Magpie Lark dive-bombs unsuspecting Kookaburra

Yesterday, May 7th 2012, it dawned on me that I had never seen a Kookaburra in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, where I have lived for the past twelve years. This morning, three Laughing Kookaburras were sitting on the electricity lines on my street! Ravens, Magpies and Magpie Larks were as surprised as me and were going off! Dive-bombing, putting out alarm calls, and generally making it clear that they were NOT happy! I was able to catch the following on my camera.... cool stuff! Enjoy!

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



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!

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.

Birding in New Zealand - January 2012

As a last family holiday, we decided to head to the South Island of New Zealand for eleven days of wild adventures and beautfiul scenery. These were easily accomplished, but I won't dwell on them here. This is about birding!!

It is important to remember a few things when birding in New Zealand.

• Since the arrival of man, 40% of the native avifauna has been rendered extinct - not a particularly impressive statistic.
• When the Europeans turned up, they decided to bring a large number of euarasian species with them, and, at times, these species dominate the birding landscape, especially in urban regions.
• New Zealand is divided into two main islands, so if you only visit one of them, your birding experience is reduced by about 50%
• Some of their most precious avifauna - kiwis, kekapos (the flightless parrot) and so on, are almost impossible to see outside of wildlife parks (which don't count!).
• If you take seven non-birders with you, birding will be limited to moments of escape!

That having been said, I had a wonderful time and was able to snaffle twenty-five lifers, and fifty-nine species altogether.

Christchurch - the local botanic gardens is a great place to start. I quickly picked up Paradise Shelduck, Black-billed Gull, NZ Pigeon,  NZ Scaup (duck), and a number of Eurasian species including Redpoll, and I even jagged a California Quail sitting in a tree happily singing. The main estuary and wetlands in the eastern suburbs had many Australian species of waterfowl and waders, plus Paradise Shelduck, Black-billed Gull, NZ Scaup, Royal Spoonbill, South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Canada Goose, Yellowhammer and Feral Goose.

Mount Cook - there is little to see walking up the Hooker Valley (although the walk itself is stunning). However, there are two small areas of scrub near the Visitor Centre - I saw Grey Warbler and Rifleman (tiny), along with Grey Fantail.

Queenstown - again, the local botanic gardens is a good pace to start - Chaffinch, Redpoll, Bellbird and Tui are found here. I picked up the NZ Robin on a river trip - came out of the foliage and sat on our gear. Queenstown is also one of the most spectacular places scenery wise that I have ever seen.

Milford Sound - this was by far the best birding day. It was misty and rainy all day, but I saw lots! Kea (the main alpine parrot), was resident at the parking bays near the main tunnel, and then I collected Weka, Variable Oystercatcher, Tui, NZ Tomtit and lots of water fowl at the Sound. Some of the short walks through the rainforest while heading towards Milford Sound are also good - I picked up Rifleman, Tomtit, NZ Robin and Yellow-crowned Parakeet. Milford Sound is also a panoramic beauty spot. Breath-taking!

Franz Josef Glacier and Okarito - Okarito has a lovely wetland and forest walk. I easily picked up the Fernbird, and then the Double-banded Plover near the beach. Purple Swamphen and Great Egret were also present. Kea were also present on the Glacier.

All in all, a spectacular time - I would recommend it without reservation.

    Black-billed Gull at Queenstown

    Canada Geese at Christchurch


    Kea at Franz Josef Glacier


    New Zealand Robin on the Dart River


    Paradise Shelduck at Christchurch Botanic Gardens


    Rifleman at Mount Cook


    Variable Oystercatcher at Milford Sound


    Weka at Milford Sound

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

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!