The North West of South Australia*r,i.

The Outback.

Australia, Day Fourteen.

Ebird List for Umuwa APY Lands (Restricted access).

Ebird List for Umuwa APY Lands (Restricted access).

 

Dawn from the Swag.

After our second night at the same spot we packed the kit up and went out for a longish walk before headed back some of the way north, around camp we picked up Southern Boobook (Ninox boobook) before light and Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) as dawn arrived.

Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus).

Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus).

Grey-fronted Honeyeater (Ptilotula plumula).

Grey-fronted Honeyeater (Ptilotula plumula).

Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula).

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During the walk out to the area where Graham had been yesterday we found Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus), a Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) which we accidentally flushed , Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius), Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Grey-fronted (Ptilotula plumula) and Pied Honeyeater (Certhionyx variegatus), Little Button Quail (Turnix velox), Sandhill Grasswren (Amytornis striatus oweni), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) and Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus).

Ptilotus helipteroides.

Sturt's Desert Rose (Gossypium Sturtianum var Sturtianum).

Bee-fly Species.

Marble Gum (Eucalyptus gongylocarpa) bark.

Large Fruited Mallee (Eucalyptus youngiana).

We came up over a largish dune, we then started to see the first of the Princess Parrots (Polytelis alexandrae), we soon realised that Graham had stumbled across a breeding colony with approximately 35 birds, birds were observed mating, provisionary feeding, entering nesting hollows in Marble Gums and Birds were also seen feeding on young Mulga seed pods.

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) ♀.

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) ♀.

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) feeding on Mulga pods.

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae).

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae).

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae).

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae).

Princess Parrots (Polytelis alexandrae) x10.

We had an amazing couple of hours with these brilliant birds, unfortunately we needed to start to head back north so we returned to the camp and finished putting the kit away and making sure we left no trace of our visit before headed back North, this direction was a lot easier as we had cleared the fallen trees and other obstacles on the way down.

White-fronted Honeyeater (Purnella albifrons).

Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae).

Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae).

Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae).

Heading North.

As we drove we picked up Black Honeyeater (Sugomel nigrum), White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), White-fronted Honeyeater (Purnella albifrons), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Chirruping Wedgebill (Psophodes cristatus), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus) and Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus).

The view from the rocks, lots of nothing as far as the eye can see, stunning.

Western Bowerbird (Chlamydera guttata).

Western Bowerbird (Chlamydera guttata).

Western Bowerbird (Chlamydera guttata).

We turned off the main track and found a nice camp under some larger trees next to a really smart red rocky ridge before going for a walk, Deb and I headed off looking for some Dusky Grasswrens (Amytornis purnelli) she had seen distantly from the camping spot.

Little Woodswallow (Artamus minor).

Little Woodswallow (Artamus minor).

Once we were near the rocks we had amazing views of a small group of inquisitive Western Bowerbirds (Chlamydera guttata) and as we walked we added Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Little Woodswallow (Artamus minor), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Euro / Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus) and a Dingo (Canis dingo) which was checking the Rabbit burrows but discretely moved off as we approached.

The North West of South Australia*F.

An Outback Mega day.

Australia, Day Thirteen.

Ebird List for Umuwa APY Lands (Restricted access). 

 

Sandhill Grasswren (Amytornis striatus oweni).

We started the day with a walk around the dunes and Mulga scrub near to the camping spot where we had already decided to stay for another night as it is such a brilliant site.

Sandhill Grasswren (Amytornis striatus oweni).

Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens).

Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla ssp roseicapilla).

Birds seen around the camp included Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Singing  (Gavicalis virescens) and Grey-fronted Honeyeater (Ptilotula plumula), 2x Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla ssp roseicapilla), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Little Crow (Corvus bennetti), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) and Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax).

Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides).

Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis).

Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis).

Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius).

Once we had got things sorted after breakfast Deb and I went for a walk out to the North-ish direction, Graham went South and Ian did a big loop.

Dicrastylis beveridgei.

As Deb and I walked we recorded Sandhill Grasswrens (Amytornis striatus oweni), Australian Hobby, Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), White-fronted Honeyeater (Purnella albifrons), Crested Bellbird, Budgies, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis), White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna) and Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys).

Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus).

Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus).

After a while I walked back to the camp as I need more Camera batteries, after getting them I went off along a dune behind the camp and walked south, I was pleased to get my first shots of a very nice looking Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus) and then on a nearby tree I had amazing views of a fine ♂ Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) which sat really nicely even whilst I was working my way around it to get some better light.

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) ♂.

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) ♂.

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) ♂.

The bird sat there for ages and I really enjoyed the time watching them, eventually I walked up on to the Dune again and could see Deb way off in the distance but as much as I leap and danced around like a lunatic I couldn't get her to see me and when I got back to Camp Ian even tried flashing a mirror in the sun, but that didn't work either, when we did get her attention it was the moment the bird, after sitting there for well over an hour flew off.

Ian and Graham getting the camp oven sorted.

Sunset.

The Sun sets on another great day.

We all returned to camp during the heat of the afternoon and then went out for another walk later before dark, as we were sat around the camp later Graham said he thought we should walk out in to the area he had been today as he had seen a few of the Princess Parrots but didn't say anything else.

The North West of South Australia*F.

The Outback.

Australia, Day Twelve.

 

Another fine morning out bush.

Today, even though Ian had seen our target at this campsite we decided to moving a short way south looking for another camping spot in what looked to be better habitat, before light we again had a Southern Boobook (Ninox boobook) calling.

Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus).

Grey-fronted Honeyeater (Ptilotula plumula).

Grey-fronted Honeyeater (Ptilotula plumula).

Before we left the campsite and went for a walk we picked up Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), Grey-fronted (Ptilotula plumula), Spiny-cheeked (Acanthagenys rufogularis), White-fronted (Purnella albifrons) and Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis) and another Dingo (Canis dingo).

Mulga Ant (Polyrhachis macropa) nest.

Central Military Dragon (Ctenophorus isolepis isolepis) Male.

Goana track in the Sand Dunes.

Termite mound.

Deb, Graham and I then went for a walk (whilst Ian finished the packing), during which we saw Purple-backed Fairywren (Malurus assimilis), Black-faced (Artamus cinereus) and Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus), Pied Honeyeater (Certhionyx variegatus), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius) and a nice looking ♂ Central Military Dragon (Ctenophorus isolepis isolepis).

Returning to the camping spot.

Deb and I watching an interesting pair of Parrots.

View from the camping spot.

Grevillea pterosperma.

Graham and Deb off on a walk.

As we made our way a few Sand Dunes to the south, which was hard going with lots of machete work we added Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis) and Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis) to the day list, as we came up over a large sand dune Ian said "this looks like a good spot for the night" so we pulled in.

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) my first shot of this stunning ♂.

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) the stunning but shorter tailed ♀.

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) the ♂, just look at the length of that tail.

Princess Parrots (Polytelis alexandrae).

As we did, we got a big shock when 2 stunning Princess Parrots (Polytelis alexandrae) flew out of the tree above us, instantly Ian recognised them and said sit tight, get Deb and Graham on the radio and tell them to shift their arses, at first Deb thought we were kidding but when I used the "F" word on the radio she knew it was serious as I very rarely swear, so poor Graham got a bit of a hat slapping to get him shifting a little quicker.

Photographing the Princess Parrots (Polytelis alexandrae).

I think you can tell how happy we are, a real privilege to be able to watch theses stunning Nomads.

They arrived after what seemed an age, we all got out and worked our way around to the side of the tree where we could get a view, it was just amazing as we had a pair of one of the most difficult to see species in SA right in front of us. 

The interesting Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla ssp roseicapilla) the western form.

After watching these birds for quite a while we left them and went to set up camp, as we did this we saw a very interesting pair of Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla ssp roseicapilla) which Graham said looked like a form of the species which is normally found further to the west, but we soon confirmed they were exactly what Graham had suspected.

Ian getting the Coffee on the go.

Very Happy Campers.

Losing the Sun.

Other species seen around the new camping spot included Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Little Crow (Corvus bennetti) and after dark another calling Southern Boobook.