Month: November 2023

17/11 2023 93km

Finished work at midday and got the train back to my friend’s house, a quick lunch and shower, finished the packing of the car and we headed off at 14.30, through the gathering traffic and up over the Perth hills to Collins Rd Westdale and went in search of the shrike-tit, but couldn’t find it again, my consolation bird was some Regent Parrots that were very flighty. As usual when camping it was dinner early with both flies and mozzies and bed early, and read.

18/11 440km

The dawn chorus was mainly Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters and Australian Ringnecks, up not much later and added Red-capped Parrot and Western Rosella then after breaky we went to dam Eagle Track Boyagin where Western Spinebills were using the dam, and a flight of Elegant Parrots also came in to the dam. From there it was down to Yornaning dam which had a good level of water with Purple-crowned Lorikeets in the trees and Jacky Winters in the lower shrubs. Kerr Rd Wikipin had a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles and Little Corellas at the edge of their range. We wound our way down through the minor tracks that looked like they might peter out but got through to Toolibin Lake NR where there were a feeding group of Yellow-rumped and Chestnut-rumped Thornbills. Boundary Rd Turin Rock Rd quarry was hot and dry and netted a White-eared Honeyeater during lunch. It got to 29C during the afternoon with not a cloud seen all day. Heathland NR Pelham Rd had a coloured male Blue-breasted Fairywren and White-browed Scrubwren. We were now headed due east, 40km west of Lake King had a Southern Scrub Robin and White-naped Honeyeater. Norseman Rd Ladyman Rd Lake King had breeding Grey Butcherbirds. We got in to Frank Hann NP to find that it had had a serious bushfire through it, probably the 2019 fires. We camped at Lilian Stokes Rock which had also been burnt out and until just before dark the only bird I had was a lone Brush Bronzewing, but then a Singing Honeyeater and some Black-faced Woodswallows turned up, but 3sp in a national park is woeful and shows just how long it can take for wildlife to recover from a huge fire. There were some Ornate Rock Dragons on the rock but they were very timid and I failed to get a shot of one despite staking out a crevice where I’d seen one duck into. I was reading my book after dark when I heard what turned out to be Spot-thighed Frogs calling, so I went and recorded them on FrogID, a new frog for me .

19/11 396km

The rock dragons weren’t out and about when I did my rounds so I missed my shot of them. I found a few birds using the dense regrowth including a pair of Shy Heathwrens pottering about on the edge, but when I got my camera out they quickly went and hid. After breaky we headed east and stopped at claypan Norseman Rd and got Redthroat and just up the road we got a Bustard which stopped only a short way from the car so we both got shots of it. At the junction of shires the track deteriorated from an easy 70kph track to a pot-holed slow track. Many of the pot-holes had water in them, but the track was hard so they weren’t boggy. We stopped at Ninety Mile tank which is falling apart and had no water in. The large bushfire had tore though here too with the island around the tank the only unburnt area. I got a Tawny-crowned Honeyeater here. It was a slow drive east dodging all the pot-holes. About half way along the dead straight track we stopped at a nominal creekline, there wasn’t much evidence of it, and no water and I got 6sp of ordinary bush birds. We eventually made it out to the main road and turned south to Quast Rd Kumarl for lunch with our peace and quiet of the track we’d just done shattered by road trains and goods trains. I got the first Pied Butcherbird here which was long overdue. Dundas Rocks was hot and dry with a Grey Currawong just about the only active bird. Norseman was all shut up being a weekend apart from the BP servo where we filled up with diesel and put water in the water tank. We then started the long trek across the Nullarbor. First stop was Buldania Eyre Hwy where I got the usual yellow-plumed Honeyeaters. At Dundas Nature Reserve I found a tree in flower with White-fronted and White-eared Honeyeaters having their afternoon feed. Park bay Fraser Ranges had a Rufous Treecreeper. We stopped at Newman Rocks to camp as the site is nearly far enough from the road to deaden the sound of the trucks. After dark I wandered down to the pool at the base of the rocks and found lots of Yabbies in the shallows and a herd of camels, but no frogs calling.

20/11 449km

Ended the survey with 20sp, of note was the number of Grey Currawongs, they are pretty thinly spread in the region in general with them not turning up all that often on surveys, but they are turning up regularly on this trip and here there were 5 of them. On eastwards before 7am. The first stop was wrecked house Eyre Hwy which is the old Balladonia homestead, it’s sad to see this old stone house slowly deteriorate, with the roof now starting to come apart. 90km east of Balladonia had common bush birds. Track near Oodlegabbi Rock hole Caiguna is very sparse woodland where I got a family of 5 White-browed Babblers. Nuytsland NR Eyre Hwy is very low small shrubs with one or two old dead trees, a favourite habitat for White-winged Fairywrens, choosing the larger and thicker shrubs to hide out in. 63km west of Madura has reasonable woodland, but in the afternoon all that was active were some Yellow-throated Miners. In better woodland at Hampton Tablelands west of Madura there were 10 woodland species. We stopped to camp at gravel pit east of Madura. In the cold windy conditions the birds weren’t very active. As the sun went down we had to break out the jackets.

