usual and wandered down the track again, but didn’t add much. On the way out though we flushed a Chestnut Quail-thrush close enough to the site to count. Back to the highway and headed east. First stop was at Darke Peak Rd east of Koongawa which had a thin strip of vegetation along the road amid the totally cleared fields. Next was Barna Rd Gillies NP on the SW corner, then not far up the road dry gully Gillies NP which had a dry dam. On to Kenrick Dam, which had water and had a bush on the east bank from which the honeyeaters were launching themselves from to get a drink. Lunch was taken at creek near Red Hill, which despite being dry had a Mulga Parrot, some breeding Dusky Woodswallows and a juvenile Hooded Robin that I was able to get very close to despite its chattering warning calls. Port Augusta west estuary had 108 Silver Gulls and a spattering of other species. We topped up the tank, got some more food and did our washing at the laundromat, then headed you guessed it east. The short-cut from Stirling North to the Wilmington Rd is little used, probably because although it’s a one lane bitumen road, it’s almost as rough as a dirt road, I didn’t get over 70kph, but it cuts 9km off the route. I then proceeded to go 9km out of my way to survey Spring Creek Mine Rd south of Wilmington, but was able to use another short-cut dirt road to get on to the Orroroo road. From Orroroo we took the Pekina Rd 3km to Orroroo quarry, and old site. We camped by a plantation and hung out the washing which dried quickly in the hot afternoon sun. Whilst relaxing I heard the plaintive mewlings of a bird I haven’t heard for a while, White-winged Chough.

Dusky Woodswallow and juvenile Hooded Robin juvenile Hooded Robin juvenile

17/12 429km

The plantation is paying dividends with thornbills and Weebills using it. We were off early again, through a sleeping Orroroo and Peterborough to our first stop on the Barrier Hwy at rest stop south of Oodla Wirra, which has good woodland. A small side road off the highway leads to Mercer Rd rail, which is poor habitat. We went a short way down the road to Danggali from Yunta to survey Galah Ck Tiverton, but the huge gum trees along the creekline were silent, I did get a Redthroat in the unlikely looking dry scrub away from the creek. Next along the highway was Waiwirra Ck which had the first Chirruping Wedgebill lurking in a thick bush. Olary Ck Olary is just north of the almost ghost settlement, with a large dam that is ostensibly used for drinking water so there is no entry, but they haven’t kept their fences maintained and so all manner of stock is gaining access to the water, but I’m not allowed, how ridiculous! There was another wedgebill here. Mingary NW grid is also north of the highway but is in awful country with no trees or shrubs and the stock almost denuding the habitat of any vegetation at all, we found nothing here. At Thackaringa rest area in better habitat I still found no birds, it’s not often I get 2 no bird surveys in a row, it’s a sign of how desolate the country has become in this long tern drought. In to Broken Hill to WOW Broken Hill (WOW being the stock market code for Woolworths), where whilst Bev did some shopping I did my survey of the 2 small parks and the area, and got a few species. We had a free hot shower at the Chloride St public toilets, bonus! We filled up at the Metro servo and headed out Stephens Ck Quandong on the Merindee Rd to camp. Didn’t get many species before dark, there was some Apostlebirds, but with a family of only 8 it’s another sign of the poverty of the land here now. Yellow-throated Miner

