Sunday 25 March 2012

Gluepot Delivers Again - Birding with Stevie March 23rd - 24th 2012

A quick discussion on Tuesday resulted in a 3pm pick-up from school on Friday, and Steve and I were off for a day and a half of birding along the Murray River and then at Gluepot Reserve. Complete with our swags (Steve was baptising his!), torches, binos, cameras, Bundy's GB and red wine we were away!

Our first stop was at a small place on the river called Qualco. I had never heard of it before, but Steve had been there once. The river was up, covering some of the river edge tracks, so we went for a stroll through a nearby paddock. The birding was great! 26 species in not much over 45 minutes, including Brown Treecreeper, Whistling Kite, Peregrine Falcon, Pied Butcherbird, Red-rumped Parrot and Barn Owl. The Owl was discovered by a couple of juvenile Butcherbirds, and a massive bird chase began! Little Ravens joined in and the poor Owl was harrassed from tree to tree. At one stage it flew directly over our heads, only twenty feet from the ground. Great view! It eventually took refuge in a hole in a tree, with the pursuers waiting animatedly on the branches around.

We then headed on to Waikerie where we had dinner at the pub - a decent beef schnitzel with pepper sauce and chips, washed down with a nice red was a pleaseant way to watch the sun go down. We then crossed the river on the ferry, and headed into the night towards Gluepot.

We were hoping to pick up some nightjars on the way in but saw absolutely nothing until just before the gate into Gluepot proper, when we jagged a Tawny Frogmouth. It sat obligingly on an exposed branch while we experimented with speeds, f-stops and angles in the dark. Some photos were dismal failures, but a couple were OK.


We headed into Gluepot and set up camp at Babblers. The swags were quickly in place, and after a quiet red, we hit the sack. I was finally awoken by a Grey Butcherbird calling and my brother's snoring. Not much difference in the jarring quality of both!

We were soon out and about, and were greeted by hundreds of White-browed Woodswallows, along with a few Masked and Black-faced Woodswallows, circling and calling incessantly overhead. They would land in large flocks on sections of burnt out trees, and then take off again to the great sound of wing beats and cries. Stunning!


We then headed on to Steve's STS (Special Treecreeper Spot), near one of the hides and immediately had fanatstic views of both Brown and White-browed. Seeing them only about ten minutes apart made identification that much easier and the differences between them that much more noticeable. In between, we had the most stunning views of two male Red-capped Robins - photographing them was a JOY!



We then headed back to the campsite, packed up our swags and went Miner hunting! We came across a number of flocks and we able to idenitfy Yellow-throated, but could not pick out the elusive and rare Black-eared. As this would be a Lifer for me, I was getting a little frustrated! After passing through the main station, we happened on a beautiful Brown Falcon, who posed dor us and then saluted!


Just before heading out of the park, we heard another group of Miners and so we leapt out and went looking! They were very skittish, as were the previous groups, and always seemed two trees ahead of us! Finally, they stopped and we scanned the flock. There were plenty of Yellow-throated, and then Steve alerted me to a couple sitting to the right of the tree. One of them was unmistakeably Black-eared, and not just "hybrids". It had both the darker rump and much darker jaw to ear area. With the Yellow-throated next to it, the comparison was immediate. LIFER! Happy happy! After the obligatory "high-five for Jesus", we headed back to the car for the drive home. Gluepot had delivered once again - not only with a lifer but 43 species altogether and lots of great views and photo opportunities. Spending time with my brother was an added bonus - lots of sharing as well as birding. Thanks mate!

Tallies

World - 1435
Australia - 523




Sunday 18 March 2012

Brookfield CP - March 17th 2012

Had a terrific morning in the Brookfield CP near Blanchetown on Saturday morning, 17th March 2012. Arrived at the gate at 7:20am just after sunrise and drove in about 1km before stopping just passed the fenced section on the right. The park has clearly received some decent rain and the vegetation was in as good a condition as I have ever seen it. The weather was perfect, with hardly a cloud in the sky and it was clear from the beginning that the birding was going to be profitable.

I quickly identified three Honeyeater species - Spiny-cheeked, Singing, and White-fronted, followed by a Crested Bellbird (singing gloroiously from the tops of trees, but never staying too long in one position) and then a Grey Butcherbird. Little Ravens and Australian Magpies flew over at regular intervals, as did Mulga Parrots and Galahs. Chestnut-crowned Babblers played hide and seek with me through the bush until I came across a pair of Southern Scrub-Robins who eventually popped out to have a chat!



A number of Brown Treecreepers glided from tree to tree, and both Southern Whiteface and White-fronted Chats moved about the undergrowth in small flocks. My first Black-faced Woodswallows for the year then arrived, along with a pair of Mallee Ringnecks. They posed beautifully for me for a great photo.






Wandering on both sides of the road I then picked up Willy Wagtail, Striated Pardalote, Weebill, a gorgeous White-eared Honeyeater and then a small party of Purple-crowned Lorikeets flew overhead. At about 9:30am I headed towards the homestead and the attending dam. On the way I was surprised by a beautiful Spotted Harrier rising off the ground and flying directly across the road in front of me. A stunning bird! At the dam - which was dry, I spotted Crested Pigeon, Magpie Lark, Red Wattlebird and Noisy Miner.

Jumping back in the car I headed out on the main circuit until I reached the next major patch of scrub on the left. I bumped into a couple of other birders and we passed on the obligatory info as to what we had seen so far! I then headed into the scrub. It was much quieter now, but I was still able to spot Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, a large flock of White-browed Woodswallows (probably my favourite WS), a couple of Common Bronzewing and White-winged Fairywrens (gorgeous bird!).

Headed back along the track at 10:30am, and snaffled both the Grassland Pipit and a Hooded Robin while driving slowly towards the gate. I was out of the park at 10:50am. 32 species in all, and plenty of bird activity up until about 9:30am. A really pleasant morning! No lifers, but I increased my 2012 year tally to 166. Only 234 to go to reach my target of 400 for the year! Onwards!

Sunday 11 March 2012

A Pleasant Amble with the Wife in Para Wirra Recreation Park - Monday 12th March 2012

On Monday, 12th March, my dear wife and I went for a three hour amble through the Para Wirra Recreation Park along the "Devil Nose" and "The Knob" walks! We started at 8am and headed clockwise! It was a beautiful morning and well worth the 4.5kms we covered.

While traversing the routes, we noted a few of the birds and I just happened to have my binoculars and my camera with me. While the birds we not in any way prolific, there was a consistent sense of bird life around us, and plenty of calls. Birds seen and heard included Crimson Rosella, Australian Magpie, Little Raven, Grey Currawong, Long-billed Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Crescent and New Holland Honeyeaters, Striated and Buff-rumped Thornbills, Superb Fairy-wrens and stunning views of three different Scarlet Robins.


I got within ten feet of one of them and she posed quite composedly for me, allowing for a great photo opportunity! Thank you little one! Gotta be happy with these snaps!

So, the best of both worlds - birding on a beautiful day with my lovely wife with me. Happy man.