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Saturday 20 August 2022

Leigh Creek, Acacia Creek / Dry Pools, Retention Lake, Farina, Mulgaria Track to Witchelina Station, South Australia.

Catching-up with some dry land Species and another a cracking Grasswren.
Australia, Day Sixty Six.

Chirruping Wedgebill (Psophodes cristatus).
We were up and around early and in the area around the accommodation we started the day list with Spiny-cheeked (Acanthagenys rufogularis) and White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus), Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus) and White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus).
Chirruping Wedgebill (Psophodes cristatus).
Chirruping Wedgebill (Psophodes cristatus).
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis).
We headed North to Copley where we took to the tracks checking out the water holes and dams for some reported Plumed Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni), we didn't find the ducks but had good views of several other interesting species in the Acacia Creek area including Chirruping Wedgebill (Psophodes cristatus), Rufous Songlark (Cincloramphus mathewsi), Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis), Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) and Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides).
Rufous Songlark (Cincloramphus mathewsi).
Rufous Songlark (Cincloramphus mathewsi).
We returned to the main road and went just a bit further North to Retention Lake, at the first spot there we found Australian Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica ssp macrotarsa), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae), Musk Duck (Biziura lobata), Hardhead (Aythya australis), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos) and Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops), Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) and White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons).
Musk Duck (Biziura lobata) female.
Musk Duck (Biziura lobata) female.
Musk Duck (Biziura lobata) female.
We moved around to another part of the lake where we were quickly aware that there were a good number of Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) and by the time we had done a quick count we had reached 120 birds which was by far more than Deb had ever seen in one place.
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus).
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus).
Hoary-headed Grebes (Poliocephalus poliocephalus).
Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus).
In the same area we had good views of  Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Fairy (Petrochelidon ariel) and Tree Martins (Petrochelidon nigricans), Whistling (Haliastur sphenurus) and Black Kite (Milvus migrans), White-browed Babbler, Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus) and White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus).
Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis).
Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).
Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus).
Orange Darling Pea (Swainsona stipularis).
Our next stop going North was at the mostly deserted village of Farina where we had hoped the bakery would be open but it was not to be so we continued out onto the tracks and checked the Reservoir finding Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Hoary-headed Grebe, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Zebra Finch and Crested Pigeon.
Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) on the road to Witchelina.

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae).
Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae).
Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae).
Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and chicks.
Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) chicks.
We continued on along the track towards our stop for the night at Witchelina Station  making several stops on the way and picked up Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), several Orange Chats (Epthianura aurifrons) some of which gave us good views, Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), White-winged Fairywren and one of the main targets for the trip out to this area the Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus) but we did not get great views as the dam things were so fast and some how just vanished behind the smallest of grass tussocks.
Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons) male.
Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae).
We checked in at Witchelina, put our kit into the shearers quarters and then headed over to the camp grounds to talk to some other birders we had been told were there to see if they had any info, they gave us a spot along one of the tracks where they had seen several species of Honeyeater so we headed out birding again and I was over the moon to see my first Cinnamon Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma cinnamomeum), a female which was later followed by  several stunning male birds.
Cinnamon Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma cinnamomeum) male.
Cinnamon Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma cinnamomeum) male.
Cinnamon Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma cinnamomeum) male.
Cinnamon Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma cinnamomeum) male.
Cinnamon Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma cinnamomeum) male.
Cinnamon Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma cinnamomeum) female.
As we drove the tracks we added Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus), Budgies, Spotted Harrier, Black-shouldered Kite, Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) and a feature of the day the Orange Darling Pea (Swainsona stipularis) which we had been able to smell along all of the tracks.
The Old Sheds.
The Newer Sheds where we were staying.
After a while we realized that somewhere along the drive we had taken the wrong turning and would not make the spot the other birders had told us about so we turned around and headed back in to Witchelina where we again met up with them and arranged to met next morning so Deb could show them the Grasswrens and they could take us out to their spot.

Friday 19 August 2022

Heading North Towards the Birdsville track.

Off on another adventure into the wilds.
Australia, Day Sixty Five.

Driving North along side the Flinders Ranges.
Deb and I did the feeding as usual and as I walked down to the goats I picked up Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Little Raven (Corvus mellori) and Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).
Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea).
Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea).
As Ian was much more mobile in his Moon boot and Petra had said she would come down a couple of times Deb and I headed for the North again to try and get a few species and some better weather as the forecast for the hills was not good with lots more rain coming through.
Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea).
Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea).
On the first part of the drive we headed through Hahndorf, on the way we saw Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Australian (Threskiornis molucca) and Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) and at a Dam along Jone's Road we added Hardhead (Aythya australis), Australasian (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) and Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Great (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) and Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca).
Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea).
Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea).
We continued on again adding Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius), Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) and on the outskirts of Jamestown we parked and I had my first views of the brilliant Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea), we stopped by the Football Oval and saw several birds in the Pine trees along the roadside.
Euro / Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus) through the heat haze.