18/12 322km

I was shocked to find no White-plumed Honeyeaters here, there should be heaps of them zooming around chasing each other and anything else that moves. We stopped not far down the road to photograph some Major Mitchell Cockatoos, everyone’s favourite. The first survey was at the inlet valve to Menindee lake, which had water in the channel and a pool in the lake, with good birdlife around the area. Pamameroo Lake was dry but had Chirruping Wedgebill singing from a shrub top, so had its portrait taken. We then used the Texas Downs farm roads which are publicly accessible to get to Texas Downs Menindee in the swamplands which were dry but had a few species. Just up the track at Texas Downs Menindee 2 there were Brown Treecreepers, the first for the trip. The farmer has put a new fence through the bushland, he’s bulldozed a 10m wide swathe, except for one tree that stands lone in the middle of the devastation. What’s worse is that the fence is a real hummer, it’s unusually high with the usual wildlife unfriendly top string of barbed wire, but the main fence is a mesh and there is a line of barbed wire at ground level to stop anything getting under. The result of course is that the kangaroos and any other wildlife can’t get through either, there are tracks leading up to the fence, then turning and moving along the fence, but it goes for ever. It amazes me that farmers have so little thought about the effect that they have on wildlife within their practices, and they collectively are doing enormous damage. Then down to Menidee Lake outlet which only had small pools on the out side. We then took the horrid Pooncarie road, horrid in that it’s a bone shaker but also the environment has been destroyed by stock, we didn’t see any sheep or cattle but regularly saw goats, expletive deletive goats. Eight Mile tank had some water in troughs that the Red-rumped Parrots and other birds were taking advantage of, Further south at Wentworth Pooncarie Rd there were a few birds eking out a living in the near desert conditions. My spot on the Darling River just south of Pooncarie had a few pools and a few birds. Bonparker tank track was inaccessible due to a locked gate, so I was restricted to the roadside and got only a Rainbow Bee-eater. Palinyewah school Darling River had some birds taking a bath in a pool formed at the base of the lawn that was being over-watered, presumably from water pumped from the river, irresponsibility abounds out here in cowboyland. We stopped at Darling River Pooncarie Rd and took shelter in the shade of a giant River Red Gum, I sat at the base and watched a small area around the base that was teeming with insect life, with 4sp of ant, 2 spiders, 1sp of moth, a small cockroach 3sp of fly and 5sp of small wasp, all in about 30min. A Spotted Emerald Treefrog started calling nearby and an Inland Snake-eyed Skink was foraging around the tree trunk, bit of water a few old trees and what a habitat!

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo Little Corellas Chirruping Wedgebill The lone survivor in an avenue of destruction Red-rumped Parrot male the goat induced denuding of the land along the Wentworth Pooncarie Rd Bluebonnet Inland Snake-eyed Skink Inland Snake-eyed Skink

19/12 625km

Added a few birds in the morning and were ready to start the day, the car started up no problems, but the gps was blank, no matter what we did it wouldn’t start, The Hema HX1 was dead. I remembered where Perry Sandhills Wentworth was so we went there, then Hawthorn Lake which had shallow water and millions of mozzies milling around the shore. From there though I had no memory of sites as we headed south along the Sunraysia Hwy. We stopped at Watchem Lake for lunch which had 30 Magpies all chortling away, then through Ballarat and Geelong to Ocean Grove and Fontaine Ct to finish the trip on a bit of a fizzer with a still dead gps.

