The Bird Surveyors

29/8/15                                                                                            458km
Up 7.00 packed the car and off by 10.00. Filled up the jerry cans and tank at APCO Bendigo at $1.22.9cpl. Had lunch at Skinners Flat just past Wedderburn. The water level was low but got 12 species (sp) with Pied Butcherbird and Black-fronted Dotterel. Up to Lake Tyrell Wildlife Reserve south, past Sea Lake, which had a thin sheen of water on the main lake but in shore only a pool at my site. Got 11 sp with Black-faced Woodswallow, Rufous Fieldwren, White-backed Swallow and White-winged Fairywren. It’s the best count I’ve had here. On to the Bronzewing Reserve open area and camped at 17.00, got 21 sp by sundown including Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, White-browed Babbler, Restless Flycatcher, Splendid Fairywren, Mulga Parrot, Fan-tailed and Pallid Cuckoo. 3 more species eluded identification in the gathering gloom. We had a cloudy start this morning, which cleared past Bendigo, but a cold southerly persisted all day and we got to 15 deg – it didn’t feel like that out of the car. Bronzewing had had a bushfire through it recently which my site was on the edge of. Bed 19.30 with a full moon.
30/8                                                                                                335km
Up 7.30, had Spotted Nightjar overnight and it was -1deg with a light frost. Added 5 more species including 2 of the species that I wasn’t sure enough of last night, and left at 8.10 to Walpeup Lake, which had some water in a small dam beside the lake. Got Collared Sparrowhawk, Yellow Thornbill and others. On to Scott rd in Timberoo Res adding Striped Honeyeater and White-winged Chough. Up to the main rd and my site W of Galah and got 15 unremarkable species. To Walpeup sewerage and added Mistletoebird, Peaceful Dove. Willsmore rd Linga only had 4 species. On to Cowangie sf Purdue rd which had a pair of Kestrels nesting and Bluebonnet. Had lunch at Pinnaroo sewerage by the side of the main rd and got 21 Hardhead, Brown-headed Honeyeater and Australian Grebe on a nest. Headed north to Peebinga Conservation Park where there was a Southern Scrub Robin for the second time in a row at this site also Inland Thornbill. We reached our peak temp of 19deg around Paruna which had Little Crow. On the Murray River at Milch’s Landing we had Yellow Rosella and Whistling Kite. At Martin’s Bend we added Caspian Tern, Blue-faced Honeyeater and Little Friarbird. Camped at Plush’s Bend which had too many campers and got 25sp by dark, and another bright moonlight night ensued.
31/8                                                                                                     217km
Had Tawny Frogmouth overnight and added another 11sp in the morning mainly in the nice wetland behind the river, and left at 7.25, with the mist still on the river. Picked up fruit and veg in Renmark Square where there were Welcome Swallows nesting, zooming in between a gap in a roller-door and the building, another was just starting to daub the walls of a small alcove to make a nest. Not far outside Renmark we hit the dirt roads as we headed for camp 13 Monoman Is  on a Murray River billabong. There was plenty of water in it and we added Emu, Australian Shelduck, Grey Currawong and Brown Treecreeper. Headed north to my Chowilla RR yard site, which had water in the trough and added Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Weebil, and Rufous Whistler. At my Chowilla Track grid site got White-browed Treecreeper as I had on my last survey here, also Black-eared Cuckoo, Red-capped Robin, Crested Bellbird and Apostlebird. Into Danggali and at Canegrass dam got Horsefield’s Bronze Cuckoo, White-fronted Honeyeater and White-browed Babbler among others. Amil dam had some gums flowering and got Yellow-plumed Honeyeater and Grey Currawong among others. Olympic Boundary track was our lunch spot and had 7 sp with White-browed Babbler. East Sandy dam was the only dam with water from recent rain, and there were still large pools on the road. We got 15 sp here with Masked Lapwing, Brown-headed and White-fronted Honeyeater, Splendid Fairywren and Black-eared Cuckoo. Morganvale Claypan had flowering gums with 15 Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters, Chestnut-crowned Babbler, Southern Whiteface and 4 White-browed Treecreepers, one of these gave a threat display and chased another one away. Put in my first new site for the trip west of Oakbank station and got 4 sp adding Brown Songlark and Zebra Finch. Heading west a roo jumped out of the vegetation in front of me, no warning at all. I couldn’t stop or swerve and it received a light bump but was knocked off balance and unfortunately went under the car with a horrible crunch. There was a small mark on my bumper and a buckle on side panel to note the poor animal’s demise. Shortly after we found a track heading in to the scrub on Quandong Vale Sta and camped at 16.00. Had 16 sp by dark including Hooded Robin, White-browed Treecreeper, Black-eared Cuckoo, Brown Goshawk and Wedge-tailed Eagle which was chased a long way by Australian Ravens. It had something in its beak, so it may have raided their nest. It was a beautiful day getting to 22deg with a light breeze and blue sky. The gums aren’t flowering much but a daisy like shrub is throughout its range and at one spot paper daisies carpeted the ground.

Emu Monoman Island SA

1/9                                                                                                     343km
Woke to light cloud cover which developed during the day to some light rain, but never anything serious, but with a cold northerly it only got to 17deg, and felt colder. Had an incessant Owlet Nightjar that I heard every time I woke during the night. I added 8 more sp on my morning round and headed off at 7.15. First stop was Staker dam drain which was dry with 6 sp with Redthroat, White-fronted Chat and a Grey Fantail in the only decent sized shrub for kilometres around. Oratan Rock site had 9sp including Brown Falcon, which although we see often is hard to get on a survey, Pallid Cuckoo, and Red-capped Robin. Ocalia Ck had recently had water in it with the substrate still being wet but not even a puddle had survived for the survey. We got Emu, 2 groups of White-browed Babbler and House Sparrow, there being a homestead nearby. Galah Ck on Tiverton station had our first Black Kite as we closed in on Yunta, where I filled up the tank and Jerry-cans at $1.22.9cpl. My site just up the Yunta rd yielded more Black Kites and a Spotted Harrier. We had lunch at Nillinghoo ck where we added Chirruping Wedgebill and more Redthroat. My site up a side rd at Curnamona homestead had only 3sp with light rain falling and a bitter breeze. Bev hid in the car, can’t say I blame her at this unfriendly spot. Sandyoota well had 15sp inc. nesting Zebra Finch, 12 Chirruping Wedgebills and Variegated Fairywren. Camped at Bell bore which had a bit of water from the leaking bore pump, had 14 sp by dark and some curious but nervous cattle. Previously, at some of my sites we did today I’ve seen Slender-billed Thornbill and Thick-billed Grasswren, but not today.

Oratan Rock SA

2/9                                                                                                         352km
Had some light showers overnight. Only added Variegated Fairywren in the morning. There was a thunderclap and a brief shower as we left camp then it quickly fined up. McKinley Ck had 14sp with Red-backed Kingfisher, Mistletoebird and Little Corella. At Two Mile Ck I arrived with a tyre looking flat. A sharp piece of rock had gone through, so changed it. Got more Little Corellas and Zebra Finches. The pipeline on Mulga Station had eremophila in flower and the bushes were jumping with White-fronted and Singing Honeyeaters, Crimson Chats and a pair of White-winged Trillers. As we rounded the northern end of the Flinders Ranges and headed along the rough track to Terrapinna Springs we were blasted with a 60-70kph westerly that stayed with us for the rest of the day. The springs had Black Duck and the first Grey Shrike Thrush for a while. Mulligan Tank had only 6sp but Cockatiel, Redthroat and White-backed Swallow made bearing the gale worthwhile. Similarly my site at  Arkaroola Track, creek yielded 200 Budgerigars, more Cockatiels, White-winged Triller and a Stubble Quail. The road west along the Strezlecki Track wrecked my fuel consumption figures at 15L/100k with the still ferocious head wind coming out of the west. At Tidna Hill we tried for a no birder in a desolate landscape, but got 2 Crimson Chats as I got out of the car, then found an Orange Chat and finally a Pipit eking out a living in the sparse grass. At Yerelina Ck we called it a day at 16.30 and found a rocky outcrop and the trees of the creek to shelter us from the worst of the wind. Only found 9sp including 200 Little Corellas, and 50 Galahs all heading for water to the NW of us, also a Hobby Falcon cruising the tree line. It was fascinating watching the Tree Martins handle the wind with ease darting high and low, and side to side, compared to a Pair of Black Kites that looked decidedly unstable as they twitched their tails and waggled their wings in an attempt to look poised as they hunted for food.

Gammon Ranges from Yelerina Ck SA

3/9                                                                                                   311km
The wind blew all night, but calmed just before dawn, added a few more ordinary birds and pumped up the tyre I’d plugged last night, then set off at 7.35 to the old Lyndhurst mine site where at 8.25 it was already blowing hard and cold. I failed again to find the Chestnut-breasted Whiteface here, but were partly compensated by a pair of Cinnamon Quail-thrush. Headed north from Lyndhurst and at my site at a dam North of Farina got Black-breasted Buzzard and 2 Grey Teal on the dam. Paradise Waterhole was dry again but got Orange Chat which is now common along the side of the road, even the grid site at Marree Station had a pair. I got a surprise at Marree when I found that the price of diesel was 43c more per litre than Lyndhurst, big mistake not filling up there! Well Ck had a White-winged Triller. Lake Marion had 170 Orange Chats along the dry watercourse as well as 2 Crimson Chats, I didn’t get to the water that I suspect was in the lake, too far away. At Lake Harry South I did walk to the water to get 1000 Grey Teal, Red-capped Plover and more Orange Chats and there were thousands more waterfowl too far out to count. L Harry North was dry and despite a nice looking herb carpet only had Orange Chat and another Black-breasted Buzzard patrolling the road. Wyeculcuna waterhole was brilliant. The area I surveyed had no water, but there were a lot of flowering shrubs. We added Diamond Dove, Rufous Songlark, Pied Honeyeater, Sacred Kingfisher and Fairy Martin. We spent 1/2hr on farm tracks trying to get to my site at Dulkanina Sta, but gave up as we could not find the track that led to it, so drove to Cooper Ck campsite, which doesn’t have access to Cooper Creek which was disappointing. A stream of 26 Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes came by as well as Bluebonnet, and Galahs which were nesting in the tree above us.