21/11 281km

I walked a long way in the morning to find just a pair of White-browed Scrubwrens in the Saltbush/Bluebush Acacia/Sheoak woodland. On eastwards to Mundrabilla Repeater where a pair Dusky Woodswallows look like they’ve raised a Horsefield’s Bronze Cuckoo. There were no birds found in the good looking woodland at Hearder Hill Repeater Rd. Just off shore at Eucla dunes was a Short-tailed Shearwater bouncing about in the waves. Border Village SA was lunch where in a flowering gum were some Purple-gaped Honeyeaters. 60km east of the WA border were some juvenile Redthroats. At Great Australian Bight Lookout Bev found a Pacific Gull. We camped at truckstop 103km east of the border and got Nullarbor Quail-thrush Purple-backed Fairywren in very fresh looking breeding colours and another Redthroat. It had been a cold blustery wind all day from the south, it had threatened rain sometimes but none eventuated, but I never took my jumper off all day, and the jacket went back on well before the sun went down.

22/11 389km

The night stayed windy buffeting the car all night, so we didn’t get a great night’s sleep. Worse was that it stayed windy all day long streaming up from the south, which may help to account for the lack of birds at the survey sites, but this stretch never seems to have active sites. The one exception is my site at Nullarbor which usually throws up something interesting. This morning it was our first stop and I got nothing, Bev didn’t even deign to get out of the car it was so futile, but I went out into the shower of rain in vane hope and got no reward. The next site at 23km east of Nullarbor is similar habitat and with similar weather, but I managed to spook a White-winged Fairywren from what it deemed a not secure bush to a larger one that may have harboured more of them, but they weren’t coming out, so I let them alone. Next was 50km east of Nullarbor which is good looking woodland but only got 4 common woodland species. Coombra Tk Yalata had the return of Grey Currawongs. 35km SE of Yalata had 4 common woodland species. At Cundillipy Station west of Penong I finally found some feeding birds in the late afternoon sunshine with Yellow-throated Miners, Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters, Weebils and Striated Pardalotes all having bred here recently and actively feeding their young, or the juveniles out and about feeding themselves with adults still looking over them. We camped at rail reserve Ceduna where I broke out my chair and watched a handful of birds trickle through the site in the late afternoon including a Spotted Harrier.

23/11 267km

Ended with 14sp and headed down to Ceduna head of bay which had a few Red-necked Stints at the low tide. Through the quarantine station and into Ceduna, first stop was fuel. The trip across from Norseman had cost us $283, and we now had full fuel tanks again. Bev did some shopping, but it was difficult to find a place that would let us have a shower. Most caravan parks will let you buy one for $5ea, both the ones in town told us to go away and the BP’s showers were only for truckies. Thankfully the Mogas truck stop on the east side of town let us buy a shower for the standard $5, so we left Ceduna all nice and clean and drove down to Acraman Creek CP for lunch. The shoreline was jam packed with birds, with 16sp. Further down the Eyre Peninsula at Deor Way EBA Anchorage the point was also crammed full of birds with 16sp also. At South Head Venus Bay we did the northern part of the walk which was in the lee of the howler out of the south. We had good views of Elegant Parrot and yes 16sp all up. We camped at 3 Springs Lake Newlands CP, and the lake had a teeming mass of birds including Avocets, Banded Stilts, Cape Barren Geese and over 100 waders, mainly Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Curlew Sandpipers. We had a colourful sunset then I went down to record the frogs that were in the zone between the active spring and the saltwater lake in a mass of sedges. They were all Eastern Common Froglet.

24/11 322km

Ended the survey with 31sp and quite a few sandfly bites. There were two huge flocks of Starlings each of around 2000 birds, quite dismaying. There were no sandflies last night in the wind, but overnight it had moderated and they were out in a swarm around the car as we ate breaky, many drowning in my cereal milk, thankfully they didn’t add much flavour. We headed east up Rocky Valley Road to Larne Dr east Colton for a handful of open country birds, then on to the Birdseye Hwy to Polda which had some big old trees, some native gums, some pines. We got our first White-winged Choughs here and I flushed a Barn Owl. On east to Woore Rd east of Lock for another handful of open country birds. Quinn Rd east of Rudall was the same. We had lunch at Chase Drive Cowell. I walked the small dead end trail into the mangroves but didn’t score much. Up the coast now to Munyaroo CP which only had a pair of Weebills and we went to Ironstone Hill CP dam to camp. The dam was dry and the birds were largely gone.

