Around Innamincka, South Australia*.

Some Birding near to the town whilst trying to stay out of the heat and the wind.

Australia, Day Twenty Five.

Ebird List for Innamincka Town Common.

Ebird List for Cullyamurra Waterhole.

 

Caper White (Belenois aurota).

After a comfortable night in the Swags we packed up camp and had a good look around the area where we found Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides), Hardhead (Aythya australis), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Black-tailed Nativehen (Tribonyx ventralis), Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops), Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus), Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), White-breasted (Artamus leucorynchus) and Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida), Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae), Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Baillon's Crake (Zapornia pusilla), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius) and a couple of Caper Whites (Belenois aurota).

Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis).

Sand Goanna (Varanus gouldii).

Back into SA.

Back into the Reserve area.

After leaving the camp site we headed for the community dump where we got rid of the rubbish that we had built up over the last few days in the Bush and noticed the local Sewage pools so we went for a look and found Australian Raven, Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Grey Teal, Hardhead, White-faced Heron and Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes).

Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus).

Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus).

Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus) ♀.

We left Innamincka and headed along the Adventure Way and popped over the border into Queensland but turned around after just a Km or so and came back into SA, during the drive we made a couple of stops and checked out a couple of Creek Lines, the wind made birding difficult so we only saw Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis), Sand Goanna (Varanus gouldii) and Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps).

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus).

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus).

Plumed Egret (Ardea plumifera).

Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida).

Later we went to another couple of points along the Cooper's Creek which were a little better as they were out of the wind, as we walked we picked up another couple of birds for my SA list Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) and Plumed Egret (Ardea plumifera).

Cooper Creek Turtle (Emydura macquarie).

Other species seen included Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Australasian Darter, White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica), Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus), Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Pied (Phalacrocorax varius) and Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Grey Teal, Great White Egret (Ardea alba), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Tree Martin, Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides), Black-faced and Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus), Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata), Black-fronted Dotterel, Whistling Kite, White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna), Baillon's Crake, Mulga (Psephotus varius) and Red-rumped Parrot, Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Little Corella, Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus), Brown Treecreeper, White-plumed Honeyeater, Magpie-lark and Cooper Creek Turtle (Emydura macquarie).

Cooper's Creek.

Deb and Ian along Cooper's Creek.

 

Goyder Lagoon to Innamincka, Birdsville Track, South Australia*.

An early birding start looking for Grasswren No 5 again and then a long drive later.

Australia, Day Twenty Four.

Ebird List for Goyder Lagoon.

 

Plumed Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni).

Deb and I were again out early looking through the areas of Lignum bushes along the Warburton River, as hard as we searched we couldn't find the Grasswren, we did have views of the Plumed Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni) again along with Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus), Hardhead (Aythya australis), Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides), Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata), Flock Bronzewing (Phaps histrionica), Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos) and Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops), Whistling (Haliastur sphenurus) and Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel), Great White Egret (Ardea alba), Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus), Eastern Barn Owl (Tyto javanica), White-plumed (Ptilotula penicillata) and Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Brown Songlark (Cincloramphus cruralis), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella) and Purple-backed Fairywren (Malurus assimilis).

Plumed Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni).

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus).

We returned to the Camp ground and found that Ian was packed up and ready to go, so we retraced our way back towards the Birdsville Track but made another stop just before we left the Lignum scrub and Deb and I again went for a walk in a large circle adding Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans), White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus), Great (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius), Tau Emerald (Hemicordulia tau) but again as hard as we searched we saw and heard no signs of the Grasswrens so we turned back towards the car defeated but just before we got back we both heard a bush in our path squeak at us, I turned to Deb and said it's going to be another Purple Backed isn't it, she said probably but just then a bird flew out of the back of the bush, it was obvious that it was at last our target bird the Grey Grasswren (Amytornis barbatus).

Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus).

Great White Egret (Ardea alba).

Over the next twenty minutes we had several views of two birds, each time it was just fleeting but for me the best view was when one of the birds flew straight at me and passed within a meter or so but at no point did either of us get our camera's on them, we were still extremely happy when we returned to Ian.

Black-tailed Nativehen (Tribonyx ventralis).

Tau Emerald (Hemicordulia tau).

Tau Emerald (Hemicordulia tau).

We set off from the site and started the long drive around to Innamincka which sits at the end of the Strzelecki track, after visiting sites in the area around Innamincka we planned to return south on the Track.

Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons) ♂.

Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons) ♂.

On the way there we saw Australian Pratincole, Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Budgies, Australian Raven, Australasian Pipit, Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Greater Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster), Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) and Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys). 

Dingo (Canis dingo).

