Umuwa to Coober Pedy, South Australia*wf.

Heading back further East but along the NT Border.

Australia, Day Twenty.

Ebird List for Umuwa APY Lands 1.

Ebird List for Umuwa APY Lands 2.

Ebird List for Stuart Highway.

 

Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta).

We started the day by refuelling and sorting the Tire pressures out on the Toyota's but whilst we were doing the Graham heard a calling Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta) which was an SA lifer for me so Deb and I were off and soon had it in our sights but typically as we had both rushed off to look for it, we hadn't taken our camera's and it showed brilliantly.

Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta).

Banded Whiteface (Aphelocephala nigricincta).

Banded Whiteface (Aphelocephala nigricincta).

Just down the road we made another stop in an area of Mulga where we picked up Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Spiny-cheeked (Acanthagenys rufogularis), White-plumed (Ptilotula penicillata) and another Brown Honeyeater this one was not as showy, unfortunately.

Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus).

Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus).

Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus).

We started to make our way up towards the NT Border but made several stops in areas of Mulga and Spinifex adding Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis), Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Chiming Wedgebill (Psophodes occidentalis), Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor) and at least 3x very smart Banded Whiteface (Aphelocephala nigricincta).

Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus).

We stopped in a nice looking spot in a creek where Deb got the Kettle on, I managed to get some nice shots of a Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus) and we also saw Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) and Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula) before we moved on to a stunning area of Red Rocks which was great as we had the best views of the trip of a pair of Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli), one of my favorite species in the area.

Large Rock Marbles balanced on the slopes.

In this area we also saw Little Woodswallow (Artamus minor) and Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica) before we again moved on and crossed over into NT, along this road before we reached the Stuart Highway we saw Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza uropygialis) and as we headed south towards Marla and the Coober Pedy we found White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) and Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus).

Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli).

Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli).

Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli).

Dusky Grasswren (Amytornis purnelli).

As we headed South we stopped at two flooded Borrow Pits adding Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops), Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis), White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus), Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius) and a hunting Black Falcon (Falco subniger).

Calandrinia balonesis.

Calandrinia balonesis.

We arrived at Coober Pedy quite late so sorted the kit out and then headed to the Outback Bar and Grill for some food and a few beers after being in a totally dry area for a couple of weeks they went down far too well.

Spinifex (Triodia scariosa).

Rosy Dock (Rumex vericarius).

Daisy Bush Species ??????????

The North West of South Australia*.

The Outback.

Australia, Day Nineteen.

 

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla).

Today we were heading back to Umuwa after the first part of a fantastic trip out bush, Umuwa was not far so we spent most of the day birding at spots around that area, before we left the camp site we started the list with Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Little Crow (Corvus bennetti), Western Gerygone (Gerygone fusca), Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis), Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza uropygialis), Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides) and Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis).

Cockatiel's (Nymphicus hollandicus) coming into some water.

Cockatiel's (Nymphicus hollandicus) coming into some water.

Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus) also coming to the water.

Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea) and Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla).

Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla).

Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla).

As we headed towards Umuwa we made stops at a couple of spots adding White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus), Chiming Wedgebill (Psophodes occidentalis), White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus) and at a leaking water trough there were very good numbers of Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata), Budgie's and Cockatiel's as well as smaller numbers of Galah's and a Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea).

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) ♂.

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) ♂.

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) ♂.

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) ♂.

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) ♂.

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) ♂.

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) ♂.

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) ♀.

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) eclipse ♂.

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) ♀.

Further on we stopped at a couple of Creeks where we picked up some nice species including Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis), White-plumed (Ptilotula penicillata), Singing (Gavicalis virescens) and White-fronted Honeyeater (Purnella albifrons), Rufous Songlark (Cincloramphus mathewsi), Brown (Falco berigora) and Black Falcon (Falco subniger) first of the trip, Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) x3, Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Chirruping Wedgebill (Psophodes cristatus), Purple-backed (Malurus assimilis) and Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens), Little Buttonquail (Turnix velox) and Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis).

Burnt out tree but amazingly it's still alive.

Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis).

Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus).

Our last stop of the day was at a water Bore where the only new species for the day before we headed into Umuwa were a Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica) and Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca).

Black Falcon (Falco subniger).

Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius).

Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata) ♂.

The North West of South Australia*.

The Outback.

Australia, Day Eighteen.

 

Sunrise.

Today was another day of birding in the top end of the State, before we left the camp site we had a walk finding Spiny-cheeked (Acanthagenys rufogularis), White-fronted (Purnella albifrons) and Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis), Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) and Little Button Quail (Turnix velox).

Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) and Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos).

Poached Egg Daisy (Polycalymma stuartii).

We headed out and spent the morning along the border tracks seeing Crested Bellbird, Budgies, Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Torresian Crow (Corvus orru), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Western Bowerbird (Chlamydera guttata) and Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris).

Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis).

Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

Around lunchtime, we reached a Town and as usual we visited the S**T Ponds where we saw our second Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) in as many days as well as 51x Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Australasian (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) x2 and Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) x7, Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) and Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops) x2.

White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata).

Desert Poplar (Codonocarpus cotinifolius).

We moved on and headed to a spot I had visited before with Deb last year when we planned to camp for the night, on the way we saw Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Hooded (Melanodryas cucullata) and Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii) and Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis).

Hope the roads quiet!!!!

Around the camp we had Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis) and Deb found the nest up in a tree near the road, Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis), White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), Little Crow (Corvus bennetti), Yellow-rumped (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) and Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza uropygialis), Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens), Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus) and after dark a calling Australian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus).

The North West of South Australia*wf.

The Outback.

Australia, Day Seventeen.

 

The Sun Rising through the Desert Oaks.

Today we were again travelling, switching between South Australia and Northern Territories at times, around the camp site we saw Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Singing (Gavicalis virescens) and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis), Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus) and Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata).

Early morning Sun on the Desert Oaks.

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

Halgania erecta.

On the drive along the border we picked up Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor), Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), White-plumed (Ptilotula penicillata) and Pied Honeyeater (Certhionyx variegatus) and Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla).

Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis).

Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis).

We returned to the Main road East and made a drinks stop at a shelter / Rest Area along the way and whilst we sat there we recorded Black, Spiny Cheeked, Singing and White-fronted Honeyeater (Purnella albifrons), Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor) and Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis).

Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus).

???????????

We continued on and a short way further along the Road Deb picked up a single Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) which was a nice surprise, mostly because it is unusual to see this species alone.

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos).

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax).

We reached a town and checked out the Shit Pools which gave me an Australian Lifer in the shape of a Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis) x97, Hardhead (Aythya australis) x3, Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Australasian (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) and Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Torresian Crow (Corvus orru), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) and Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius).

Northern Territories to the Left and South Australia to the Right.

A few spots of rain in the afternoon.

From here we headed North towards the border again and then over into NT for a while before dropping back into South Australia to a spot where we camped for the night, on the way round we picked up Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius), Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis), Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus), Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens), White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera) and at the camp site a fast flying Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus).

Ian getting some Coffee ready after we set up Camp.