25/11 268km

We had the first inkling that this mightn’t be such a bad site afterall when a Spotted Nightjar started calling overnight, later an Owlet Nightjar also called. There wasn’t all that much of a dawn chorus, but as I ventured out soon after sunrise I started adding birds for the next hour or so finding Golden Whistler, Southern Scrubrobin and Splendid Fairywren. Ended with 23sp plus fresh Malleefowl and Emu tracks. In to Wyalla Wetlands which has a permanent population of Black-tailed Native Hens and 25 other species. Got some engine oil as the Troopie is now starting to burn through oil even though it’s only just over 100000km. Had a look at Wild Dog Hill which had some Bluebonnets, then into Port Augusta Estuary after filling up with diesel at the BP depot up the Stuart Hwy, it’s 15cpl cheaper than all the ones on the main road, but difficult to find. From there it was over the Mt Remarkable Range to my site at Spring Creek Mine Rd which has access to the national park but on a steep sided valley, and with the wind howling down the valley there wasn’t much active apart from some Common Wallaroos that weren’t impressed by my presence. We wound our way through the back roads to Orroroo Quarry to camp, and relaxed watching a trickle of birds flit through the area.

26/11 368km

Only added Crested Pigeon to yesterday’s list, we motored into Orroroo and used the toilets in the main street, they get 1^st place for toilets as far as I’m concerned. I can’t remember going to a cleaner nicer public toilet ever, and we use quite a lot of them as we travel. We drove down to the Barrier Hwy and headed east ever east, stopping at rest stop south of Oodla Wirra where there was a flock of mixed White-browed and masked Woodswallows waaaay up in the sky, sounding like House Sparrows chirping away up there. Mercer Rd rail had Chestnut-crowned Babblers. Waiwirra Ck had a Zebra Finch, but the creek was dry, so don’t know where it’s getting its water from. We were just coming in to my site at Olary Ck Olary when out from some shady bushes exploded a pair of Emus and 3 goats. One emu slammed into the side of my car putting a dent in it, the other I nearly ran over, if I’d been going at normal speed it wouldn’t have stood a chance. The injured Emu staggered off the road, but I found it later, dead. The goats trotted across the road behind me and were gone. It was a sad lunch we had there. My little loop north took us to Bimbowie Ck where we got the first Peaceful Dove. We took the small track east to Boolcoolmata station creek. It’s now part of Bush Heritage, and you can tell the difference. We’d seen quite a few Orange Chats coming in to the site. There were none here but we added Chirruping Wedgebill and Southern Whiteface and the first Redthroats for a while, all up 10sp in the heat of the afternoon. The quality of the habitat matters. South now, we got to Mingary NW grid in open grassland which was full of Pipits with a pair of Orange Chats. We camped at Thackaringa rest area on the Barrier Hwy and in 3 hrs only had 4sp. The quality of the habitat matters.

27/11 323km

Well what do I know? There were indeed not many birds here but Red-backed Kingfisher and Bluebonnets aren’t birds to be sniffed at, ended with 12sp. The road wasn’t all that busy last night, in fact the most disturbing sound was the wind whispering through the spindly looking sheoaks spread out along the creekline. We headed in to Broken Hill to do the laundry. My site at WOW Broken Hill (WOW is the ASX ticker for Woolworths, as far as I’m concerned there isn’t much WOW about Broken Hill), it didn’t produce any WOW birds. Filled up with fuel at the Metro Petroleum servo and headed down the Menindee Rd to Stephens Ck Quondong for some typical riverine species, then to Lake Menindee inlet regulator for 24sp including the rare for this trip Pied Butcherbird. Not far away is Lake Pamameroo south for 13sp. The outflow at Lake Menindee had 18sp. Take a look at the habitat shots on the page (click on the link to open the page) taken this year and 2019, quite a contrast. I had hoped to use the Ivanhoe Rd but it was closed, probably due to flooding, and it just ain’t worth travelling on closed roads so we headed south on the Pooncarie Rd which is now almost fully bitumenized. Last time we were down here in 2019 there was a serious drought, it’s looking a lot better now. Eight Mile Tank only had 5 open country species. Again it’s instructive to see the difference between the 2019 and 2023 habitat photos.. Wentworth Pooncarie Rd had Southern Whiteface and Bluebonnets. Once again the difference detween the 2019 and 2023 habitat shots is stark. We camped at Pooncarie on the banks of the Darling River and added species like Little Friarbird, and after a lot of scratching of heads I decided on a juvenile Black-breasted Buzzard. We had a few late afternoon thunderstorms but very little rain. The river had a good flow to it, I sat perched on the bank in my chair watching for birds. The most surprising creature I spotted though was a Water Rat, Bev followed it downstream and managed to get a photo of it the dull light. Take a look at the habitat shots on the page again, what a contrast to 2019.