Ground cover at Paradise Waterhole SA

Lake Harry north SA

Lake Harry North ground cover SA

Crimson Chat Wyeculcuna Waterhole SA

4/9                                                                                                         305km
Added a few more birds in the morning, but nothing special, saw that a tyre had gone down so pumped it up and left at 7.10. The first site at Apatoongani waterhole had water and so we added Avocet, Pink-eared Duck, Masked Lapwing, Red-kneed Dotterel, Collared Sparrowhawk and some Flock Bronzewings arrived just as we were leaving. There were more Pied Honeyeater here too. My open site 23k S of Mungeranie had 7sp including more Flock Bronzewing. Mungeranie with its permanent waterhole had 21sp inc. Fairy Martin, Reed Warbler, Little Grassbird, Hoary-headed Grebe, White-breasted Woodswallow and nesting Budgerigars. There is a natural hot water spring as well. As we headed north the track deteriorated and I was reduced to 25-30kph for a lot of it. Mirra Mitta bore Ck had a large pool of water with Grey Teal, Pink-eared Duck, Red-capped Dotterel and Black-fronted Dotterel. Mt Gason bore was dry and only had 4sp. Lunch was taken at Tippipilla Ck which also had 4sp including White-backed Swallow and an Australian Raven carrying what looked like a Crested Pigeon egg but the other species were Budgerigar and Yellow-throated Miner, so I don’t know where it got it from. Finally found where the leak in the tyre was coming from and changed it. Damperranie yard was a good spot with 14sp inc. 15 Crimson Chat and 5 White-winged Trillers. Stopped at 15.55 at Bobbiemoonga yard, it’s quite a contrast to Damperranie yard, with only 5sp in a desolate landscape with no ground cover, did get a Red-backed Kingfisher. Put a plug in the tyre I’d changed earlier today.

Budgerigar at nesting hole Mungeranie SA

5/9                                                                                                       371km
A clear mild night, added 4 more sp in the morning and headed off at 7.10. Moongarra channel was dry and I could only find 5sp. My southern sandhills site had 6sp and the northern sandhill site also had 6sp. We crossed into Qld and my site along a fence to the Diamantina River had 17sp, there was some water in the channel, but the surrounding landscape is devoid of ground cover. The races were on at Birdsville so it was teeming with 4wds, tents, caravans and campers of all shapes and sizes. Bought my ‘been there done that’ sticker and found that the price of diesel was $1.70cpl which was less than Marree, and headed north. The road was now mostly bitumen with some easy stretches of dirt to Bedourie. About 40k n of Birdsville we stopped at an open grassland and got 2sp. At Cuttaburra crossing we stopped for lunch and my good memories of the place were dashed. The water’s edge was cattle fouled, with only 15sp for a wetland – to add to the miasma was a dead Pelican. King Ck yielded Brolga, Rainbow Bee-eater and Bev, accidentally, flushed a Boobook Owl from its hole. It was immediately harassed by all the White-plumed Honeyeaters in the neighborhood. Through Bedourie to 4 Mile Ck which saw the return of Variegated Fairywren and female Mistletoebirds. It took me a while to figure them out until I spotted their red vents. Stopped at 16.40 at Thogomora tank, a desolate looking place with only 7sp, but with water in the tank and Striped Marsh Frogs calling, we saw 3 Spotted Nightjars flutter over the tank wall to hunt in it as it was growing dark, earlier 104 Galahs had come for a drink and a forage in the sparse grassland. As it got dark the mozzies emerged and we retreated.

Thogomora tank site Qld

6/9                                                                                                        433km
Added 2 more sp whilst having breakfast and set off at 7.10. a small channel in the Georgina River had Bustard and Red-backed Kingfisher.  the Burke River in Boulia had Spinifex Pigeon, Red-winged Parrot, Red-browed Pardalote, and Little Friarbird as new. The countryside north of Boulia was very dry and getting quite warm, getting to 30deg, the birds were inactive in the poor habitat The fence near old Adderley Outstation had 3sp, the site 210km south of Mount Isa had 2sp, the 170km S of Mount Isa site had 3sp, then a better site 30k w of Dajarra including the first Brown Honeyeater, the return of Weebil and 50 White-browed Woodswallows, then a 5sp site at Gidyea creek. We got into Mount Isa at 15.30 found a caravan park and paid $5ea for our showers, and did a load of washing in their laundry, used the free wi-fi at the info centre to check emails etc. Drove out to the sewerage ponds and camped by the side of the access track.

Bustard at Georgina River Qld

7/9                                                                                                       254km
The cockerels started crowing at 1.45 and did so in bouts until we got up at dawn. Got 39sp on the ponds with Plumed Whistling Duck, Wood and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Nankeen Night-heron. We finished at 8.10 and went into town to stock up on food. We found a wholesaler for fruit and veg. mushrooms were $19/k, a small pumpkin cost $12 and 20 oranges cost $24.50, all up $80, but it’s all good quality, and should last. Filled up fuel including jerry-cans for $155 at $1.33.9cpl. It was 10.30 before we headed out. At Lake Moondarra picnic area Bev packed all the food away whilst I did the survey. It was hot and dry at Mt Gordon Junction but got Red-backed Fairywren and Jacky Winter. Mt. King Ck had 8 Brown Quail which startled me as they all exploded from around my feet except one which delayed its escape. Inca Ck was all fenced off so a poor count. Just up the road the Burketown junction had 18sp mostly on the farm dam to the south of the road. Up to Thornton River to camp, it got to 36deg today, we had our first icy-pole from the fridge as we arrived. The river had one pool of water which was attracting heaps of birds, I got 32sp by dark with White-necked Heron, Great Bowerbird, plus Red-throated, Black-chinned, Grey-fronted, Grey-headed, and Yellow Tinted Honeyeaters, and Olive-backed Oriole, Blue-winged Kookaburra, Grey-crowned Babbler and Restless Flycatcher all new for the trip.

8/9                                                                                                      167km
Added Boobook Owl overnight and Black-necked Stork, Varied Lorikeet, Bustard and others to the list to end up with 45sp for the site. In contrast, the next spot on the Gregory Downs Rd only had 2sp. At O’Shannasee River I was half way through the survey and had just added Double-barred Finch on the banks of the burbling stream when I noticed that the camper was raised, and thought Bev had gone inside, then I saw that the front wasn’t up and the roof was bent because it was clipped down at the front and I knew we were in trouble. Sure enough all the lifters were bent as well as the roof. With the aid of some passing German tourists I managed to get the tension off the roof, but the lifters wouldn’t retract being bent – all the stress gave me a blood nose in the heat. We continued on to Adels Grove to see if they could help. We stopped at Gregory River where we got Crimson Finch, Purple-crowned Fairywren and Buff-sided Robin. At Adels Grove we managed to get the lifters down manually. I was disconnecting the power to the lifters so they couldn’t accidentally rise again when negative touched positive and the wire that had no fuse in it burnt. I ripped them apart burning my hand, but stopped a potential fire and got a second blood nose, I was a mess. With some bashing of the roof and replacing a bolt which had popped in the manual scissor arms that I was really thankful I’d had installed we now had a functioning camper again. I was able to use a truck strap over the roof to keep it sealed for travel. Got my burnt fingers tended to, then on the way out went to thank the mechanic and played a little joke on him. Told him that next year I’d been hired as his assistant, his eyes widened and he looked at me in shock/horror. I must give a big thumbs up to the staff here, they were very helpful for no profit. We drove down to Lawn National Park campground for a late lunch, found that they had a vacant camping spot, and decided to stay. We added Banded and White-gaped Honeyeater, had a short walk along the river and got Purple-crowned Fairywren as we cooled our heels in the river. We went to visit some people at another camp for a while. During dinner we saw that the fridge was off, I started the car but the fridge didn’t start up which meant there was no power getting to the fridge at all, and then I had my last blood nose for the day, not a good day.

Dewadarri Waterhole Lawn Hill NP Qld

Indarri Waterfall Lawn Hill NP Qld

9/9                                                                                                    246km
Had a Barking Owl overnight. In the morning we walked the loop to the lookout and possibly heard contact calls of Carpentarian Grasswrens. Jerry-rigged the solar panel using 2 trucking straps wrapped around it to strap it to the roof to give the fridge power, but it made the roof very heavy to lift manually. Had a shower which although cold wasn’t too bad. The solar panels worked well for a while, but then the wire caught on something fraying it and shorted out the controller, no more solar panels. The first survey was outside the NP on the road to Adels Grove and had a lone Willy Wagtail. My site 8km north of Gregory Downs had 4 sp and Beame Ck only had 5sp despite it running. At Burketown I got a mechanic to sort out the power from the car battery to the camper battery which he did with a fuse and charged me $20, but at least I know there’s no other problem. Drove out mangroves N of Burketown and after a bit of milling around on unmarked tracks got reasonably close to my site and camped at 17.10. Got 5sp with Red-headed Honeyeater and Mangrove Gerygone. It got to 33deg with a strengthening SE wind.