Everydayitis or
Miserere for the planet
 
Monday:
Weapons are for those who have not
To take what they have not earned
Be it need
Or be it greed
Building defenses
There’s prosperity in equality
There’s profitability in sustainability
Nationalism brings inequality, instability
We need one world one people
We need consensus
We need to care about each others futures
The impotence of the UN
We are not united
It needs to evolve
Into the grace of the WGB
Where no self interest has a veto
Where general good has sway
Where old enemies become friends
Tuesday:
What is the point of working for ourselves
Or even for our nation
We should be working for the world
This wonderful diverse world
Wednesday:
It’s a minefield out there
We are programmed to make selfish choices
We are programmed to make stupid choices
Our coping mechanisms are destructive
Is your head in the sand
Emotionally childish
Drug addicted losers
Thursday:
Justice is only for the rich
The poor just die
We think we’re so smart
But we can’t outsmart nature
Physics is immutable
We think we’re so special
A God blessed species
Separated from nature
But we’re just hedonistic users
Absolute planet abusers
Friday:
Technology is an intellectual vacuum cleaner
Sucking out the soul
Whether you’re rich or poor
You’re a slave to the system
And the systems are wrong
Eventually suicidal
There is no way to cope
Are you pretending 
Just ignoring
Hoping someone else will fix it
And all the while
Just being part of the problem
Unavoidably destructive
No matter what you do
What are you doing irresponsibly
Don’t kid yourself
Saturday:
Why are we still dealing in destitution
Luxury is offensive
The epitome of inequality
A plethora of pointless persuances
Jostling for your surplus cash
Let the good things grow
Let them grow
Every load of concrete makes the world a little meaner
Every tree chopped down makes the world a little poorer
It’s death by seven point seven billion cuts 
And counting
From rainforest to Palm Oil plantation
For cheap margarine
For cheap makeup
What choices are you making
Queues on Mt Everest
The destruction of the Amazon
We are a species on the brink of decline
And we don’t even know it yet
What percentage of smokers are climate change deniers
Alcoholics or capitalists
Despotic tyrants or politicians
All short term thinkers
With not enough incentive to look beyond themselves
We have created a sick world
Sunday:
What trivialities are you embracing
Futureless alcoholics
Senseless smokers
A world of short term thinkers
Narcissistic nonsensensicles
Playing with the planet
Future deniers all
One day there will be no Monday
Yes your trivial life
Is a small piece in the jigsaw puzzle
Of the problems we've created
Survival of the fittest
Survival of the greediest
A world of bad decisions
Born of simple distrust
What owns your soul
Money or greed
Perhaps the pursuit of happiness
Or maybe just selfishness
The seven sins are still deadly
Though now seven point seven billion sins
Are unsustainable
Someone always has to pay
The buck can only be passed finitely
Too many people looking the other way
So now the sins are normalized
What once was wrong
Is now just a joke
But the symphony of sorrows
Is still perpetually perpetrated on the weak
Whilst the rest of us are insulated
With no rosy cheeks
A speechless mouth
Wax filled ears
We refuse to acknowledge the truth
A pack of mindless monkeys
Doing what is expected
Afraid to question the norm
Working in our ivory towers
Insulated from the damage we're doing
Who will pay the price
We are all of us guilty
To a greater or lesser degree
It's still death by seven point seven billion cuts
And the tipping point is not too far away
Do you feel inviolate
Within your insulated house
The tendrils of the world's pain
Are beyond your capacity for empathy
Can your soulless eyes really turn away
Can you dig your hands deeper into your pockets
Turn up the collar of your jacket
Against the coming storm
This pestilence is all pervasive
Particularly personal
With current trends
There are no amends
Who will cry for the death of the human race
Will God just wipe His hands clean
A wry grin upon his face
And start all over again
A better set of rules
Or a better set of players
Who don't forget to mean their prayers
A more compassionate way of being
Not a Sycophantic society
Dancing in the doorway to hell
Waltzing with an empty shell
All the sheets are torn
All the streets are worn
A dead end every one
So where are we going
You and I
Where are you going

Bird list from the trip (% is of the 138 surveys done. B is for breeding)

• Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis 1 (0.72%)
• Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus 4 (2.90%)
• Black Swan Cygnus atratus 4 (2.90%) (B)
• Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides 4 (2.90%)
• Hardhead Aythya australis 4 (2.90%)
• Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis 3 (2.17%)
• Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 10 (7.25%)
• Grey Teal Anas gracilis 9 (6.52%)
• Chestnut Teal Anas castanea 1 (0.72%)
• Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa 1 (0.72%)
• Musk Duck Biziura lobata 2 (1.45%)
• Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 5 (3.62%)
• Brown Quail Synoicus ypsilophora 1 (0.72%)
• Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae 6 (4.35%) (B)
• Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus 4 (2.90%)
• Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1 (0.72%) (B)
• Rock Dove Columba livia 2 (1.45%)
• Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 2 (1.45%)
• Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 4 (2.90%)
• Spinifex Pigeon Geophaps plumifera 3 (2.17%)
• Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera 10 (7.25%)
• Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 22 (15.94%)
• Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata 2 (1.45%)
• Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida 3 (2.17%)
• Black-eared Cuckoo Chalcites osculans 1 (0.72%)
• Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites lucidus 1 (0.72%)
• Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis 1 (0.72%)
• Pallid Cuckoo Heteroscenes pallidus 1 (0.72%)
• Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis 2 (1.45%)
• Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides 2 (1.45%) (B)
• Spotted Nightjar Eurostopodus argus 1 (0.72%)
• Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus 6 (4.35%)
• Fork-tailed Swift Apus pacificus 1 (0.72%)
• Buff-banded Rail Hypotaenidia philippensis 1 (0.72%)
• Australian Spotted Crake Porzana fluminea 1 (0.72%)
• Spotless Crake Zapornia tabuensis 1 (0.72%)
• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 4 (2.90%)
• Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa 2 (1.45%)
• Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 6 (4.35%) (B)
• Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris 2 (1.45%)
• Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus 1 (0.72%)
• Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae 1 (0.72%)
• Black-winged Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus 3 (2.17%)
• Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 1 (0.72%)
• Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus 2 (1.45%)
• Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus 2 (1.45%)
• Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii 1 (0.72%)
• Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops 6 (4.35%)
• Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 5 (3.62%)
• Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus 1 (0.72%)
• Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 1 (0.72%)
• Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 2 (1.45%)
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 1 (0.72%)
• Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris 1 (0.72%)
• Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata 1 (0.72%)
• Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 1 (0.72%)
• Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis 3 (2.17%)
• Sanderling Calidris alba 1 (0.72%)
• Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus 1 (0.72%)
• Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 2 (1.45%)
• Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes 1 (0.72%)
• Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 1 (0.72%)
• Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae 8 (5.80%)
• Pacific Gull Larus pacificus 2 (1.45%)
• Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 1 (0.72%)
• Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 1 (0.72%)
• Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus 4 (2.90%)
• Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus 1 (0.72%)
• White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica 3 (2.17%)
• Great Egret Ardea alba 5 (3.62%)
• White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 6 (4.35%)
• Little Egret Egretta garzetta 2 (1.45%)
• Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra 1 (0.72%)
• Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus 6 (4.35%)
• Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis 4 (2.90%)
• Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes 3 (2.17%)
• Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia 1 (0.72%)
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 2 (1.45%)
• Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos 5 (3.62%)
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 2 (1.45%)
• Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 3 (2.17%)
• Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 2 (1.45%)
• Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae 3 (2.17%)
• Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon 1 (0.72%)
• Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax 6 (4.35%)
• Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides 2 (1.45%)
• Swamp Harrier Circus approximans 4 (2.90%)
• Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus 3 (2.17%)
• Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus 3 (2.17%)
• Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus 10 (7.25%)
• Black Kite Milvus migrans 3 (2.17%)
• Barking Owl Ninox connivens 1 (0.72%)
• Southern Boobook Ninox boobook 1 (0.72%)
• Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 23 (16.67%)
• Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus 9 (6.52%)
• Red-backed Kingfisher Todiramphus pyrrhopygius 1 (0.72%)
• Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 8 (5.80%)
• Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii 2 (1.45%)
• Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides 12 (8.70%)
• Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 1 (0.72%)
• Australian Hobby Falco longipennis 3 (2.17%)
• Brown Falcon Falco berigora 1 (0.72%)
• Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus 1 (0.72%)
• Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii 3 (2.17%)
• Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo Zanda latirostris 5 (3.62%)