After having some lunch in Orroroo we continued on to Leigh Creek through the Flinders Ranges, on the way we saw Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) and both Red (Osphranter rufus) and Euro / Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus).
We reached Leigh Creek and found some accommodation at the Leigh Creek outback resort where we picked up Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis).

Thursday 18 August 2022

Eagle View, Goolwa Barrage and Murry Mouth, Bird Island on Hindmarsh Island, South Australia.

A good day down on the Coorong.
Australia, Day Sixty Four.
 
Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus) Male.
I did the usual feeding route, on the way around I saw Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), Little Raven (Corvus mellori) and Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus) Male.
Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus) Female.
A bit later in the day we drove down toward Goolwa where we stopped at the very good bakery there, during this break we had a visit from a very friendly Magpie scavenger and then on the opposite side of the road a very well behaved pair of Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus).
The Magpie on my Boot.
Ian giving the Magpie a few crumbs.
Deb and the Magpie.
On our way out to our next stop at the Goolwa Barrage we saw Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) and  Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata).
Musk Duck (Biziura lobata) flap down.
Musk Duck (Biziura lobata) flap up.
Musk Duck (Biziura lobata) flap up.
We arrived in the area near the barrage and parked out at the Beacon 19 Boat Ramp where we had great views of a nice male Musk Duck (Biziura lobata), Black Swans (Cygnus atratus), Pacific Black Ducks (Anas superciliosa), a few Hoary-headed Grebes (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Little Black (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos) and Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) and Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii).
Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus).
Black Swan (Cygnus atratus).
Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae).
We drove back along to the Barrage Car park and then walked through the gardens to the start of the main barrage, on the way we had really good views of a pair Australian Hobby's (Falco longipennis), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa), Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) and Great White Egret (Ardea alba).
Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) male.

Great White Egret (Ardea alba).

Great White Egret (Ardea alba).

Great White Egret (Ardea alba).

Once we were out on the Barrage we saw our first New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) as well as Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis) and masses more Cormorants.
New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri).
New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri).
New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri).
New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri).
New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri).
New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri).
New Zealand Fur Seals (Arctocephalus forsteri).
At the halfway point along the Barrage we spent quite a while watching quite a few more of the New Zealand Fur Seal which were nice but are also a problem as they are hunting the native Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor) and with Predation by introduced species such as cats, foxes, rats and dogs this species numbers have dropped drastically on Kangaroo and Granite Islands.
Just lazing the day away.

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus).
Black Swan (Cygnus atratus).
We returned to the car and headed around to the bridge out on to Hindmarsh Island and made our way out to the Murry Mouth Watch Point, on the way we saw several Cape Barren Geese (Cereopsis novaehollandiae).
Cape Barren Geese (Cereopsis novaehollandiae).
Cape Barren Geese (Cereopsis novaehollandiae).
After Parking Deb and I went for a walk out along the beach to Bird Island, on the way we saw Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris), Silver and Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus), Great Crested, Caspian (Hydroprogne caspia) and Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis).
Red-necked Stints (Calidris ruficollis).
Red-necked Stints (Calidris ruficollis).
Great Crested Terns (Thalasseus bergii).
Great Crested Terns (Thalasseus bergii).
Caspian (Hydroprogne caspia) and Great Crested Terns (Thalasseus bergii).
Caspian (Hydroprogne caspia) and Great Crested Terns (Thalasseus bergii).
On the Salt marsh and Dunes that make up Bird Island we were hoping for the Elusive Rock Parrot (Neophema petrophila) and it was and remained so for the whole of my trip.
Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans).
Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans).
We did however get nice views of the more brightly coloured Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Whistling Kite and Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), Little Raven and Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).
Immature Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris).
As we started to walk back to Ian we found quite a few waders on a small isolated area of water, most were Red-necked Stints but they also included a single Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) and a few Red-capped Plovers (Charadrius ruficapillus).
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) and Red-necked Stints (Calidris ruficollis).
In the dunes just before we reached Ian we picked up a smart pair of White-fronted Chats (Epthianura albifrons) and accidentally flushed a pair of Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus).
White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons).
White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons).
On our way back we stopped and had a better look at the Cape Barren Geese and added Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) and Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) to the day list.