Bourketown mudflats Qld

10/9                                                                                                      369km
Only added Zitting Cisticola and Black Kite despite searching until 7.45. It was a long drive to M Ck which had a Brown Goshawk. Flinders River was more exciting with Royal Spoonbill, Paradise Shelduck, Marsh Sandpiper, Greenshank, Sarus Crane and White-throated Gerygone as new for the trip. Norman River site’s ponds were dry but held Singing Bushlark and the riverside had Mangrove Robin. Had lunch here in 36deg heat. The long billabong had a small pool with Sarus Crane and Brolga, White-bellied Sea Eagle and Torresian Crow. Corduroy Creek had water on the northern side where White Ibis was seen for the first time in a while. My site on Karumba Rd had Australian Pratincole and more Brolga. At Karumba Point it was 29deg with a nice sea breeze, high humidity and the first clouds for ages, the tide was out and we got Eastern Curlew, Gull-billed Tern, Black-necked Stork and someone had a feeder out in their garden attracting Zebra and Double-banded Finches. Back to Walker’s Ck where we added Azure Kingfisher and Yellow Honeyeater and 20 other sp by night. Another camper said they’d seen Freshwater Crocodiles but we saw none.

Brolga walking alongside the road to Karumba Qld

Brolga in Walker’s Ck Qld

11/9                                                                                                       431km
It was inevitable that I wouldn’t get enough power into the camper battery without the solar panels and it went off during the night. So drank the milk before it went off. Added Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, White-bellied Sea Eagle and Lemon-bellied Flycatcher and set off late again at 7.50 heading north up the alternate Savannah Hwy. The road was patchy with some spots being an easy cruise in 6th gear but as we headed back SE beside the Mitchell River it deteriorated with larger and larger bull dust holes. Most of the creeks were dry and only a few of the rivers were running. Bayswater Ck had 9 sp with White-throated Gerygone and White-throated Honeyeater, Vanrook Ck had 6 sp, Wyabba Ck 7sp with Blue-faced Honeyeater. Tea Tree Ck 9sp with White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike. The Mitchell River north of Dunbar station was flowing and we had lunch here with 18sp inc. Glossy Ibis and Little Egret. My last time here, there was no crossing of the river and the local farmer had a sign up noting that he charged $500 to pull vehicles out of the river, now there’s a nice causeway, but all my sites are on the old road so that’s the way we went. The Mitchell River roadside lagoon had 17sp. Drumduff Rd had a flowering gum with 13sp, Boundry Ck was back to 5sp and dry. We went along the no through road to camp on the Mitchell River at Gamboola Station. arriving in the dark at 18.45. The only birds I got were both Laughing and Blue-winged Kookaburras having a call off as the fruit bats screeched. I was so tired I couldn’t stand up straight in the dark which was disconcerting and disorienting. The main bad news today is that Bev has dropped her binoculars once too often and now they are out of alignment, so she has a monocular.

12/9                                                                                                     268km
Had dueling Barking Owls overnight. In the time before dawn and taking off I got 32sp with Black-necked Stork, Leaden Flycatcher, Bustard, Greenshank, Yellow Oriole, Pale-headed Rosella, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Sunbird and Glossy ibis. Left at 8.10. The track north from Gamboola was slow and steady in mostly 5th gear, a pleasant drive through intact forest. The dam site on the Strathleven Rd was dry and had 3sp. The creek site on the Strathleven Rd had a flowering gum and 12sp. The site 3km north of King’s Junction added Black-backed Butcherbird. The swamp on Pinnacles Rd north was dry and had 12sp. We dislodged 2 large grey birds from their perch I chased one and it took me three more flushes before I finally figured out what it was, Tawny Frogmouth. Lunch was at Alice Queen mine where we added Spangled Drongo. Whilst I was out Bev was accosted by some shooters who told her we should have advised the station owner that we were stopping for lunch because they were looking for wild pigs to shoot and we might get shot. If they can’t tell humans from wild pigs they should not be out shooting and they should have signs up advising there are shooters around. It is a public road we were using. Such arrogance. A cattle dam on Dixie Station had water and we finally got Red-tailed Black Cockatoo on a survey, after seeing small flocks of them several times, there were 80 here. We stopped at Artemis Station, they pointed us to a dam on Artemis station just back up the road, so we staked it out for 2hrs. A flock of 48 Plumed Whistling Ducks and a constant stream of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos arriving kept us amused. We camped behind the house and had another late dinner. The boiler was stoked for a nice hot shower.

Two-lined Dragon Alice Queen mine Qld

13/9                                                                                                    256km
The generator came on at 3.30, so I didn’t get much sleep after that. Sue charges $50 to help search for the Golden-shouldered Parrot we decided not to pay, so of course we didn’t get it, but got 29 other sp along the road to Windmill Ck. Heading north, the road was sometimes easy going and sometimes really rough and corrugated. I lost the rivets from one of my mud guards on the tray so used an oky strap to stabilize it. It got to 33deg and quite humid with some cloud. Coleman River south of Coen was dry with 5sp. A gully south of Coen had a flowering gum and yielded Yellow-spotted Honeyeater. In Coen I filled up with fuel at $1.67cpl, in Musgrave it was $1.60, I can’t get it right! Got some white bread and 1L milk in a plastic bottle (no spillage on the rough roads). Had lunch at The Bend where a few people were camping, only got 12sp despite the river flowing. Mungkan Kandju NP gully site had 6sp. Pinnacle Ck was dry but some of the site had been burnt and had Black-throated Finch and Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, Peaceful Dove and Bar-shouldered Dove foraging in the burnt patch. Camped at Wenlock River on the east bank, found later that the west bank is the better side being closer to the river. A trickle of water was running over the causeway, from 16.20 to dark I got 26sp with Red-browed Finch, Dusky Honeyeater, Helmeted Honeyeater and my first lifer for the trip: White-streaked Honeyeater. Spent some time swapping the tyres around putting all my off road tyres on and the better ones on the rear.

14/9                                                                                                      133km
No night birds on a quite a windy night, it was 23deg in the morning and on my morning round I added 9sp with Pied Currawong, Black Butcherbird and Brown Goshawk, I had spent a few minutes stationed at a flowering bottlebrush by the causeway and I was just walking up the cutting when I caught out of the corner of my eye what looked like a dark heron, I then saw the red cheek and knew it was a Palm Cockatoo silently making its way down river, a brief but memorable sight, lifer number 2. Left at 7.30 and stopped at Pascoe River, only got 7sp despite more bottlebrush being in flower. At West Claudie River I could only find 4sp, Orange-footed Scrub-fowl, Rufous Fantail, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and an absolutely cute Frilled Monarch, tick 3. We’d seen a broken down car and some aborigines walking along the road, as I was finishing my survey a man walked down the road and demanded that I take him in to town, he was from the broken down car, when I told him we had no room, then he got aggressive and we argued, at one stage he picked a stone to hurl at me, but I stood my ground with hands on hips and I stared him down, he told me that it was his land that I couldn’t use my binoculars, and of course it got down to history and I felt obliged to apologize for what we’d done to them in the past but that he couldn’t blame me. After what seemed an eternity he settled down, we shook  hands as we accepted each other as equals and he wandered off down the road – very difficult. Went to Gordon Ck camp and got 5sp, Magnificent Riflebird, Tropical Scrubwren and another absolute cutie, Yellow-billed Kingfisher that was bashing its way in to a termites’ nest half way up a tree, tick, tick,tick!. Further up Gordon Ck we stopped for lunch and got 9sp adding Varied Triller, Shining Flycatcher, Spectacled Monarch, Yellow-breasted Boatbill and Yellow-legged Flycatcher. Went down to the famous Chilli Beach where we added Lesser Sand-plover, Golden Plover, Grey-tailed Tattler, Red-necked Stint, Reef Egret, Emerald Dove and Bridled Tern. Camped at Cooks Hut Camp at 16.15 and added White-rumped Swiftlet, Little Shrike-thrush, heard White-throated Nightjar, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Brown Cuckoo-dove and Marbled Frogmouth and got brief glimpses of Eclectus Parrot silhouettes as they zoomed overhead calling on dusk. I’ve added more Australian birds to my list today than I have in a long time. It was still hot and humid as we went to bed.

15/9                                                                                                       48km
It stayed hot and humid all night and heard Noisy Pitta and Orange-footed Scrubfowl, a very weird, strident call. Added Lovely Fairywren, Metallic Starling and Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo to end with 28sp, though I’m hearing more calls that won’t come to mind as to what they are. Drove the short distance to Rainforest Camp and added Silvereye and poor looks at Red-cheeked and Eclectus Parrots. Drove down to the Lockhart River around the back of the airport. We had a dump of rain but after it cleared the birds were really active and we added White-faced Robin and Grey Whistler. Down to Lockhart beach and added Lesser Frigatebird, Whimbrel and Ruddy Turnstone. Had lunch in the howling wind with a shower of rain as it cooled to 23deg. Went to Gordon Creek camp but didn’t see anything new and back to camp at Cooks Hut. I was relaxing in my chair still trying to decipher bird calls when I noticed movement in the tree above me, in the gloom it looked like fur, and as it moved off from its leaf nest it turned out to be a Common Spotted Cucscus. Bev almost fell out of the camper when I told what I’d found and our next door neighbours Alan and Annette saw it too. On dark a Large-tailed Nightjar called and a Marbled Frogmouth gave us a full rendition of its calls including beak clacking.

Spotted Cuscus Cook Hut camp Qld

Orange-footed Scrubfowl Iron Range Qld

16/9                                                                                                      58km
Had showers overnight and into the morning, then fined up by 9.00 to a nice day. Added 12sp in the morning Superb Fruit-dove, being the only new one for the trip. The rain had certainly livened things up; I was watching one tree that had a stream of birds through it, but in the morning gloom I wasn’t good enough to ID many of them to my satisfaction, this is definitely not my environment yet. Went down to Portland Roads and got 31sp, new ones were Collared Kingfisher, Pied Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Varied Honeyeater and Fig Parrot. My new bird for the day was only found just before we left. I’d wandered up and down the road a few times, and I thought I’d give it one more try and found a Fawn-breasted Bowerbird. Drove around to Chilli Beach and added Greater Sand-plover and Lesser Crested Tern, and after many a fruitless search of the coasts I finally got Black-naped Terns, two pairs out on the islet just off shore, one pair copulating the other displaying. We waited till dusk and had about 4800 Metallic Starlings swirling around the islet in a noisy maelstrom. At 18.55 we headed off and camped at Gordon Ck camp.