28/11 359km

Added a few more species on my morning round like Crested Shrike Tit to end up with 40sp so quite a nice spot. It was looking gloomy to the west as we set off south, stopping at Bonparker tank track and got Brown Treecreeper, the stark difference in habitat photos between now and 2018 continues. The gloomy weather had crept a bit closer but we took a chance and headed down the Mungo Rd, stopping at Mungo Pooncarie Rd. The south side of the track was reasonable woodland but the north side was absolutely devoid of anything above ground cover. Farmers do love to clearfell, utterly destroying the habitat, too my mind their worse than miners, that only destroy a small part of the Australian landscape to do their business, whilst farmers are raping the rest of what they can get their hands on to do theirs. The few birds that were around were all in the woodland. We turned south at Mungo to survey Arumpo Rd north which had Bluebonnet. They are a really common parrot in this region, turning up on many surveys. Arumpo Rd south is Saltbush plain and only had a Kestrel. On south to Marma Box Rd Prongle Rd at the corner and got Brown Songlark. The storm had now moved much closer as we turned east. Along the road we had a few sightings of Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, soon to be renamed apparently. At Ryan Box Flat Box Creek Rd the rain finally caught up with us, so we got a few sprinkles on us as we did the survey. We had 3 Budgerigars overfly us, the first for the trip. Not far down the road the road had been bitumenized, so that would be the last of the dirt roads which you’re not allowed to drive on when they’re wet. At Box Creek tank on the Ivanhoe Balranald Rd I had an 800m walk to get to the tank as I didn’t trust driving across the wet clay pan despite it looking okay. The tank had water with breeding Australian Grebes. As I got back to the car the rain caught up with us again and I ate my lunch in the rain. It persisted raining as we headed south and never let up with the occasional clap of thunder and flash of lightning. At SE Geraki tank all I got was wet in the Saltbush plain. We had better luck at Five Mile Station north of Balranald with a mixed flock of Bluebonnets and Ringnecks as the rain lightned a bit. We Camped at Murrumbidgee River Maude and Bev cooked dinner in the rain as I added Buff-rumped Thornbill to the trip list. We both got wet, and retired to the car as soon as possible.

29/11 380km

The rain stopped soon after dark, but a cold southerly wind sprung up, eventually that moderated and we got a good night’s sleep. Soon after sun up the rain started again, so I got my cereal milk diluted somewhat. Ended the survey with 22sp, went back to the Sturt hwy and stopped at Red Hill Rd west of Hay where an irrigation channel runs by the road. The rain had stopped by now and we spent the rest of the day in dull cloudy conditions with an occasional shower. The road into my site was undriveably wet so I walked the 700m up the road to the site adding White-fronted Chat. On eastward to Murrumbidgee River west of Hay for 19sp including a Hobby Falcon. Through Hay and up to Wangara Landcare site which doesn’t look any different from when I was last here in 2015 now, which just goes to show how long it takes for trees to grow here, and thus to recover from any damage. 9sp here. Back to the Sturt Hwy to Rudds Point Murrumbidgee River for 15sp. We had lunch here so I chanced driving down the track to get off the road and regretted it with the track quickly deteriorating into slimy mud, I got the car off the track and onto the grass for better grip. On the way back I engaged the diff locks for even better traction, but just as we got near the road I nearly I started to loose control and nearly fell into a ditch which would have been catastrophic, but I managed to control the slide. We made it onto the bitumen with a sigh of relief and continued east leaving a trail of mud on the road and a very dirty car. Next stop was Birdcage rest area which added Blue-faced Honeyeater and Mistletoebird to the list. Murrumbidgee river Euroley had 15sp and some Striped Marsh Frogs calling. Nerandera Wetland was bird poor but the reed beds had 3sp of frog calling in the late afternoon. We camped at Murrumbidgee River Millwood, which isn’t the best camping spot by the bridge which the cars clatter over.