Dingo (Canis dingo).

After a long hard drive (thanks Ian and Deb) we arrived at Innamincka and checked out the camp site and river where we found Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), Red-kneed (Erythrogonys cinctus) and Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops), Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) my first in Australia, Great White Egret, White-necked (Ardea pacifica) and White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Black-tailed Nativehen (Tribonyx ventralis), Baillon's Crake (Zapornia pusilla), Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis), Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida), Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes), Grey Teal, Pink-eared Duck and Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa).

Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus).

Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Black-tailed Nativehen (Tribonyx ventralis), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) and Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola).

We went into the Hotel and had a good meal before going back to the far side of the river on a quieter patch of the camp site where we had a good nights sleep in the Swags, before we left we booked in to a room for tomorrow night as the Temp was meant to be higher with strong winds.

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola).

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola).

Mungeraine to Goyder Lagoon, Birdsville Track, South Australia*.

Hunting for Grasswren species 4 and 5.

Australia, Day Twenty Three.

Ebird List for Mungerannie.

Ebird List for Birdsville Track. 

 

Immature Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus).

After an OKish nights sleep we had a walk around the almost dry Mungeranie Bore Wetlands, due to a dispute between some of the landowners the bore water has been turned off for the moment which just leaves a few pools however it was still interesting, we found a few good species including Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), 5x Greater Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster) which we didn't expect, Spotted Harriers (Circus assimilis) which were upsetting the Corella's as they were leaving their roost, House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata), Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides) and Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) around the car park.

Immature Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus).

Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae).

Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae).

We cut through the trees out to the pools and almost straight away we found an immature Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) which was an SA lifer, Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica), Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus), Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae), Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), Rufous Songlark (Cincloramphus mathewsi) and Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans).

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos).

White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica).

Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus).

We crossed to the far side of the pools and climbed out on to the area of Dunes where we searched for quite a while before we eventually got views of a pair of Eyrean Grasswren (Amytornis goyderi) but they played hard to get, I failed to get the camera on either bird, Deb did get a couple of shots before they again disappeared into thick cover.

Greater Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster).

Other species out here were Flock Bronzewing (Phaps histrionica) x5, Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Purple-backed Fairywren (Malurus assimilis) and Orange Chat (Epthianura aurifrons).

Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella).

Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus).

We started to make our way further along the Birdsville track heading for Goyder Lagoon where we were hoping to find the uncommon Grey Grasswren (Amytornis barbatus), as species I dipped at the same spot last year.

Gibber Chat (Ashbyia lovensis) x3 hiding from the heat under a rock.

Gibber Chat (Ashbyia lovensis).

During the drive we saw White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna), Gibber Chat (Ashbyia lovensis), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Spotted Harrier, Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) and at the Mirra Mitta Bore Overflow we added Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae) x7, Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella) x2, Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus) x2, Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) x9, Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) x2, Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula) and Australian Magpie.

A hot Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella).

Further on we stopped at a small roadside pool and saw 24 more Pink-eared Duck, Grey Teal, Australian Pratincole x4, Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops) x1, Hoary-headed Grebe x3, Little Corella and Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca).

Plumed Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni).

Plumed Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni).

Flock Bronzewings (Phaps histrionica).

After a while we reached a turning off the Birdsville and headed out to Goyder Lagoons where we found a camping spot on the edge of a creek pool in amongst large Lignum bushes, once we were sorted we went for a walk along the Creek seeing some Nankeen Night-Herons, White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Australian Raven, Purple-backed Fairywren, Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel), Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis) and another Baillon's Crake.

Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes).

Yellow-billed Spoonbills (Platalea flavipes) off to roost.

Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica).

We returned to the camp site where Ian stayed while Deb and I continued on up the side of the channel and around the far end into the Lignum swamp, on the way we saw Australian Pratincole, Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), 4x Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes), Black-tailed Nativehen (Tribonyx ventralis), Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus), Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus) x5, Black-fronted Dotterel, Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Caspian (Hydroprogne caspia) x2 and Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) x2, Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Flock Bronzewing 24x, Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor), Black Kite (Milvus migrans) but most surprising was a flock of 23x Plumed Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni) which flew around and landed back on the pool a bit further up stream.

Sunset near the camp.

On our way out and back again we also had at least 4x Eastern Brown Snakes (Pseudonaja textilis) one of which came up from the grass far too close to my feet.

Losing the light along the creek.

We sat and had our food and listened to birds flying over after dark which included Inland Dotterel (Peltohyas australis), Australian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus), Nankeen Night-Heron, Pink-eared Ducks and the Plumed Whistling Ducks which flew over a couple of times.