Pied Imperial Pigeons at Portland Roads Qld

Common Sandpiper Portland Roads Qld

Chilli Beach Qld

Dark phase Reef Heron Chilli Beach Qld

17/9                                                                                                        79km
Ended the survey with 27sp including Green-backed Honeyeater, I’ve had looks at what I thought was it a few times, this time I heard it call so was certain enough, it’s certainly a difficult bird to ID. I was coming back along the foot track when I spotted the common Orange-footed Scrub-fowl on the track, there was another bird there, and when I got my bins on it, it turned out to be a Noisy Pitta, in a few seconds it followed the scrub-fowl off the road, but it’s still the best look I’ve had of one. At the other Gordon Ck site I got 15sp with Fairy Gerygone, it’s one of the calls that I hadn’t picked up on, so my ears are picking up the calls better now. We went to Lockhart River sewerage ponds and added Brahminy Kite and Osprey, went back to the Lockhart River site and got 11sp, again thanks to learning the calls. The Azure Kingfisher there flew through one of the tubes of the causeway rather than over it. Went down to Lockhart beach and got 17sp, the waders didn’t come on the low tide today for some reason. Yesterday at Portland Roads Bev had received a lot of bites from no-see-ums near the mangroves, today she got a bad reaction from them with her skin going red and itchy with a lot of swelling, my antihistamine cream wasn’t working so we went to the clinic in Lockhart River and they gave her some cream and tablets to alleviate the symptoms, but it may take several weeks for them to settle down, the lesson here is to put insect repellent on near mangroves. I’d got a few bites and had a bit of swelling of my legs but by this morning I was okay. While she went to the toilet block at Cook Hut to have a wash before she put the cream on, I was chatting with Alan, who’d stayed camping here and I heard a wren call, we chased it and got The Lovely Fairywren. Because a large tour group had camped here they hadn’t turned up before. Got to Gordon Ck camp at 17.15 and by dark had 16sp including the first look at a Wompoo Fruit-dove, which I’d only heard till now.

18/9                                                                                                      324km
Ended up with 24sp with no new ones, so it was a good time to be heading out, and we did so at 7.30. Stopped at Pascoe River and added Pheasant Coucal. Wenlock River survey was interrupted by a stream of motorbikers, sods, got a Lemon-breasted Flycatcher. Back to the main road and headed north, stopped at a dam on Batavia Downs Station for 12sp including Hobby Falcon. North of Moreton Telegraph a creek had had Little, Noisy, Helmeted and Silver-crowned Friarbirds, one of each in a flowering grevillia, with Dusky and White-throated Honeyeaters. In a tree by the creek sitting quietly was a Fan-tailed Cuckoo. East of Bramwell Junction in a quarry were 5sp and a 53m mast further up the road also had 5sp, both done in 35deg heat. Drove down the nastily corrugated track to Captain Billy’s landing arriving at 17.20. Had a few waders at low tide a few terns patrolling the beach and Pied Imperial Pigeons heading out to the islands off shore. A pleasant evening with a nice on shore breeze and the gentle sound of waves on the sand.

19/9                                                                                                     204km
Added a few bush birds but it wasn’t very busy in the sand dunes or out the back of them. We were about to leave at 7.20 when a pair of Beach Stone Curlew arrived on the grass beside the camper, we froze, but they let out an alarm call and off they went. This would be a nice place to chill out for a few days; it has a very peaceful atmosphere. The drive out didn’t seem as bad as the drive in, back to the main road and north again. Stopped at a mast 171m high by the road and got Pacific Baza. The Jardine Ferry cost $99, which includes the return fare and access to some free campsites, we stopped not far up the road at Sanameric Ck and got Streaked Honeyeater and Spotted Nightjar. The supermarket in Bamaga is well stocked and not as expensive as I’d thought, so we stocked up on fruit and veg. Stopped on a side track South of Lockerbie for lunch. Along the road a screwed container in the fridge with left over canned tomatoes had come unscrewed and toppled over, very messy. I got Forest Kingfisher on the survey, then I couldn’t get the roof to go down properly, no matter what I tried, the stubs of the roof lifters are catching on the roof, I tried pulling them apart with the winch but it just pulled the car over, so I adjusted the truck strap further back so it would seal the rear which is the critical spot to stop the dust swirling in and off we went. As we drove off I heard it pop back in, grrr. Went to Roonga Point and camped at 15.50, only a few others camped here, we didn’t get a great spot, but we’re right by the water with a nice view out to the islands. The area is looking a bit shabby and over used with no one cleaning up the rubbish. Saw a Lesser Frigatebird chase a Bridled Tern with a fish, the tern won. Found a dead Whimbrel, possibly taken by a Goshawk. There were Osprey and Figbirds here. The road from the ferry to Bamaga and Bamaga to Lockerbie was in awful condition with horrible corrugations.

Spotted Nightjar Sanameric Ck Qld

Roonga Point relaxing time Qld

Jumping spider Roonga Point Qld

20/9                                                                                                     44km
What little breeze there was died early and a hot sticky night ensued. In the morning though we were rewarded by the wailing of a Bush Stone Curlew, I ended up with 31sp. Around to Cable Bay which although nicer bush wouldn’t be worth paying for as there are no facilities either. Got a Papuan Frogmouth, paid $3ea for nice hot showers at the resort and took the short cut 4wd track to the cape, it took 50min mainly because I got stuck in the sand and had to let my tyres down to get through it. Predictably there were a lot of people at the cape car park, but we walked along the west side coast to the Cape York tip and took some photos and enjoyed the apex of the trip for a few minutes by ourselves, before turning south and following the east side coast, then scrambling up to the ridge and back to the car park. Got 7sp also saw a large fish with white lips close in shore, a Bottle-nosed Dolphin and a tuna sp. Drove down to Somerset Beach but it costs $20 a night so took the beach track and promptly got stuck. When I let my tyres down my belly was sitting on the sand which is the biggest problem with this car, no clearance. I was digging myself out when some others came along, they pulled me back and now that I sat clear I was okay , but we stopped at the first beach south of Somerset in the shade of some palm trees and had lunch at 13.30 and lazed the arvo away with a lovely on shore breeze which promises a nicer night than last night. Got 16sp by dark. As the sun went down we moved the car down to a flat platform. We scrounged one of the many coconuts lying around and using a big hammer I found today and my jimmy bar I broke it open and we had fresh coconut.

On the Punsand Bay to Roma Flat 4wd track Qld

The classic photo at the tip Cape York Qld

On the Cape York tip ridge track looking south west Qld

21/9                                                                                                        33km
Had Beach Stone Curlew on the beach at dawn and a flat tyre, the hole was only small so just pumped it up. Ended the survey with 22sp then drove back through the deep sand and pumped the tyres back up to road pressures. Not far down the road at Lockerbie Scrub 1 we got a Palm Cockatoo so did a survey and got Tawny-breasted Honeyeater… tick! Went and had a look at Roma Flat walk but it was all overgrown. Found an Orange Plane butterfly, spectacular! Drove down towards Lockerbie and found a fruiting fig tree at Lockerbie Scrub 2, but the Metallic Starlings were hogging it all to themselves. Drove back to Wicheura Lake and found it full of water so spent the arvo propped under a tree, slowly adding species like Lesser Frigatebirds that came in for a drink by skimming the surface, Australian Grebe and Little Pied Cormorant were the only waterbirds. Later went for a walk around the shore and found a sheltered alcove with Black-fronted Dotterel, Black-necked Stork and after a long time spent gaining their confidence saw Brown-backed Honeyeater… tick! had 22sp by dark.

The iconic Palm Cockatoo in Lockerbie Scrub Qld

Lake Wicheura Qld

22/9                                                                                                 241km
Added 6 more sp in the morning including Lovely Fairywren and Great Egret, there’s supposed to be crocodiles here, but we saw no sign of them. Lockerbie scrub 1 had 19sp with the Palm Cockatoo and Tawny-breasted Honeyeater again. Lockerbie scrub 2 had 9sp and still had lots of Metallic Starlings around the fruiting fig. Lockerbie south site had 6sp with Tropical Scrubwren. In Bamaga filled up the tank at $1.79cpl and used their free wi-fi to pay some bills and headed south. The wind was stronger than on the way up Sanameric Ck and the other 2 sites above all had fewer species than on the way up. We arrived at the Jardine ferry just after midday and soon realized that it wasn’t running, we sat there with no idea when they would start up again. In the end we sat there in the heat for an hour, most unsatisfactory. A sign noting that the ferry doesn’t run between the hours of midday and 13.00 would be a great help. Stopped at the Bramwell Junction quarry at 16.55 and had 9sp before dark with Lemon-bellied Flycatcher and Bush Stone Curlew. I found the problem with the tyre from yesterday it had a long nail in it, so put a plug in it. On such a windy day I was surprised to see so many fires being lit, there were vast swathes of bush being burnt, with no one in attendance to limit them; this would be an arsonists heaven, and a real worry for the conservation of the entire region.

Cape York Road Qld

23/9                                                                                                       313km
Added 5 more sp in the cool morning air and set off at 7.20, the creek near Moreton Telegraph had 16sp, the dam at Batavia Downs had 6sp. Pinnacle Ck had road works going on and I got 7sp, the Masked Finches weren’t to be seen, but had been replaced by Double Barred Finches. Mungkan Kandju NP site had 5sp. Lunch was taken at The Bend on Coen River and had 15sp. The gully south of Coen had 7sp and we stopped at Coleman River down a little side track on the SE side, it was dry but got 17sp before dark including Large-billed Gerygone and our first Brush Cuckoo for the trip.