30/11 98km

I was only woken by one car and a Boobook Owl, added a few birds in the morning and some calling Spotted Marsh Frogs and we headed into Wagga Wagga. First job was to fill up the tanks at the Pearl servo in the town, we then went and washed the car. At the Bush Heritage site I’m going to, the car is supposed to be as seed free as possible, but with my little near faux pas the other day the underside is clagged with clay which even high pressure spray wouldn’t budge, so we resorted to scraping it out of the mudguards with our hands, it took three cycles to get a satisfactory job done. Next was my survey at Wagga rail station which had some Blue-faced Honeyeaters and a new bird for the trip, some breeding Common Blackbirds. We had to wait until 11am for the station to open for Bev to drop off her bags. She is not coming with me as she has had a death in the family in Victoria, so she is going to the funeral. I then went and did my shopping for most of the next two weeks, then it was time for lunch. We went down to the beach on the Murrumbidgee River where there were some very tame Yellow Rosellas that cooperated nicely for me and had their portrait taken. The car is not handling well so we took it to the Yokohama Tyre service centre for a wheel balance and alignment. I dropped Bev off at the station, her train isn’t until 2.40am. Looong wait! I headed east down windy twisty country roads to my site at Murrumbidgee River Mundarlo. It’s even closer to the road than last night but I got Dollarbird, Superb Parrot and White-throated Treecreeper. I was reading my book after dark when I heard frogs calling across the field. There is an inlet up a gully here which is where the frogs were calling.

1/12 151km

Ended the survey with 34sp and headed north through the small country roads. I was driving at my usual snail’s pace with my window down when I passed a farm dam with frogs calling so I stopped and added Banjo Frogs. I stopped another two times on my way to my site at Mitta Mitta Ck Bethunga Rd where there were three sp of frog calling. Got another Superb Parrot here. By now it was mid morning and the frogs had mostly stopped calling and I only stopped once on my way to Dog on the tucker box which had 13sp. It was now time to head to Tarcutta Hills Bush Heritage reserve where I’ll spend the weekend pulling down fences.

4/12 186km

I left Tarcutta Hills at about 8.30 and headed up to the Alpine hwy. First stop was Yaven Ck Rd Bangadang. There was a pair of Crimson Rosellas here, but just as I took my shot of one of them it took off. My camera doesn’t take good shots of moving birds, so I missed the shot again. The troopie struggled through the hilly terrain to Jounama Ck camp which had some female Satin Bowerbirds, but no shiny males. From there it was a steep climb up to the high plains, I was in second gear quite a few times. I stopped at Three Mile Dam bush camp, which still has fees on it, for a late lunch and camp. The Common Eastern Froglets were going full bore all afternoon on the edges of the lake and I found a handful of birds using the area that the bushfires of 2019 devastated.

5/12 141km

Up at dawn and off early taking some shots around Sawyers Hill as I headed to Bobaya Rd Murrumbidgee River. There were some Reed Warblers calling from the reeds in the river but all the native trees have been cleared and some introduced species planted. Through the back roads I went to get to Muddah Lake north of Cooma which had Pink-eared Duck, and on to Murrumbidgee River reserve Cooma where a Gang Gang Cockatoo landed in a tree near me as I arrived, but the usual happened in that as soon as I got my camera out it was gone. I bought a bit of food in Cooma and headed up to Scottsdale Reserve, another Bush Heritage property where my main job until the 14th Dec will be spraying weeds like St. John’s Wart and Blackberries. I moved in to a room in the old woolshed, had lunch and spent the afternoon collecting seeds with two others.

13/12 148km

Up at the usual 6.30 breaky and headed for the tractor slasher. I had three fields to slash and got the first one done by morning tea, had an early lunch then drove up to the northern paddock that was full of weeds, wombat holes, rock piles and native grass plantations. It was a bit of a minefield, most of the mines were marked with stakes, but there were several new wombat holes hidden in the long weeds. Tractor plus hidden wombat hole does not mix well. I let out a equal amount of expletives to new wombat holes as the tractor fell into each one. No damage done to the tractor though. I’m guessing that they dug a little deeper today, and will awake tonight with a different landscape. I had got within the last 10min of the last field when one of the jockey wheels on the slasher seized, so I took it back to the workshop, but at 16.00 everyone had gone home and I couldn’t find the grease gun. So I left a note for the boss and packed up and headed south to Cooma for some Macca’s I was disappointed to find that their double cheeseburger doesn’t have the pickles. It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten at Macca’s, I wonder how long ago they stopped putting pickles in. Headed down to Great Dividing Range SE Cooma where there are two ponds with Grey Teal, White-necked and White-faced Herons. On to East Jindabyne by the lake which had Silver Gulls. Stopped a few times as it got darker to record frogs on my way to my campsite at Wallace Craigie lookout. The storms had been chasing me all the way and as I arrived they rumbled over me and on south.

