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Saturday 25 June 2022

North West of South Australia.

Deeper into the out back with Deb and Ian.
Australia, Day Ten.
 
The edge of an early morning weather front.
We set off heading west out on local roads and tracks, the first stretch had a row of Stobie poles (power line pole made of two steel joists held apart by a slab of concrete, invented by Adelaide Electric Supply Company engineer James Cyril Stobie), on the poles we saw Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) and Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides) and on wires between the poles we had a Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius).
Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius).
Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris).
Banded Whiteface (Aphelocephala nigricincta).
Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax).
Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis).
As we drove along the wider road we saw Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Torresian Crow (Corvus orru), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Banded Whiteface (Aphelocephala nigricincta), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), Budgie's (Melopsittacus undulatus) and  smll flock of Diamond Doves (Geopelia cuneata) some of which allowed me to get a few shots.
Banded Whiteface (Aphelocephala nigricincta).

Budgie's (Melopsittacus undulatus).
Paddy Melons (Cucumis myriocarpus).

Along this road before we turned off and went to a small pool we had another Red-backed Kingfisher, White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis) and hundreds of the inedible Paddy Melons (Cucumis myriocarpus).
Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris).
We reached the pool in a rocky area but it was quiet, we did have the first
Weebills (Smicrornis brevirostris), White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), 25 or so more Banded Whiteface, Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor) and Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen).
Mulga Parrots (Psephotus varius).

Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius).
Grey-headed Honeyeater (Ptilotula keartlandi).

Grey-headed Honeyeater (Ptilotula keartlandi).

After a short way we turned off the main road / track onto a much more rustic route but it was stunning and we hit gold part of the way along when Deb picked up two distant but identifiable Grey Falcons (Falco hypoleucos) soaring over some woodland and interacting with a passing Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis).
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri).

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri).

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri).

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri).

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri).

These birds were obviously a lifer for me but they were also the first Ian had seen and they informed me that they are said to be the rarest falcon species in the world so we were all rather excited after this fantastic encounter.
Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis).
Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis).
Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis).
Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis).
Australian Bustards (Ardeotis australis).

Along this track Deb again came good when she spotted a couple of the difficult to see Major Mitchell's Cockatoo's (Lophochroa leadbeateri), we stopped and walked out towards the tree where they were and soon found 13 birds perched, whilst we were a way off another group of birds came up and in towards the first group making all 34 birds fly off up the hill.
Desert Oaks (Allocasuarina decaisneana).

To be named.
We walked over to the original tree hoping that some might return and this worked well when a good part of the flock returned and gave us stunning views.
Dingo (Canis dingo) just above the camp.
Dingo (Canis dingo) just above the camp.
We continued on again and on our way to the camp site for the night we checked an area of rocks picking up a couple of Dusky Grasswrens (Amytornis purnelli) but they remained distant, we also had Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus), Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis), Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Grey-headed Honeyeater (Ptilotula keartlandi), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius) and more Banded Whitefaces.
Ian Preparining our room for the night.
Just before we made a stop at another abandoned Farm Ian came to a screeming halt on the track when he picked up 3 Australian Bustards (Ardeotis australis) in our way, they gave us stunning views and we saw 6 in total during the drive. 
Ian and Deb enjoying a cuppa at the camp site after showing me some amazing birds in a special area.

At the farm we found Mulga Parrot, Little Button Quail(Turnix velox), Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor) and a Grey-fronted Honeyeater (Ptilotula plumula).
My room for the night, one of the best, 5 star, the spade, well you can imagine😁😁😁.
At the camp we went for a walk before setting up our Swags and gettin a fire going so we could cook our food.
Part of out camp fire meal, tasted sooooooo good.
We turned in to the sound of the Dingo's (Canis dingo) howling all around us, a truly amazing experiance and sound that I will never forget.

Friday 24 June 2022

Out in the North West of South Australia.

A mornings birding with Deb and later with Ian as well.
Australia, Day Nine.
 
Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).
In the trees around the accommodation we started the list with a female Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris), White-plumed (Ptilotula penicillata) and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis).
Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis).
Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).
Ian headed out with us a short way before he had to go to work, our first stop was on a rocky hill side where we looked for but didn't find Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli), however we did get Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) and Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris).
Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata).

Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata).
Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) winter Male.
I and took us up the track he said would be good for us to explore and made sure we knew where we were going before heading to work.
Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus) female.
Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus) male.
Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) screeming at a Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus).
Deb and I headed out for several KM before we reached an abandoned farm, here we saw loads more Zebra Finches, Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata) and a very tame Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) which sat on a wire next to the vehicle for ages with some of its last meal still attached to its bill and guessing by their high numbers in the surrounding it may well have been one of the Zebra Finches.
Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum).
Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata).
Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata).
Diamond Doves (Geopelia cuneata).
In the same area we also saw Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata), Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus), Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis) and just after starting the drive back a distant Dingo which ran up into the rocks.
Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).
Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata).
Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus).
As we continued on South we had another pair of Brown Goshawks which ot mobbed by a Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), several Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), Inland (Acanthiza apicalis) and our only two Slaty-backed Thornbills (Acanthiza robustirostris), Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa) and more Singing Honeyeaters.
Banded Whiteface (Aphelocephala nigricincta).
Banded Whiteface (Aphelocephala nigricincta).
Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis).
We turned off the main track and went around a looping route, on the way round we added Splendid Fairywrens (Malurus splendens), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus), female Red-capped Robin, Crimson Chats (Epthianura tricolor), several unexpected Banded Whitefaces (Aphelocephala nigricincta) and a small flock the commoner Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis).
Feral Camel (Camelus dromedarius).
Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii).
Ruby Dock (Rumex vesicarius).
We made our way back to meet Ian later and he took us out to a very nice spot a few KMs away where we checked out the edge of a rocky hillside and valley seeing several feral Camels (Camelus dromedarius) on the way, almost straight away, once we parked we saw a species I had wanted to see when a flock of Spinifex Pigeons (Geophaps plumifera) flew up from the grass and unfortunately all to quickly up over the ridge and away.
The invasive Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) which is covering massive area's of central Australia.

Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius).

Spinifex Pigeons (Geophaps plumifera).

Sturt's Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum).

Plum Bush (Santalum lanceolatum).
In the same area we picked up Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius), White-plumed Honeyeater, as well as several plant species including Annual Yellowtop (Senecio gregorii), several Plum Bushes (Santalum lanceolatum) with some quite tasty fruit on it, Ruby Dock (Rumex vesicarius) and Sturt's Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum).
Deb and Ian, Good friends and guides in this magical area.
Loosing the sun in the Out Back.
Ian and I as the suns going down.
We tried to get better views of the Pigeons but they had disappeared so Ian took us to a very nice view point looking out over the beautiful landscape out in this stunning area before we headed back to our accommodation for a curry and a bit of sleep.
Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea) in the low sun at the end of another great day.