24/9                                                                                                     396km
Another nice cool night as the wind died down, we had Tawny Frogmouth and Boobook Owl calling and added another 4sp on my morning stroll, the birds went quiet very quickly so they’re in conservation mode here. Set off at 7.00. It wasn’t long before the strong easterly wind blew in again. As we headed east we stopped at the Lotusbird Lodge lake and got 38sp in the 20min survey, new ones were Comb-crested Jacana, Magpie Goose and Wandering Whistling Duck. Annie River campground in Lakefield NP hasn’t improved from the last time I was here, with no facilities people crap everywhere leaving rolls of toilet paper wafting around the site. Got 9sp including Koel and Fairy Gerygone. Further south my swamp site had 22sp. The contrast between this site and the Lotusbird Lodge site is stark. The pond here is bigger with less trees around it, but the main difference is that here the edges are trampled by stock, damaging the quality of the wetland. Here there were 20 Magpie Geese compared to 300 but then there were 250 Plumed Whistling Duck compared to 100 at Lotusbird Lodge, here there was also a Forest Kingfisher. A small lagoon dam down the road had 15sp, it was too small to host waterbirds but had Brown-backed Honeyeater and Black-throated Finch. Lunch was had at Kalpowar Crossing. The Normanby River was flowing across the causeway, there was a Great and a Little Egret stalking for any prey being washed over it as well as Red-tailed Black Cockatoos and more Double-barred Finches, all up 18sp. Dowling’s Waterhole had 17sp with Grey Goshawk. Horseshoe lagoon had 20sp but was suffering significant damage to the water’s edge from stock. We had a herd of horses arrive and wade out into the lagoon to drink, this shouldn’t be happening in a National Park. There were 200 Magpie Geese here and we added Green Pygmy Goose to the trip list. The road through the park was in good condition so it’s easy to see where the money is being spent. The road to Cooktown is a nice drive through the ranges, and down in to deep valleys with good looking rivers flowing. We picked up groceries and fuel in Cooktown, had a look at my survey spot at Finch Bay which had 6sp due to the survey being conducted at 17.20 and a beach full of people walking their dogs off the leash on the small beach, there was no room for wildlife here. Drove south to my spot on Wallaby Ck south of Helenvale, arriving after dark. Before we went to sleep heard Noisy Pitta and a pair of Rufous Owls.

Great Egret Kalpowar Crossing Qld

Magpie Geese and Royal Spoonbills on Horseshoe lagoon, note the damaged water’s edge Qld

25/9
Ended the survey with 27sp including Bush Stone Curlew. South through attractive little settlements to Bloomfield River crossing, there were 15sp with Forest Kingfisher. Then the interesting drive through the Daintree to the beach access spot on the Cape Tribulation rd which had 14sp with Greater Sand Plover, Sanderling and an unusually inquisitive Beach Stone Curlew, which I found followed me around if I moved slowly as I counted the birds. At the tourist area had a wander around the beaches and short boardwalk to an uninspiring lookout, the most interesting thing we found here was a Bordered Rustic butterfly. Crossed the Daintree River on the ferry for $14 ( one way) and went to have a look at Mossman Gorge but it’s been turned in to a tourist trap where they charge you $8.90ea to see it, you can’t even walk to the gorge, you have to go on one of their shuttle buses. We left in disgust, and went to Cooya beach and had lunch at the boat ramp and got 14sp at low tide, though there weren’t that many waders, did get a Striated Heron. On the boat ramp someone had caught hundreds of unwanted fish and had just dumped them on the ramp, they lay there rotting, what a waste of life, what absolutely inconsiderate people fishermen can be. My spot half way up Mt Lewis added Golden Whistler, Atherton Scrubwren, Eastern Spinebill and Brown Gerygone. We spent 2 ½ hrs on the Mt Lewis dam walk adding Grey-headed Robin, Topknot Pigeon, Catbird, Chowchilla, Bridled Honeyeater, Victoria’s Riflebird, Eastern Whipbird and a brand new one for me Tooth-billed Bowerbird, which had a little track leading to its bower, so it’s well known by birders, it was very accommodating and happily sang away as we watched it. Got to Kingfisher Park on dark to find it booked out. Mt. Molloy free camp was uninviting with way too many people and right on the road so we drove up to my site at Mt. Carbine dam and camped at 19.10, flushing some Little Button Quail as we arrived.

Coota Beach Cape Tribulation Qld

26/9                                                                                               185km
Had Bush Stone Curlew calling overnight and got 33 more sp in the morning. The dam only had a few pools around the dam wall where 23 Pelicans were crammed in, also here were Bustards and Squatter Pigeon. Abattoir swamp was a disappointment with high grass smothering the water and cattle munching away at the grass, so only got 11 bush species. Lake Mitchell was looking good and got 31sp with a lone Cotton Pygmy Goose with some of its Green cousins. Davies Ck east of Mareeba site had 7sp with Yellow Robin. Coming through Koah we saw diesel at 1.21cpl so filled up, which was a good idea it being 1,39cpl in Cairns, I actually made a good decision on diesel for once. Lunch was taken at Redden Island with 18sp, the tide was out and we got Bar-tailed Godwit and Marsh Sandpiper, the bush was pretty quiet in the heat of the afternoon. The mangrove boardwalks near the airport had Black-faced Monarch and Collared Kingfisher. Cairns Esplanade didn’t disappoint with 180 Great Knot, 9 Red Knot, 7 Eastern Curlew, 10 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and other waders slowly moving closer as the tide came in, it’s a fascinating mix, having so many people milling around on one side of the wall and so many birds milling around on the other side of the wall. It was getting dark as we finished the survey so we had a nice dinner at the RSL across the road then drove up the Lake Morris rd to my spot under a pylon, which wasn’t easy to find in the dark, the track up to it being so small.

27/9                                                                                                      271km
Had some light showers overnight. Got 20sp in the morning but nothing new, left at 7.25, and back in to Cairns, walked around the outside of the Cairns Big4 caravan park and got 19sp including Nutmeg Mannikin and at least 3 pairs of Pied Imperial Pigeons making nests. The mangrove end of the esplanade produced too many Common Mynas and a Mangrove Robin and others. After doing some shopping for groceries we headed south. Ross & Lock picnic area had 12sp but nothing new. Lake Barrine had 19 ordinary species, Broomfield Swamp had 14sp including Lewin’s Honeyeater and both Sarus Crane and Brolga. Mt Hypipamee NP had only 8sp with Grey-headed Robin. Other people had found a Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo perched quietly above the track. All these spots had too many people around for good birding except Broomfield Swamp. Leaving the tourists behind we headed inland to Wurruma Swamp which had 25sp with Latham’s Snipe out in the open and Intermediate Egret. Smith’s Ck near Mt Garnet had 6sp with the return of Noisy Miner and Australian Raven. By the time we’d got to my site at 40 Mile Scrub we’d run out of options to camp so drove up the track 100m and camped at 17.10.

Broomfield Swamp, with Brolgas and Sarus Cranes Qld

Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo Hypipamee NP Qld

28/9                                                                                                    508km
At 12deg I needed a jumper in the morning as I got 18sp and we left at 7.05. The dam on Lava Plains Station was low with a cow stuck in the mud and zero ground cover for the other cattle, there was however good tree cover and I got 10sp here. 8 Mile Ck was running and had 6sp including Squatter Pigeon. The quarry SW of The Lynd had no ground cover and had 3sp. Redbank Ck Greenvale was dry and had 4sp, not on the survey we saw a White-bellied Sea Eagle on a road kill, I’ve never seen this before, and possibly another sign that things are tough around here at the moment. Lunch was had at my Clarke River site which had some pools of water, the largest had a lot of waterbirds around it with Glossy Ibis, all up 33sp, amazing what a bit of water can do for bird diversity. The Harvey Range Rd T junction was looking good for no birds for most of the survey until I found a hardy Magpie, then 2 other species turned up, so it was just another low diversity dry site. Basalt River was flowing but had cattle fouling up the watercourse, but still found Bustards drinking and Black-winged Stilts foraging with 12 other species. Bryant’s Rd had a heap of Little Friarbirds and 7 other species. In Charters Towers we used the free wi-fi at McDonalds and Bev got some more tablets for her still itching skin from the Iron Range no-see-ums. Got diesel at $1.39cpl at the Puma petrol station on the way out south. Little Policeman Ck had another heap of Little Friarbirds and a road kill Emu, there wasn’t much left of the unfortunate creature, just feathers and leg bones. Drove east off the main rd to my site at Cape River and camped at 18.20.

29/9                                                                                                    308km
A storm that had threatened as we arrived never eventuated and as the night progressed a full moon beamed at us. Overnight heard White-throated Nightjar and Boobook Owl and added another 23sp in the morning. Kept heading east, my first spot 9km E of Caerphilly homestead had good habitat, but was suffering from the dry and had 13sp with Brown Treecreeper and Grey-crowned Babbler. We drove through some more nice habitat but then found some areas that had been utterly destroyed by land clearing. A side trip north to water pipe dam had 13sp with many like Double-barred Finch and White-throated Honeyeater drinking at the dam. Back south and a cattle dam south of Bungabine Ck was good with 27sp but it was an island in the middle of devastation with no trees outside the compound for over 1km, it looked awful with all those trees knocked over and up rooted. Suttor River was lunch and had a cattle fouled pool and 25sp with Red-backed Fairywren and Spangled Drongo. The road marked on my navigator running south didn’t exist so was forced to use the Nebo Rd and we camped at Elphinstone Lake campground at 15.00 and relaxed by the shore watching the afternoon storms dissipate over the ranges. Had 32sp by dark Including Willie Wagtail and Magpie Lark nesting on neighboring boughs of the same tree.

