Loja Wildlife, Granada Province, Spain.

Tuesday, 28 June 2022

Heading back East across the top of South Australia*wf.

A day making our way back across the Outback.

Australia, Day Thirteen.

Ebird List for Umuwa APY Lands (Restricted access).

Desert Oaks (Allocasuarina decaisneana).

We set off quite early as we had a long drive (I use the royal we as Ian and Deb did all the driving), as we started we had Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) and Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).

We again went out onto one of the many tracks and made our way towards one of the larger dirt roads heading east, as we did, we picked up several Brown Falcons (Falco berigora) sitting in track side bushes and trees, hoards of Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata), Black-faced Woodswallows (Artamus cinereus), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Purple-backed Fairywren (Malurus assimilis) and several Torresian Crows (Corvus orru).

Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata) ♀.

White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus) ♂.

Once we were on the main track we made good time but still picked up good birds from the car including Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), a couple of small flocks of Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), lots of Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Singing (Gavicalis virescens) and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis), a pair of Hooded Robins (Melanodryas cucullata) but only the female gave us a chance of a photo, Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) and as we came around a corner we had a group of 7 Major Mitchell's Cockatoos (Lophochroa leadbeateri) flush up off a patch of Paddy Melons (Cucumis myriocarpus).

Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor).

Continuing on again we had Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), a flock of Crimson Chats (Epthianura tricolor), White-fronted Honeyeater (Purnella albifrons), Diamond Doves (Geopelia cuneata), Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis), Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) and 4x Mulga Parrots (Psephotus varius).

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri).

We pulled off the main track and checked out a leaking water pump which had formed a small pool, there were masses of Zebra Finches and Diamond Doves but not a great deal else and what was there was very nervous, we soon worked out why when a pair of Brown Goshawks (Accipiter fasciatus) swooped in having a go at the finches.

?????????????

Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata).

Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus).

In the same area we had Brown Falcon, Budgie's, Singing Honeyeater, White-winged Fairywrens (Malurus leucopterus), Brown Songlark (Cincloramphus cruralis) and a brief flyby Pied Honeyeater (Certhionyx variegatus).

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax).

We again continued on until we reached some S**T Ponds, on the way we had a Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) which was being mobbed by a group of Torresian Crows (Corvus orru), at the pools we Tree Martins (Petrochelidon nigricans), my first White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna) which was a very smart chap, Hardhead (Aythya australis) x2, Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Australasian (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) and Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), more Zebra Finches and another Wedge-tailed Eagle.

Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).

On the last leg of the drive we had quite a few Feral Donkeys which are a big problem in the Outback, Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius) x2, Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Australian Hobby, Mulga Parrots and then the star bird of the day.

Some of the 5 million or more Feral Donkeys which are a big problem in the Outback.

Feral Donkeys.

Suddenly Ian hit the brakes, slowed down, turned the vehicle around and drove back to check a bird on one of the Stobie pole without taking his eyes off it as he was sure of his Identification straight away and wanted to make sure it didn't fly, when Deb and I saw the bird we instantly realized it was out third Grey Falcon (Falco hypoleucos) of this part of the trip.

Grey Falcon (Falco hypoleucos) immature.

The immature bird sat nicely giving us the chance to get good shots of this incredibly rare bird, we were happy with this sighting as we thought it was unlikely we would get another chance to get photos.

We continued on and reached the accommodation just before dark.

Monday, 27 June 2022

North West of South Australia*.

An unexpected find.

Australia, Day Twelve.

Ebird List for Umuwa APY Lands (Restricted access).

Dawn from my Ice covered Swag.

We again broke came and again Deb and Ian were scrupulous in making sure that there was absolutely no trace of us having had another great nights sleep in our swags, saying that it was cold, we did have to wait until the ice had melted and dried before we could pack the kit away.

Sandhill Grasswren (Amytornis striatus oweni).

Last night we had thought that the area had looked good but in the end it was very quiet except for some sizable flocks of Budgie's (Melopsittacus undulatus), Grey-fronted Honeyeater (Ptilotula plumula), a couple of Torresian Crows (Corvus orru) which came in to see what we had left behind and the omni-present Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) which always come to check what's happening.