14/12 166km

There wasn’t much happening so I left at 6.45 and headed down to the Snowy River at Willis. The road was atrocious with big washouts, even bigger potholes on the narrow winding road known as Barry Way. I didn’t mind though as it’s a beautiful drive through the mountains, it’s not a road that should be taken at speed even if you could. The whole area is one that should be taken at leisure to let the ambience soak in. I added Brown-headed Honeyeater at the site and wound my way up and down and up again. The climb up to Hamilton Pass has spectacular views off to the north and east but no place to stop. I met a car coming down and we barely had room to pass. Back down into Suggan Buggan to my site at the free campsite and added Yellow-tufted Honeyeater and Eastern Whipbird. At Limestone Rd I headed east even though the sign showed it being closed due to snow, I never saw a single snowflake. Had lunch at Rams Horn Track Alpine NP and found a frog calling. Now usually the Frog ID app is wonderful, but for some reason it had logged me out and with no phone reception I couldn’t log back in. I had recorded an interesting frog but there was too much background noise to hear it, so after lunch I went back and it wouldn’t let me record again, insisting that I submit the other one first. I eventually managed to get it to record again, but now my phone didn’t let the app know my location so the recording was lost. I waited for ages for it to call again but it never did. My consolation was getting a photo of Entrecasteaux’s Skink as I squatted quietly and impatiently waiting for the frog to call, a new one for me. Further east Limestone Tk Alpine NP didn’t have anything new. Lake Omeo Church lane had 300 European Starlings. The lake had lots of water with Black Swans and lots of Grey Teal. Used Hinnomunjie Connection Rd to get to Ferny Flat Mitta Mitta River. I had to go through two gates to get to the campsite, but it was worth it with Gang Gang Cockatoos and Noisy Friarbirds and an Eastern Whipbird just across the river from me.

15/12 367km

Only added 2sp in the morning and headed off at 6.50 with the temperature at 10C. The clouds were low at Tolands Rd Cobungra with lots of Stubble Quails calling in the long grass. Up over Mt. Hotham which was cold and windy and down through Bright to Ovens River Eurobin where I got a Dollarbird. In Myrtleford I headed south to Whorouly South then wound my way through the back roads to Edi Cutting camp for lunch by the river. Fielding Lane Delatite only had a few birds. Lake Eildon must be pretty close to full as at Howqua Arm Lake Eildon it’s the fullest I’ve ever seen it. I got some Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos here. The water was lapping at the end of the track at Paradise Point where there’s usually a gravel beach, I scored an Eastern Yellow Robin here. I camped in the small clearing at Fryers Ck Lake Eildon. I didn’t see most of the birds on my list as they called from the dense forest here. One of the few I saw was a King Parrot as he came down to drink, so I got a few photos of him.

16/11 90km

Ended with 25sp and took the Eildon-Warburton Rd which starts out at the north end as a rough 2wd track winding its way south through Big River State Forest to Vans Rd Big River SF where I have a survey point near the Torbreck River. The birds were plentiful here too which is a bit unusual in the middle of a forest. At Big River road camp there were less active birds. From there is was up the windy twisty road to Marysville where I picked up some food then down the bitumen road to North Creek Rd Narbethong, arriving at lunchtime and met up with Bev. There will be a break of about a week here to get some rest.

24/12

In the morning we helped Bill clear the electric fences of vegetation to keep it live, had lunch then headed off to Fernshaw Picnic area, south to Woori Yallock, then to Rankins Rd Monbulk to end the day at another of Bev’s brother’s places near Belgrave Heights Convention centre for Christmas.

27/12

After Breaky said goodbye to Stuart and Jenny and went via the house in Heathmont to Bushy Park birdhide, Ashleigh Rd Armadale, Bridge Rd Port Melbourne and Westgate Bridge park to have lunch with my old friend Murray and wife Sue in Hoppers Crossing, then down to Ocean Grove for the new year.