Armchair birding on the shores of lake Elphinstone Qld

Apostlebird Lake Elphinstone Qld

30/9                                                                                                 613km
Ended the survey with 35sp adding Golden-headed Cisticola to the trip list. My old spot on Lake Elphinstone NW edge by the creek had 16sp with Brown Quail and more Cisticolas, the water’s edge was too far away to survey, but the creek had a pool in it and there was a steady stream of honeyeaters coming in for a drink. Bee Ck was dry but had a Black-throated Monarch. Finding Nebo wasn’t hard with my Hema Navigator (sorry, couldn’t resist that one), from there we headed south, we surveyed Spring Ck on the Mt. Flora Mine Rd and got 11sp, Carfax Rd had 13sp with a great look at a Pacific Baza. The vegetation on Carley Creek Station was sparse and we got 8sp where Yellow-throated Miners had replaced Noisy Miners. Lunch was at Duaringa State Forest, in the heat I found 7sp inc. Pied Currawong. The Don River site had a trickle of flow and 13sp, found some ripe miniature tomatoes in a strange little garden so grabbed a handful. There were some White-winged Choughs foraging along the bank, they had a lookout in a tree, on inspection it was standing next to a nest. A Whistling Kite came cruising up the river and the lookout’s call changed, all the flock gathered together around the nest calling out and fussing over each other, I couldn’t see any chick on the nest though. Our last survey at Malone’s Gully was a struggle with two bulldozers working in an adjoining field building a dam I think, I still managed 9sp, we then made a dash for my brother’s place in Gladstone and had the best pizza I’ve ever had from The Mix on Toolooa St. and a late night at 22.00.

Pacific Baza on Carfax Rd off Fitzroy Development Rd Qld

1/10                                                                                                      255km
Went down to Tannum Sands beach at 9.00 and got 14sp including 40 Figbirds in a fruiting fig tree, I’d estimated the number at 20 based on sound and movement, but something spooked them and as they all streamed out I realized I drastically underestimated their number. Filled up the tank at Tannum Sands BP at $1.25cpl did some shopping in Calliope and again my navigator let me down as I went down a road that was closed, leading to a quarry. We found a local who directed us on to the correct road to Mondo which was a slow, winding, very nice drive through the valley with little communities strung out along it. Our first stop was lunch at Futter Ck campground which is now at the top end of an arm of Awoonga Reservoir and so a nice wetland and had Glossy Ibis and 21 Dusky Moorhen, 18sp all up. In Golembil locality we stopped at one of the many creek crossings most of which unfortunately had cattle munching away at the vegetation, this crossing had none and with some flowering bottlebrush we got Scarlet Honeyeater and Scaly-breasted Lorikeet. This is a very pretty road to drive along, despite the cattle. We were on our way to camp at Wuruma Lake when we saw a brightly coloured hotel at Mulgildie advertising a seafood platter for $10. As we wandered around the associated art gallery I drew attracted to some paintings by Arthur Hamblin. The platter turned out to be mainly chips and tartar sauce, but was nice enough and we left needing no more food, they were nice enough to cook it for us at 15.30. With a bit of umming and aahing we decided on ‘The Drover’ a small painting which cost $350, but they had no eftpos, their ATM cost $2 per transaction, it dispensed $200 then ran out of money, so they rang up the supermarket,we wandered over there and got a jar of pineapple and passionfruit jam (which would turn out to be rather scrumptious) and the necessary cash and thus we got our painting. We got to the lake at 17.30 and had to shoo a Laughing Kookaburra off my car door, I had to actually physically shove it off, way too tame.

Very tame Laughing Kookaburra Wuruma Lake Qld

Morning on Wuruma Lake Qld

2/10                                                                                                      370km
There were flashes of lighting all around as the night wore on but the only sprinkle came when Bev went to the toilet which is a long walk as there’s only 1 male and 1 female toilet for the whole camp and there are easily 100 people here. Had White-throated Nightjar calling overnight and ended with 28sp. An Australian Grebe was sitting on a nest a bit close to the shore, as I approached it covered up its egg with some nesting material and slipped in to the water, so that as I walked by I couldn’t see an egg and it was safe, a simple solution. An old site at Dead Bullock Ck was still active with 16sp. Miller’s Road south of Mundubbera despite being mostly farmland with a few trees had 11sp inc. the return of Yellow-rumped Thornbill. A stop in Allies State Forest in the Brovinia locality had 10sp but I only actually saw one bird for the entire 20min survey, a Noisy Miner. Swain’s Road corner west of Durong had some remnant quality scrub and was crammed full of birds with 14sp with Superb and Variegated Fairywrens and Leaden Flycatcher. We stopped for lunch at Jandowae at the Lion’s Park and got 28 town sp with Common Starling, Spotted Turtledove, House Sparrow and Common Myna. Picked up fuel in Dalby at the Freedom Fuels store which was offering 4c off for buying 40L of fuel, so paid $1.25cpl. In the heat of the day I tried a sparse spot at Rider’s Rd just South of Dalby and got 4sp. Stopped at Cecil Plains Apex camp, but it was right on the road so after finding 20sp adding Dollarbird and Plum-headed Finch to the trip list we moved on. After a bit of going the wrong way due to poor information we found Lemontree Weir by entering the coordinates listed in the camps book and making our way there. The access is a bit limited to the north but it kept us away from a rather noisy diesel pump. Had 26sp by dark as we relaxed on the bank by the water. At one point a lone Great Cormorant flew overhead, coming in the other direction, a flock, I could see the lone one’s thought processes as it turned around to follow the group, wondering what it would be missing out on then thought no I like the way I was going and did another 180, strangely the group now did a 180 and followed the lone one, they all met up and flew on, a Darter that was trailing the main group of cormorants witnessed the flock do the 180, passed them then also did a 180 to follow them all back up the weir.

Cooking dinner Lemontree Weir campsite Qld

3/10                                                                                                       351km
The pump thumped away most of the night, I don’t know how the campers near it got any sleep. Didn’t add much in the 14deg morning and ended with 30sp. An old site on the Condamine River had 20 Common Mynas, they are doing worrying well out here, and 17sp all up. Had a look at Pine Hill State Forest and got 19sp including Diamond Firetail and Striped Honeyeater. One of my favourite sites on the north shore of Coolmunda dam had 33sp including 13 Glossy Ibis and a White-bellied Sea Eagle that caused a huge commotion on the water as it languidly drifted along the shore. A Pallid Cuckoo called from the woodland. A little creek at Kemp’s Lane North of Texas had 14sp with our first Black-shouldered Kite for the trip and a pair of Dusky Moorhens with 2 minute balls of fluff in tow. We stopped for lunch at Yetman at the McIntyre River overflow and got 19sp with Red-backed Kingfisher and Hobby Falcon. With the temperature now at 32deg I tried a piece of ratty looking farmland with a few trees on Agincourt rd South of Cooltai and got 10sp. An old site at Warialda rail had 21sp and we stopped at the camping spot by the Gwydir River in Bungara and had 32sp by dark with Night Heron and Azure Kingfisher. The problem with this sort of campsite is that they are poorly maintained, there is quite a lot of rubbish on what would otherwise be a nice site. One moron had neatly tied all his rubbish up in a big plastic bag and dumped it in a bush; I really can’t understand the mentality of people that think this is an acceptable thing to do. Too many people just don’t seem to care about the effect they have on the environment or that other people will be using the site after them.

Black-winged Stilt Coolmunda dam Qld

Azure Kingfisher Gwydir River Bungara NSW

4/10                                                                                                      370km
We were serenaded to sleep by large numbers of at least three species of frog, the sturdy few of which joined in the best dawn chorus we’ve had all trip, that was borne out by the longest list of the trip at 59sp with White-browed Scrubwren, Superb Fairywren and Welcome Swallow all nesting. A side trip to an old site at Benbraggie State Forest had 20sp with Dusky Woodswallow and King Parrot. Calamondah Road Baraba had 17sp with Rufous Songlark, Jacky Winter, Little Lorikeet, Turquoise Parrot and more King Parrot in nice looking woodland. The shore of Lake Keepit was over 1km from my site so got 10sp of woodland birds as we broke for lunch. Oxley memorial on the side of a well treed hill in the middle of farmland had 7sp in 34deg heat, some of the gums were in flower and they had Musk Lorikeet foraging. Connemarra rail had 7sp and we stopped at my site in the Durridgerie State Forest and had 12sp by sundown with Western Gerygone. Bev washed her hair using six cups of water, impressive!

After wetting hair, adding shampoo

Rinsing out Shampoo

Second rinse after second shampoo

After conditioning, starting final rinse

Final rinse

5/10                                                                                                      327km
Under the trees and out of the wind it was a warm night and the fridge ran out of power. Had Boobook Owl and Spotted Nightjar overnight, the woodland was well stocked with birds like Speckled Warbler and several species of Thornbill. Not far down the road The Drip picnic area had 13sp and Deadman’s Ck at Cope State Forest had 19sp with Crested Shrike-tit. Off the Wellington Road is 12 Mile Road which is a nice drive on dirt road but with decidedly unfriendly grids which had to be taken very slowly. My site at the ruin at Twelve Mile had 14sp of open woodland/farm type birds with the inevitable Common Starling. The Merinda River at Yarrabin had a trickle of water through it and 15sp. My spot on the side of the Lake Burrendong dam was dry except for the water in the channel and had 14sp with Pipit and White-browed Woodswallow. Along the Mudgee Road turning south the Meroo River had the first Little Eagle for the trip. The old Tambaroora cemetery had 14sp with Red Wattlebird and Crimson Rosella. It was then a roller coaster ride down to my site at Millah Murrah ck where we got 19sp including another Little Eagle. In Bathurst the place was preparing for the great race around Mt Panorama, but we kept going to camp at Caracoa Dam arriving at 17.15. It’s a spacious area with a lot of campers, but well kept with a nice view across the lake to sparse trees on a grassy slope. The showers are cold. A flock of 42 Great Cormorants looked like an attacking fleet as they hunted in a loose pack in the dam.

