Thursday 29 December 2011

Final Tallies for 2011

Hi all,

The final wash-up for 2011 is;

World - 1408
Australia - 520
Australia 2011 - 349

I can't wait for 2012!

Till next time!

Mike

Friday 23 December 2011

Trekking North to find the Western Yellow Robin and Chestnut-breasted Whiteface - December 2011



At the end of a hectic and challenging school year, I escaped for four days to go hunting for two bird species that had so far alluded me in previous visits to areas where they are found - these were the Western Yellow Robin and the Chestnut-breasted Whiteface. That they are found in opposite directions once you reach Port Augusta meant some serious driving, but my Lancer and I were up for the challenge! I also wanted to try to get 350 species for 2011, so I needed another 13 over the next four days.

Day 1 (Tuesday, 20th December 2011)

Armed with food, water, Bundy's GB, swag, binoculars, camera, deck chair and a compilation tape of Ray Charles' greatest hits, I left home at 3:00am and headed north. Three hours and one stunning sunrise over the Southern Flinders Ranges later I arrived in Port Augusta. I headed straight for the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens and was soon surrounded by some stunning avifauna - White-backed Swallows, White-browed Babblers (playing at my feet), Australian Kestrels, Chirruping Wedgebills, Mulga Parrots, Honeyeaters, Corellas, Fairy-wrens, Zebra Finches, and even a Straw-necked Ibis flying overhead. 23 species altogether, some great photos and two more to the year tally (339).

































I then headed off for Lake Gilles Conservation Park, about 120 kms west of Port Augusta. I stopped at Iron Knob in search of Western Grasswren and saw nothing!! And I mean nothing! Took off again and arrived in Lake Gilles for a late lunch. I set up camp, including my brand new swag, and relaxed for a couple of hours until late afternoon. I then headed into the bush south of the main road about a kilometre from the western end of the Park. The first bird was a Rufous Treecreeper, which I had only ever seen once before. Got great views and a decent photo. Within ten minutes I was stoked to have the first of quite a few Western Yellow Robins turn up for a visit. LIFER No 1! One down - one to go! The birding wasn't prolific (21 species), but I did extend my year list to 342.





After a lovely dinner of cold meat, fresh fruit and a Bundy's GB, I settled into bed early and was soon asleep. It had been a long day!

Day 2

Early next morning I was greeted with two more WY Robins visiting me around my campsite. I again got a reasonable photo (diagnostic proof!) and then headed off back to Port Augusta. Stopped in again at Iron Knob, but apart from a small fmaily of WW Fairy-wrens, I saw absolutely nothing again. However, whilst standing in amongst the saltbush, I did recieve the Year 12 results for the school by iPhone (technology is awesome!). I checked my daughter Haylee's result (96.10 - proud dad!), and then scanned through the rest. Rang Haylee - got a bit misty on the phone (I had only been away for one day!) and also chatted with my team from school - overall very happy with the results.



OK, back to birding! Decided to head straight on to the Flinders and hopefully pick up a few there, including the ST Grasswren at Stokes Hill. Snaffled a Black-breasted Buzzard just outside of Quorn - a real surprise and a new tick for me in South Australia. No photo though - it took off before I could get the car turned around. Might possibly have been the loud screeching of tyres when I first saw it that caused it to take off! Had a massive flock of Little Corellas mob me in Hawker. Also got Inland Thornbill at Rawnsley Park. Stokes Hill was barren - it was midday and HOT! Not a ST Graawren in sight or making a sound. Cut through Brachina Gorge - bad decision, the road was awful, but I survived. Finally pulled into Leigh Creek, booked a cabin, had a long cold shower, watched a bit of TV, and fell to sleep. Year list - 344.


Day 3

Up early and off to Mt. Lyndhurst. Glorious weather - I am a summer boy! Headed straight to the Rusy Car site and started searching for Chestnut-breasted Whitefaces. Saw lots of birds - especially WW Fairwrens, Emu, Zebra Finch, Black-faced Woodswallow, Budgerigar (the way God intended them - free!), WB Swallows, Hooded Robin, Brown Songlark, Thick-billed Grasswren and Rufous Fieldwren - but no CBWFs. Headed further north and found a White-necked Heron at the Mt. Lyndhurst bore. Wandered a few of the dry river beds until I relasied that it was 1pm and I was scorched and thirsty!





Headed back to Lyndhurst where I popped into the pub. Decided to book a room, had a shower, and knocked back a Black Douglas Scotch and dry without anyting touching the sides! Ordered a second one and had a beef schnitzel - many thanks to Bob and the guys at the pub - you saved my life! Used their internet to check out the family and my birding mates and waited until 5pm before heading back for another go at the CBWFs.



As I am a tad OCD, I was determined not to leave the Rusty Car site until I had traversed every inch of the small gully and associated straggly bushes, even if I had to walk from the Strzelecki track to the old mine site on both sides. I stood on the Strzelecki and started off, heading north! Two metres later, a CBWF popped up. LIFER No 2!! Then he was joined by his wife, then his extended family, then the neighbours, the community choir group and the local primary school. There were CBWFs everywhere! And I had searched this area for four hours in the morning without success. Birding!! Got cripplingly good views and a couple of decent photos. Spent about an hour with them. Gave myself a high five for Jesus, coz my brother wasn't there to help, and then wandered around in a daze for a while before heading back to the pub. Dropped into bed at about 9pm and fell happily to sleep! Saw 37 species at Mt. Lyndhurst (a great result for such a tough area, especially in 37 degree heat). Year list 349. RATS!!



Day 4

Awoke at 4am, packed the car and did the mad dash home, only stopping long enough to take a photo of an amazing sunrise over the Northern Flinders Ranges, and fill up with petrol at Hawker.


Had a wonderful trip - got both birds, saw some brillaint stuff. Felt totally detoxed when I arrived home. And that was the whole point! Till next time!