Bird list for the trip, % is of the 130 surveys done, B is for breeding detected

• Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae 2 (1.54%)
• Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus 1 (0.77%)
• Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae 1 (0.77%)
• Black Swan Cygnus atratus 4 (3.08%) (B)
• Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides 2 (1.54%)
• Hardhead Aythya australis 1 (0.77%)
• Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 15 (11.54%) (B)
• Grey Teal Anas gracilis 14 (10.77%)
• Chestnut Teal Anas castanea 4 (3.08%)
• Musk Duck Biziura lobata 1 (0.77%)
• Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 10 (7.69%) (B)
• Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis 7 (5.38%)
• Brown Quail Synoicus ypsilophorus 2 (1.54%)
• Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae 3 (2.31%) (B)
• Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus 3 (2.31%)
• Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1 (0.77%)
• Rock Dove Columba livia 1 (0.77%)
• Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis 3 (2.31%)
• Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera 13 (10.00%)
• Brush Bronzewing Phaps elegans 2 (1.54%)
• Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 19 (14.62%)
• Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata 1 (0.77%)
• Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida 3 (2.31%)
• Eastern Koel Eudynamys orientalis 1 (0.77%)
• Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis 6 (4.62%)
• Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis 5 (3.85%)
• Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus 3 (2.31%)
• Pallid Cuckoo Heteroscenes pallidus 1 (0.77%)
• Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis 1 (0.77%)
• Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides 2 (1.54%)
• Spotted Nightjar Eurostopodus argus 1 (0.77%)
• Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus 1 (0.77%)
• Australian Spotted Crake Porzana fluminea 2 (1.54%)
• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 3 (2.31%) (B)
• Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa 3 (2.31%)
• Black-tailed Native-hen Tribonyx ventralis 2 (1.54%)
• Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 6 (4.62%)
• Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris 2 (1.54%)
• Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus 2 (1.54%)
• Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus 1 (0.77%)
• Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae 1 (0.77%)
• Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus 2 (1.54%)
• Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus 2 (1.54%)
• Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops 2 (1.54%)
• Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 9 (6.92%)
• Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus 1 (0.77%)
• Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata 2 (1.54%)
• Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 1 (0.77%)
• Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis 4 (3.08%)
• Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 2 (1.54%)
• Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 1 (0.77%)
• Silver Gull Larus novaehollandiae 10 (7.69%)
• Pacific Gull Larus pacificus 4 (3.08%)
• Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 3 (2.31%)
• Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 2 (1.54%)
• Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 3 (2.31%)
• Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris 1 (0.77%)
• Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus 4 (3.08%)
• Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus 3 (2.31%)
• White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica 2 (1.54%)
• Great Egret Ardea alba 5 (3.85%)
• White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 11 (8.46%)
• Little Egret Egretta garzetta 1 (0.77%)
• Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus 3 (2.31%)
• Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis 3 (2.31%)
• Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos 13 (10.00%)
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 3 (2.31%)
• Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 9 (6.92%)
• Great Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 5 (3.85%)
• Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae 5 (3.85%)
• Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris 4 (3.08%)
• Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon 1 (0.77%)
• Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax 2 (1.54%)
• Swamp Harrier Circus approximans 1 (0.77%)
• Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis 1 (0.77%)
• Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus 3 (2.31%)
• Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus 4 (3.08%)
• Black Kite Milvus migrans 7 (5.38%)
• Barn Owl Tyto alba 1 (0.77%)
• Southern Boobook Ninox boobook 7 (5.38%)
• Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 11 (8.46%)
• Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 3 (2.31%)
• Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus 15 (11.54%)
• Red-backed Kingfisher Todiramphus pyrrhopygius 1 (0.77%)
• Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 20 (15.38%) (B)
• Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides 12 (9.23%)
• Australian Hobby Falco longipennis 2 (1.54%)
• Brown Falcon Falco berigora 3 (2.31%)
• Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus 1 (0.77%)
• Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Zanda funerea 4 (3.08%)
• Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo Zanda latirostris 1 (0.77%)
• Gang-gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum 4 (3.08%)
• Galah Eolophus roseicapilla 27 (20.77%) (B)
• Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea 11 (8.46%)
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita 9 (6.92%)
• Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii 2 (1.54%)
• Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus 1 (0.77%)
• Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis 4 (3.08%)
• Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus 3 (2.31%)
• Bluebonnet Northiella haematogaster 8 (6.15%)
• Red-capped Parrot Purpureicephalus spurius 1 (0.77%)
• Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans 20 (15.38%)
• Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius 5 (3.85%)
• Western Rosella Platycercus icterotis 1 (0.77%)
• Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius 16 (12.31%)
• Elegant Parrot Neophema elegans 2 (1.54%)
• Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna 1 (0.77%)
• Purple-crowned Lorikeet Glossopsitta porphyrocephala 2 (1.54%)
• Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus 5 (3.85%)
• Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus 1 (0.77%)
• Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus 2 (1.54%)
• White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea 13 (10.00%)
• Rufous Treecreeper Climacteris rufus 3 (2.31%)
• Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus 8 (6.15%)