• Galah Eolophus roseicapilla 21 (15.22%)
• Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo Cacatua leadbeateri 1 (0.72%)
• Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea 10 (7.25%)
• Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus 6 (4.35%)
• Blue Bonnet Northiella haematogaster 4 (2.90%)
• Mulga Parrot Psephotellus varius 1 (0.72%)
• Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans 1 (0.72%)
• Western Rosella Platycercus icterotis 2 (1.45%)
• Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius 29 (21.01%)
• Purple-crowned Lorikeet Glossopsitta porphyrocephala 3 (2.17%)
• Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus 5 (3.62%)
• Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus 1 (0.72%)
• Western Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus guttatus 3 (2.17%)
• Rufous Treecreeper Climacteris rufus 4 (2.90%)
• Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus 2 (1.45%)
• Blue-breasted Fairy-wren Malurus pulcherrimus 5 (3.62%)
• Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti 10 (7.25%)
• Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens 6 (4.35%)
• White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus 9 (6.52%)
• Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis 3 (2.17%)
• Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta 15 (10.87%)
• New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae 3 (2.17%)
• White-eared Honeyeater Nesoptilotis leucotis 2 (1.45%)
• Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris 3 (2.17%)
• White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus 1 (0.72%)
• Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor 3 (2.17%)
• Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis 19 (13.77%)
• Western Wattlebird Anthochaera lunulata 1 (0.72%)
• Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata 11 (7.97%)
• Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens 34 (24.64%)
• Grey-headed Honeyeater Ptilotula keartlandi 3 (2.17%)
• Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula ornata 9 (6.52%)
• White-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata 16 (11.59%)
• White-fronted Honeyeater Purnella albifrons 13 (9.42%)
• Purple-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus cratitius 4 (2.90%)
• Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala 3 (2.17%)
• Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula 29 (21.01%)
• Red-browed Pardalote Pardalotus rubricatus 2 (1.45%)
• Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus 26 (18.84%)
• Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca 9 (6.52%)
• Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris 35 (25.36%)
• Redthroat Pyrrholaemus brunneus 11 (7.97%)
• Shy Heathwren Calamanthus cautus 1 (0.72%)
• White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis 10 (7.25%)
• Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 9 (6.52%)
• Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis 5 (3.62%)
• Slender-billed Thornbill Acanthiza iredalei 1 (0.72%)
• Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis 7 (5.07%)
• Western Thornbill Acanthiza inornata 2 (1.45%)
• Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis 6 (4.35%)
• White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus 2 (1.45%)
• Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera 1 (0.72%)
• Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae 16 (11.59%)
• White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor 3 (2.17%)
• Chestnut Quail-thrush Cinclosoma castanotus 1 (0.72%)
• Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris 12 (8.70%)
• Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis 4 (2.90%)
• Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica 19 (13.77%)
• Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis 5 (3.62%)
• Chirruping Wedgebill Psophodes cristatus 3 (2.17%)
• Chiming Wedgebill Psophodes occidentalis 1 (0.72%)
• Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor 4 (2.90%)
• Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen 22 (15.94%) (B)
• Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis 11 (7.97%)
• Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus 24 (17.39%)
• Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus 3 (2.17%)
• Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus 6 (4.35%)
• Little Woodswallow Artamus minor 2 (1.45%)
• White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus 4 (2.90%)
• Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys 27 (19.57%)
• Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa 7 (5.07%)
• Torresian Crow Corvus orru 7 (5.07%)
• Little Crow Corvus bennetti 4 (2.90%)
• Little Raven Corvus mellori 2 (1.45%)
• Australian Raven Corvus coronoides 23 (16.67%)
• Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta 3 (2.17%)
• Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca 27 (19.57%)
• White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos 2 (1.45%)
• Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea 1 (0.72%)
• Scarlet Robin Petroica multicolor 1 (0.72%)
• Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii 6 (4.35%)
• Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans 1 (0.72%)
• Southern Scrub-robin Drymodes brunneopygia 2 (1.45%)
• Western Yellow Robin Eopsaltria griseogularis 1 (0.72%)
• White-breasted Robin Quoyornis georgianus 1 (0.72%)
• Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata 3 (2.17%) (B)
• Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum 3 (2.17%)
• Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata 4 (2.90%)
• House Sparrow Passer domesticus 4 (2.90%)
• Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae 8 (5.80%)
• Horsfield’s Bushlark Mirafra javanica 1 (0.72%)
• Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis 1 (0.72%)
• Little Grassbird Poodytes gramineus 2 (1.45%)
• Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis 6 (4.35%)
• Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel 3 (2.17%)
• Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans 10 (7.25%)
• Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 19 (13.77%)
• Silvereye Zosterops lateralis 13 (9.42%)
• Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 3 (2.17%)
• Common Blackbird Turdus merula 1 (0.72%)
• Domestic Duck 1 (0.72%)

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.