Sandhill Grasswren (Amytornis striatus oweni).

We loaded up all the kit and drove back towards the main track when a small bird flicked across in front of us and called which turned out to be the bird we had searched for all day yesterday and thought we had missed the Sandhill Grasswren (Amytornis striatus oweni).

Sandhill Grasswren (Amytornis striatus oweni).

This was a very special find as it is a species that is in an area of North West South Australia which is extremely difficult to get permission to access, so I felt very privileged to have be granted it and to be given the chance to be watching this stunning bird.

Purple-backed Fairywren (Malurus assimilis).

After we pinned the bird down to a couple of bushes we realized that there was a pair, they showed very well for us, later in the day we found a second pair, Deb will submit both these records as they were form a new area for the species.

Sandhill Grasswren (Amytornis striatus oweni) one bird from the second pair we found.

We spent the rest of the day heading North checking a few roadside spots finding Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Purple-backed Fairywren (Malurus assimilis), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata), many more Budgie's and Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius).

Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis).

Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius).

Near one of the towns we stopped at we checked the S**t Ponds / sewage lagoons and quickly boosted the list with Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Australasian (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) and Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) and Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata).

Australasian Grebes (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae).

Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).

Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus).

Our final stop of the day was along a dirt track which followed a creek, in some large trees we had views of a calling Red-browed Pardalote (Pardalotus rubricatus), Grey-headed Honeyeater (Ptilotula keartlandi), Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) and Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) which were not common at all in this area.

Red-browed Pardalote (Pardalotus rubricatus).

Out over the sand hills.

Watching the Red-browed Pardalote (Pardalotus rubricatus).

Sunday, 26 June 2022

North West of South Australia*i.

A shorter drive searching for a very special little bird.

Australia, Day Eleven.

Ebird List for Umuwa APY Lands (Restricted access).

From my Swag in the Morning.

We broke camp and after packing all our kit, making sure there was no trace of us spending the night, we went for a walk into a nearby gully where we were searching for the Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli) which we had seen yesterday but hoped for better views of.

Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli).

After a bit of a climb and some waiting we tracked a bird down, it showed much better but still remained quite distant and disappeared back into the rocks and Spinifex grass as quickly as it arrived.

Grey-headed Honeyeater (Ptilotula keartlandi).

Possibly Callitris gracilis a native Pine Tree of the area.

In the same gorge we saw Spiny-cheeked (Acanthagenys rufogularis) and Grey-headed Honeyeaters (Ptilotula keartlandi), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Torresian Crow (Corvus orru), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) and as we returned to the vehicle we saw plenty of Dingo (Canis dingo) tracks around the camp and heard some again on a nearby low ridge.

Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica).

Spider Species.

Dingo (Canis dingo) Track.

We got back on to the main track heading north from our wonderful overnight stop and went a very short distance, compared to most of the days recently, to an area where we were looking for the recently split Sandhill Grasswren (Amytornis striatus oweni), this is a species that very few birders have seen, so I was feeling very privileged to be looking for it in some stunning landscapes.

Western Bowerbird (Chlamydera guttata).

Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis).

We spent most of the day along a single quite short track looking for the bird but as hard as Deb and Ian tried to find me one we ultimately failed, mostly down to very windy conditions at the site we think, we still ended up with some good species but Deb was very disappointed.

Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus).

Species we did see included Copperback Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma clarum), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), at least 4 Mulga Parrots (Psephotus varius), a heard only Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis), Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Western Bowerbird (Chlamydera guttata), Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis) and Grey-fronted Honeyeater (Ptilotula plumula).

Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens).

Grey-fronted Honeyeater (Ptilotula plumula).

We eventually gave up on the Grasswren and went to looking for a spot to spend the night, we took to another track which took us through some interesting habitat where we added Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Budgie (Melopsittacus undulatus), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) and near the spot we decided to camp in we found several Mulga Ant (Polyrhachis macropa) nests.