Cemetery at Tambaroora NSW

Carcoar Lake NSW

6/10                                                                                                      177km
Ended the survey with 36 human tolerant species. My old site by Lake Carcoar had a flotilla of 320 Coot. My site in Cowra at Lachlan river had 24sp. Clay Pipe road Koorawatha had 14sp. I found 12sp at Tyagong Ck whilst dodging the traffic, stupid spot for a bird survey, don’t know what I was thinking when I put this one in. We stopped at Holy Camp Weddin NP at 12.00, had lunch and lazed the arvo away dozing off several times as I listened to a very vocal Rufous Whistler. At 16.30 we headed up the walking track to Peregrine Lookout which although giving a 180deg panorama isn’t anything special. The higher lookout was effectively the same view so probably not worth the effort, although the botany did change. One of the pleasures of sitting at a lookout is that every now and then a Wedge-tailed Eagle will use the same rock face for some updraught, and you can get a wonderful close view of our most majestic eagle, today was our lucky day.

Peregrine lookout Holy Camp Weddin NP NSW

Wedge-tailed Eagle from Peregrine Lookout NSW

Satin Green Forester (Pollanisus viridipulverulenta) Holy Camp Weddin NP NSW

7/10                                                                                                      644km
Ended the survey at 7.30 with 30sp adding Shining Bronze Cuckoo to the trip list. The last dirt road for the trip to Tubbul rd Weedallion to add Superb Parrot to the trip and 17 other sp. Wound our way through minor roads to Mitta Mitta Ck on Bethungra Rd for 18sp, and the Murrumbidgee River at Mundarib had 13sp with a host of Fairy Martins nesting under the bridge. On to the freeway and we stopped for lunch by Lake Hume  at Table Top Reserve which had 16sp with an aggressive Magpies swooping us, then the long drive back home in time for dinner and a nice long hot shower.

Bird list for the trip. % is of the 269 surveys done. B is for breeding.

• Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae 3 (1.12%)
• Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata 4 (1.49%)
• Plumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoni 4 (1.49%)
• Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata 1 (0.37%)
• Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis 1 (0.37%)
• Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus 6 (2.23%)
• Black Swan Cygnus atratus 4 (1.49%) (B)
• Radjah Shelduck Radjah radjah 5 (1.86%)
• Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides 2 (0.74%)
• Hardhead Aythya australis 16 (5.95%)
• Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis 1 (0.37%)
• Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 28 (10.41%)
• Grey Teal Anas gracilis 25 (9.29%) (B)
• Chestnut Teal Anas castanea 1 (0.37%)
• Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 14 (5.20%)
• Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus 1 (0.37%)
• Green Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus 3 (1.12%)
• Australian Brush-turkey Alectura lathami 17 (6.32%)
• Orange-footed Scrubfowl Megapodius reinwardt 16 (5.95%)
• Stubble Quail Coturnix pectoralis 1 (0.37%)
• Brown Quail Synoicus ypsilophora 2 (0.74%)
• Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae 17 (6.32%) (B)
• Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus 2 (0.74%)
• Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 4 (1.49%)
• Rock Dove Columba livia 8 (2.97%)
• Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis 4 (1.49%)
• Brown Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia phasianella 10 (3.72%)
• Spinifex Pigeon Geophaps plumifera 1 (0.37%)
• Squatter Pigeon Geophaps scripta 2 (0.74%)
• Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera 8 (2.97%)
• Flock Bronzewing Phaps histrionica 3 (1.12%)
• Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 41 (15.24%)
• Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata 11 (4.09%)
• Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida 62 (23.05%)
• Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis 42 (15.61%)
• Brown-capped Emerald-Dove Chalcophaps longirostris 3 (1.12%)
• Torresian Imperial-Pigeon Ducula spilorrhoa 29 (10.78%) (B)
• Wompoo Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus magnificus 14 (5.20%)
• Superb Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus superbus 5 (1.86%)
• Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus regina 3 (1.12%)
• Topknot Pigeon Lopholaimus antarcticus 1 (0.37%)
• Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus 1 (0.37%)
• Eastern Koel Eudynamys orientalis 3 (1.12%)
• Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae 5 (1.86%)
• Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis 8 (2.97%)
• Black-eared Cuckoo Chalcites osculans 3 (1.12%)
• Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites lucidus 1 (0.37%)
• Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites minutillus 7 (2.60%)
• Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo Cacomantis castaneiventris 5 (1.86%)
• Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis 4 (1.49%)
• Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus 1 (0.37%)
• Pallid Cuckoo Heteroscenes pallidus 10 (3.72%)
• Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis 8 (2.97%)
• Marbled Frogmouth Podargus ocellatus 4 (1.49%)
• Papuan Frogmouth Podargus papuensis 1 (0.37%)
• Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides 4 (1.49%)
• Spotted Nightjar Eurostopodus argus 4 (1.49%)
• White-throated Nightjar Eurostopodus mystacalis 3 (1.12%)
• Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus 6 (2.23%)
• Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus 5 (1.86%)
• Australian Swiftlet Aerodramus terraereginae 8 (2.97%)
• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 3 (1.12%)
• Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa 5 (1.86%)
• Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 17 (6.32%)
• Sarus Crane Antigone antigone 5 (1.86%)
• Brolga Antigone rubicunda 4 (1.49%)
• Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius 4 (1.49%)
• Beach Stone-curlew Esacus magnirostris 3 (1.12%)
• Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris 3 (1.12%)
• Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae 2 (0.74%)
• Black-winged Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus 13 (4.83%)
• Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva 6 (2.23%)
• Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus 5 (1.86%)
• Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus 6 (2.23%)
• Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii 2 (0.74%)
• Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops 23 (8.55%)
• Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 32 (11.90%)
• Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus 2 (0.74%)
• Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea 4 (1.49%)
• Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 8 (2.97%)
• Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis 3 (1.12%)
• Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 2 (0.74%)
• Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa 1 (0.37%)
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 1 (0.37%)
• Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris 1 (0.37%)
• Red Knot Calidris canutus 1 (0.37%)
• Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata 3 (1.12%)
• Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 1 (0.37%)
• Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis 5 (1.86%)
• Sanderling Calidris alba 1 (0.37%)
• Latham’s Snipe Gallinago hardwickii 1 (0.37%)
• Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 5 (1.86%)
• Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes 6 (2.23%)
• Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 2 (0.74%)
• Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 1 (0.37%)
• Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 2 (0.74%)
• Red-chested Button-quail Turnix pyrrhothorax 1 (0.37%)
• Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella 1 (0.37%)
• Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae 17 (6.32%)
• Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus 4 (1.49%)
• Australian Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon macrotarsa 11 (4.09%)
• Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 8 (2.97%)
• Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 3 (1.12%)
• Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana 1 (0.37%) (B)
• Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis 2 (0.74%)
• Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii 8 (2.97%)
• Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus 5 (1.86%)
• Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus 23 (8.55%)
• Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus 4 (1.49%)
• Striated Heron Butorides striata 4 (1.49%)
• Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 7 (2.60%)
• White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica 11 (4.09%)
• Great Egret Ardea alba 20 (7.43%)
• Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia 2 (0.74%)
• White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 17 (6.32%)
• Little Egret Egretta garzetta 5 (1.86%)
• Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra 3 (1.12%)
• Australian White Ibis Threskiornis moluccus 11 (4.09%)
• Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis 3 (1.12%)
• Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes 3 (1.12%)
• Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia 10 (3.72%)
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 7 (2.60%)
• Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel 4 (1.49%)
• Brown Booby Sula leucogaster 1 (0.37%)
• Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos 22 (8.18%)
• Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 3 (1.12%)
• Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 16 (5.95%)
• Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 2 (0.74%)
• Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae 19 (7.06%)
• Osprey Pandion haliaetus 2 (0.74%)
• Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris 1 (0.37%)
• Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon 2 (0.74%)
• Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata 2 (0.74%)
• Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax 11 (4.09%)
• Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides 2 (0.74%)
• Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis 1 (0.37%)
• Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae 1 (0.37%)
• Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus 9 (3.35%)
• Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus 7 (2.60%)
• White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 5 (1.86%)
• Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus 50 (18.59%) (B)
• Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 5 (1.86%)
• Black Kite Milvus migrans 42 (15.61%)
• Rufous Owl Ninox rufa 1 (0.37%)
• Barking Owl Ninox connivens 2 (0.74%)
• Southern Boobook Ninox boobook 9 (3.35%)
• Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 55 (20.45%)
• Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 2 (0.74%)
• Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus 3 (1.12%)
• Yellow-billed Kingfisher Syma torotoro 1 (0.37%)
• Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii 5 (1.86%)
• Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris 3 (1.12%)
• Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus 14 (5.20%) (B)
• Red-backed Kingfisher Todiramphus pyrrhopygius 7 (2.60%)
• Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 31 (11.52%)
• Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii 25 (9.29%)
• Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides 19 (7.06%)
• Australian Hobby Falco longipennis 7 (2.60%)
• Brown Falcon Falco berigora 4 (1.49%)
• Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus 12 (4.46%)
• Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii 4 (1.49%)
• Palm Cockatoo Probosciger aterrimus 3 (1.12%)
• Galah Eolophus roseicapilla 64 (23.79%) (B)
• Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris 2 (0.74%)
• Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea 19 (7.06%)
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita 62 (23.05%)
• Superb Parrot Polytelis swainsonii 1 (0.37%)
• Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis 5 (1.86%)
• Red-winged Parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus 30 (11.15%)
• Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus 5 (1.86%)
• Red-cheeked Parrot Geoffroyus geoffroyi 1 (0.37%)
• Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus 12 (4.46%) (B)
• Blue Bonnet Northiella haematogaster 2 (0.74%)
• Mulga Parrot Psephotellus varius 2 (0.74%)
• Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans 5 (1.86%)
• Pale-headed Rosella Platycercus adscitus 25 (9.29%)
• Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius 10 (3.72%)
• Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius 7 (2.60%) (B)
• Turquoise Parrot Neophema pulchella 1 (0.37%)
• Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna 2 (0.74%)
• Little Lorikeet Glossopsitta pusilla 1 (0.37%)
• Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor 3 (1.12%)
• Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus 72 (26.77%)
• Red-collared Lorikeet Trichoglossus rubritorquis 1 (0.37%)
• Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus 4 (1.49%)
• Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus 14 (5.20%) (B)
• Double-eyed Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta diophthalma 1 (0.37%)
• Noisy Pitta Pitta versicolor 3 (1.12%)
• Spotted Catbird Ailuroedus melanotis 2 (0.74%)
• Tooth-billed Bowerbird Scenopoeetes dentirostris 1 (0.37%)
• Great Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis 20 (7.43%)
• Fawn-breasted Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus cerviniventris 1 (0.37%)
• White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea 5 (1.86%)
• White-browed Treecreeper Climacteris affinis 3 (1.12%)
• Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus 5 (1.86%)
• Purple-crowned Fairy-wren Malurus coronatus 1 (0.37%)
• Lovely Fairy-wren Malurus amabilis 4 (1.49%)
• Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti 13 (4.83%)
• Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus 26 (9.67%) (B)
• Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens 5 (1.86%)
• Red-backed Fairy-wren Malurus melanocephalus 11 (4.09%)
• White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus 20 (7.43%)
• Dusky Honeyeater Myzomela obscura 17 (6.32%) (B)
• Red-headed Honeyeater Myzomela erythrocephala 1 (0.37%)
• Scarlet Honeyeater Myzomela sanguinolenta 1 (0.37%)
• Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata 13 (4.83%)
• Tawny-breasted Honeyeater Xanthotis flaviventer 2 (0.74%)
• Helmeted Friarbird Philemon buceroides 12 (4.46%)
• Silver-crowned Friarbird Philemon argenticeps 4 (1.49%)
• Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus 27 (10.04%)
• Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis 47 (17.47%)
• Banded Honeyeater Cissomela pectoralis 12 (4.46%)
• Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta 40 (14.87%)
• White-streaked Honeyeater Trichodere cockerelli 2 (0.74%)
• New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae 2 (0.74%)
• Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis 39 (14.50%)
• Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis 1 (0.37%)
• Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris 10 (3.72%)
• White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis 28 (10.41%)
• White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus 1 (0.37%)
• Green-backed Honeyeater Glycichaera fallax 1 (0.37%)
• Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris 3 (1.12%)
• Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus 2 (0.74%)
• Rufous-throated Honeyeater Conopophila rufogularis 8 (2.97%)
• Brown-backed Honeyeater Ramsayornis modestus 2 (0.74%)
• Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor 7 (2.60%)
• Orange Chat Epthianura aurifrons 9 (3.35%)
• White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons 1 (0.37%)
• White-gaped Honeyeater Stomiopera unicolor 2 (0.74%)
• Yellow Honeyeater Stomiopera flava 17 (6.32%)
• Lewin’s Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii 8 (2.97%)
• Yellow-spotted Honeyeater Meliphaga notata 34 (12.64%)
• Graceful Honeyeater Microptilotis gracilis 11 (4.09%)
• Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis 23 (8.55%)
• Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera 1 (0.37%)
• Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata 14 (5.20%)
• Bridled Honeyeater Bolemoreus frenatus 2 (0.74%)
• Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens 20 (7.43%)
• Varied Honeyeater Gavicalis versicolor 2 (0.74%)
• Grey-headed Honeyeater Ptilotula keartlandi 2 (0.74%)
• Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula ornata 3 (1.12%)
• Grey-fronted Honeyeater Ptilotula plumula 5 (1.86%) (B)
• Yellow-tinted Honeyeater Ptilotula flavescens 6 (2.23%)
• White-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata 41 (15.24%) (B)
• White-fronted Honeyeater Purnella albifrons 4 (1.49%)
• Yellow-faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops 7 (2.60%)
• Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala 31 (11.52%) (B)
• Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula 21 (7.81%) (B)
• Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus 9 (3.35%)
• Red-browed Pardalote Pardalotus rubricatus 3 (1.12%)
• Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus 51 (18.96%)
• Brown Gerygone Gerygone mouki 5 (1.86%)
• Fairy Gerygone Gerygone palpebrosa 11 (4.09%)
• White-throated Gerygone Gerygone olivacea 18 (6.69%)
• Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris 13 (4.83%)
• Mangrove Gerygone Gerygone levigaster 2 (0.74%)
• Western Gerygone Gerygone fusca 5 (1.86%)
• Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris 52 (19.33%)
• Redthroat Pyrrholaemus brunneus 3 (1.12%)
• Speckled Warbler Pyrrholaemus sagittatus 3 (1.12%)
• Rufous Fieldwren Calamanthus campestris 1 (0.37%)
• Atherton Scrubwren Sericornis keri 2 (0.74%)
• White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis 3 (1.12%) (B)
• Tropical Scrubwren Sericornis beccarii 7 (2.60%) (B)
• Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis 4 (1.49%)
• Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 13 (4.83%)
• Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana 6 (2.23%)
• Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata 1 (0.37%)
• Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla 3 (1.12%)
• Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis 11 (4.09%)
• Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides 3 (1.12%)
• Chowchilla Orthonyx spaldingii 2 (0.74%)
• Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis 12 (4.46%) (B)
• White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus 3 (1.12%)
• Chestnut-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus ruficeps 2 (0.74%)
• Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae 29 (10.78%)
• White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis 23 (8.55%)
• White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor 18 (6.69%)
• Varied Triller Lalage leucomela 8 (2.97%)
• Cinnamon Quail-thrush Cinclosoma cinnamomeum 1 (0.37%)
• Grey Whistler Pachycephala simplex 2 (0.74%)
• Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris 46 (17.10%)
• Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis 3 (1.12%)
• Little Shrike-thrush Colluricincla megarhyncha 24 (8.92%)
• Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica 38 (14.13%)
• Crested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus 1 (0.37%)
• Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis 8 (2.97%)
• Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus 3 (1.12%)
• Chirruping Wedgebill Psophodes cristatus 3 (1.12%)
• Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti 17 (6.32%)
• Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus 9 (3.35%)
• Yellow Oriole Oriolus flavocinctus 28 (10.41%)
• Yellow-breasted Boatbill Machaerirhynchus flaviventer 2 (0.74%)
• Pied Currawong Strepera graculina 18 (6.69%)
• Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor 2 (0.74%)
• Black Butcherbird Melloria quoyi 16 (5.95%)
• Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen 64 (23.79%) (B)
• Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis 36 (13.38%)
• Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus 33 (12.27%)
• Black-backed Butcherbird Cracticus mentalis 8 (2.97%)
• Masked Woodswallow Artamus personatus 4 (1.49%)
• White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus 6 (2.23%)
• Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus 3 (1.12%)
• Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus 12 (4.46%)
• White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus 13 (4.83%)
• Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus 8 (2.97%)
• Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris 1 (0.37%)
• Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys 78 (29.00%) (B)
• Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons 6 (2.23%)
• Grey Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa 21 (7.81%)
• Torresian Crow Corvus orru 52 (19.33%)
• Little Crow Corvus bennetti 10 (3.72%) (B)
• Little Raven Corvus mellori 7 (2.60%)
• Australian Raven Corvus coronoides 46 (17.10%)
• Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula 12 (4.46%)
• Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto 12 (4.46%)
• Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta 11 (4.09%)
• Frilled Monarch Arses telescopthalmus 2 (0.74%)
• Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca 79 (29.37%) (B)
• Spectacled Monarch Symposiarchus trivirgatus 11 (4.09%)
• Black-faced Monarch Monarcha melanopsis 2 (0.74%)
• White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos 6 (2.23%)
• Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea 8 (2.97%)
• Trumpet Manucode Phonygammus keraudrenii 3 (1.12%)
• Victoria’s Riflebird Lophorina victoriae 3 (1.12%)
• Magnificent Riflebird Lophorina magnificus 12 (4.46%)
• Flame Robin Petroica phoenicea 1 (0.37%)
• Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii 10 (3.72%)
• Yellow-legged Flycatcher Kempiella griseoceps 1 (0.37%)
• Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Microeca flavigaster 6 (2.23%)
• Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans 7 (2.60%)
• Southern Scrub-robin Drymodes brunneopygia 1 (0.37%)
• Buff-sided Robin Poecilodryas cerviniventris 3 (1.12%)
• Grey-headed Robin Heteromyias albispecularis 2 (0.74%)
• Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis 7 (2.60%)
• White-faced Robin Tregellasia leucops 5 (1.86%)
• Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata 1 (0.37%)
• Mangrove Robin Peneothello pulverulenta 2 (0.74%)
• Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum 30 (11.15%)
• Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis 13 (4.83%)
• Nutmeg Mannikin Lonchura punctulata 1 (0.37%)
• Diamond Firetail Stagonopleura guttata 1 (0.37%)
• Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis 8 (2.97%)
• Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton 2 (0.74%)
• Plum-headed Finch Neochmia modesta 1 (0.37%)
• Black-throated Finch Poephila cincta 2 (0.74%)
• Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata 24 (8.92%) (B)
• Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii 12 (4.46%)
• House Sparrow Passer domesticus 15 (5.58%)
• Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae 11 (4.09%)
• European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 2 (0.74%)
• Horsfield’s Bushlark Mirafra javanica 1 (0.37%)
• Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis 2 (0.74%)
• Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 1 (0.37%)
• Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis 3 (1.12%)
• Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis 4 (1.49%)
• Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi 10 (3.72%)
• Little Grassbird Poodytes gramineus 1 (0.37%)
• Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis 8 (2.97%) (B)
• White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosterna 4 (1.49%)
• Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel 23 (8.55%) (B)
• Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans 8 (2.97%)
• Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 28 (10.41%) (B)
• Silvereye Zosterops lateralis 18 (6.69%)
• Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 20 (7.43%)
• Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 11 (4.09%)
• Metallic Starling Aplonis metallica 17 (6.32%)
• Common Blackbird Turdus merula 7 (2.60%)
• Black Duck-Mallard hybrid 1 (0.37%)
• Domestic Goose 1 (0.37%) (B)
• Domestic Duck 2 (0.74%)

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.