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Thursday 23 June 2022

Out North West, South Australia.

Going out North West to meet up with Ian.
Australia, Day Eight.
 
Opal Mines to the North of Coober Pedy.
We were up and about quite early, as usual we had Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Little Crow (Corvus bennetti) and Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) around the accommodation before we left and as we headed North toward Marla loads of Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata), a couple of roadside Brown Songlarks (Cincloramphus cruralis), Little Corella's (Cacatua sanguinea), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Black (Milvus migrans) and Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) and several flocks of Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus).
Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis).
Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis).
Torresian Crow (Corvus orru).
Torresian Crow (Corvus orru).
We spent a bit of time at the service area at Marla as we had phone signal sorting out a few bit and as we sat there we saw our first Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) which were sat quietly up in the large trees as well as our first Torresian Crow (Corvus orru) which were identified on call.
Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).
Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca).
Other species seen during our coffee break included Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Magpie-larks, Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula) and Crested Pigeon.
Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) Male.
Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) Female.
Once we had both sorted out our calls we took to one of the local tracks, on the first part we scanned some pools where we saw Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata)  and they were common all along the track, we drove out to the furthest point we were going to go to seeing a very smart Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) and checked out a small pool finding 4x Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) and a single Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).
Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) immature.

From the pool we did a walking loop up through the scrub and back to the road and into the scrub on the opposite side of the track, on the way we saw Singing, White-fronted (Purnella albifrons) and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis), Redthroat (Pyrrholaemus brunneus), Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza uropygialis), White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor) x2 males and at least 2 Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera).
Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata).
Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata).
Redthroat (Pyrrholaemus brunneus).
Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza uropygialis).
We drove part way along the track and stopped when Deb heard the call of the Chiming Wedgebill (Psophodes occidentalis) coming from some track side trees, after quite a search we ot distant views of this hard to locate songster which can throw its call and sound as thouh it is much futher away or closer than it is.
Chiming Wedgebill (Psophodes occidentalis).
Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis) female.
Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris).
In the same area we had bad views of a small group of passing Pied Honeyeaters (Certhionyx variegatus), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris), Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii), Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor), Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens), Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius) x2 and by a pool on the way back to the road North several Pink-eared Ducks (Malacorhynchus membranaceus) and a Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys).
Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus).
Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus).
We returned to the main road North and continued on a way before heading out West to meet Ian where we were staying for the next couple of nights, on the way we saw a single Whistling (Haliastur sphenurus), Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon) and a nice sunset.

2 comments:

Andy Mountford said...

I'm just bowled over by the variety of birds you're seeing Mick..very envious! Keep it up!

LojaWldlife said...

Thanks Andy, Its an amazing place but also very lucky to have two great friends showing some out standing areas. Flying to Queensland tomorrow.