• Blue-breasted Fairy-wren Malurus pulcherrimus 1 (0.77%)
• Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti 8 (6.15%) (B)
• Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus 23 (17.69%) (B)
• Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens 2 (1.54%)
• White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus 8 (6.15%)
• Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata 1 (0.77%)
• Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus 4 (3.08%)
• Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis 5 (3.85%)
• Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta 3 (2.31%)
• New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae 1 (0.77%)
• White-eared Honeyeater Nesoptilotis leucotis 6 (4.62%)
• Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis 2 (1.54%)
• Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris 3 (2.31%)
• White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus 6 (4.62%)
• Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Gliciphila melanops 2 (1.54%)
• Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris 2 (1.54%)
• Western Spinebill Acanthorhynchus superciliosus 1 (0.77%)
• Orange Chat Epthianura aurifrons 1 (0.77%)
• White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons 1 (0.77%)
• Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis 19 (14.62%)
• Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata 29 (22.31%)
• Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens 29 (22.31%)
• Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula ornata 7 (5.38%) (B)
• White-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata 15 (11.54%)
• White-fronted Honeyeater Purnella albifrons 4 (3.08%)
• Yellow-faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops 21 (16.15%)
• Yellow-tufted Honeyeater Lichenostomus melanops 2 (1.54%)
• Purple-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus cratitius 1 (0.77%)
• Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala 7 (5.38%)
• Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula 29 (22.31%) (B)
• Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus 10 (7.69%)
• Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus 46 (35.38%)
• White-throated Gerygone Gerygone olivacea 6 (4.62%)
• Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca 1 (0.77%)
• Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris 22 (16.92%)
• Redthroat Pyrrholaemus brunneus 6 (4.62%)
• Speckled Warbler Pyrrholaemus sagittatus 1 (0.77%)
• Chestnut-rumped Heathwren Calamanthus pyrrhopygius 1 (0.77%)
• Shy Heathwren Calamanthus cautus 1 (0.77%)
• White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis 12 (9.23%)
• Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis 3 (2.31%)
• Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 7 (5.38%)
• Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis 5 (3.85%)
• Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla 7 (5.38%)
• Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis 3 (2.31%)
• Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides 2 (1.54%)
• White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus 9 (6.92%)
• Chestnut-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus ruficeps 3 (2.31%)
• Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae 22 (16.92%)
• White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor 2 (1.54%)
• Spotted Quail-thrush Cinclosoma punctatum 1 (0.77%)
• Cinnamon Quail-thrush Cinclosoma cinnamomeum 1 (0.77%)
• Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris 20 (15.38%)
• Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis 10 (7.69%)
• Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica 38 (29.23%)
• Crested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus 2 (1.54%)
• Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis 2 (1.54%)
• Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus 4 (3.08%)
• Chirruping Wedgebill Psophodes cristatus 1 (0.77%)
• Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus 4 (3.08%)
• Pied Currawong Strepera graculina 12 (9.23%) (B)
• Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor 7 (5.38%)
• Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen 39 (30.00%)
• Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis 2 (1.54%)
• Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus 19 (14.62%) (B)
• Masked Woodswallow Artamus personatus 4 (3.08%)
• White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus 3 (2.31%)
• Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus 4 (3.08%) (B)
• Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus 2 (1.54%)
• Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys 24 (18.46%) (B)
• Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa 29 (22.31%)
• Little Crow Corvus bennetti 3 (2.31%)
• Little Raven Corvus mellori 19 (14.62%) (B)
• Australian Raven Corvus coronoides 43 (33.08%)
• Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula 1 (0.77%)
• Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta 2 (1.54%)
• Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca 33 (25.38%)
• White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos 7 (5.38%)
• Rose Robin Petroica rosea 1 (0.77%)
• Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea 1 (0.77%)
• Scarlet Robin Petroica boodang 1 (0.77%)
• Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii 5 (3.85%)
• Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans 3 (2.31%)
• Southern Scrub-robin Drymodes brunneopygia 3 (2.31%)
• Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis 6 (4.62%)
• Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata 1 (0.77%)
• Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum 2 (1.54%)
• Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata 1 (0.77%)
• Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis 1 (0.77%)
• Zebra Finch Taeniopygia castanotis 1 (0.77%)
• House Sparrow Passer domesticus 9 (6.92%)
• Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae 8 (6.15%)
• Common Greenfinch Chloris chloris 1 (0.77%)
• European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 5 (3.85%)
• Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis 5 (3.85%)
• Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis 1 (0.77%)
• Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis 2 (1.54%)
• Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi 6 (4.62%)
• Little Grassbird Poodytes gramineus 1 (0.77%)
• Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis 5 (3.85%)
• Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel 7 (5.38%) (B)
• Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans 8 (6.15%)
• Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 25 (19.23%) (B)
• Silvereye Zosterops lateralis 15 (11.54%)
• Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 20 (15.38%)
• Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 6 (4.62%) (B)
• Common Blackbird Turdus merula 16 (12.31%) (B)

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, Bush Heritage, 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.