BIRDS OF THE SOUTHEEtN' AND WESTEaN LAKE EYRE DRAINAGE F. J. BADMAN Continued from last issue, which contains map, gazetteer and references. AUSTRALIAN PRATINCOLE Stiltia isabella Bore, Finniss Springs Stn., on March 6; three Only a few records for this species during the at Purni Bore on March 25. early part of 1977, and none was seen between SILVER GULL February 15 and August 27, 1977, nor after Larus novaehollandiae March 25, 1978, until the time of writing (June Only one bird was seen before my visit to 1978). This suggests that this species may be Lake Eyre in August 1977. Many were seen migratory in this area. Usually seen on open after this time, perhaps birds that had begun to gibber plains, and often at stock watering places, disperse from Lake Eyre. Also seen in large in late afternoon. numbers along Cooper Creek. Found at both 1976: four at Watts Bank, Nilpinna, on Dec­ fresh and salt water habitats, and also far from ember 19. any water on two occasions after light rain. 1977: three at Algebuckinna on February 11 1977: one at Warrangaranna Bore, Nilpinna, and one often seen at our camp during Feb­ on March 9; 100-plus at Lake Eyre, east of ruary; two near Eaglehawk Dam, The Neales, William Creek, on August 26, 200-plus on on February 15; one at Lake Eyre, east of Wil­ August 27, and 100-plus on October 3; three at liam Creek, on August 27, and one on October Campoven Dam, Stuart Creek Stn., and one at 4; four at The Bubbler, Stuart Creek Stn., on Nunns Bore on August 28; one at The BUbbler, September 24; six at Welcome Bore, Stuart Stuart Creek Stn., on September 16 and 24, Creek Stn., on September 26, 'and at least four and two on December 16; 11 at Albies Dam, on September 30; one at Albies Dam, Stuart Stuart Creek Stn., on September 17; two at Creek Stn., on September 27; eight at McEwens Welcome Bore, Stuart Creek Stn., on September Bore and two at Angas Bore, Stuart Creek Stn., 26, and one on September 30; one at Angas on October 1; three at Lake Kopperamanna on Bore, Stuart Creek Stn., on October 1; 100-plus October 7 and up to 100 along Cooper Creek at Cooper Creek on October 6-7 and November on November 12-13; two at Lake Harry on 12-13; several hundreds at Lake Harry on October 8 and two on November 25 - along October 8; one at Crows Nest Bore, Muloorina, the bore drain; two 10 km west of Lake Harry on October 9; two in the main street of Marree on October 9; cAD at Crows Nest Bore, Mul­ after light rain, on December 1. ' oorina, on October 9 - these birds were near 1978: one at Nunns Bore on January 30 and water and many were seen to rise about one one on February 27; three at Irrapatana Dam metre into the air while flapping their wings, on January 30; one at Blanket W.H., The then land and repeat this display; two at Dav­ Neales, OIl; February 1; five at Margaret Creek, enport Springs, Finniss Springs Stn., on Octo­ near Curdimurka, on February 3; one at Morris ber 20, and two on November 1; two at Morris Bore, Finniss Springs Stn., on March 6; one at Bore, Finniss Springs Stn., on November 4; one Crows Nest Bore and one at Frome Creek near Rosella Dam, and two at One Tree Bore, Muloorina, on March 8; seven at Peake Creek: Nilpinna, on December 19; one at the Neales, near the Marree-Oodnadatta road crossing, on five km downstream from Wirriaranna Dam, March 23; one at our camp at Lake Eyre South and one at Tardetakarinna W.H. on December from May 28-30, and three, including one im­ 21. mature bird, from May 31 to June 2 - follow­ 1978: two regularly around our camp at ing light rain in the area. Many immatures Wangianna during January and February and were seen along Cooper Creek during July 1978. until March 12, and four on February 16; a WHISKERED TERN Chlidonias hybrida pair with a nest containing eggs at Badmans This species was very common at Lake Eyre Dam, Nilpinna, on January 20 (J. Nunn); two during 1977. Fairly large flocks were also seen at Kennebery W.H., Muloorina, on January 24; at several other locations. It was usually seen one 8 km south of Crows Nest Bore, Muloorina, on large areas of open water. and one near Alberrie Creek R.S. on January All records are for 1977. 100-plus at Nunns 29; one at Toongamoona Dam, one 3 km south­ Bore on August 28; one at The Bubbler and west of Armistice Bore, at least six at Armistice one at Coward Springs on September 24; c.20 "Bore, and two 12 km to the east, on Anna Creek at Welcome Bore, Stuart Creek Stn., on October Stn., on January 30; four at Number One Dam, 1; 300-plus at Lake Eyre, east of William Creek, Anna Creek Stn., on January 31; seven at Julies on October 3 and many tens of thousands on Dam, Nilpinna, on February 2; one at Daven­ the following day. These were in one large flock port Creek on February 20; one at Beatrice which first appeared as a cloud on the horizon 58 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ORNITHOLOGIST, 28 and eventually the edge of the flock passed lake at 28° 24'S, 139°E., on July 15; two at Lake overhead; several hundreds at Lake Harry on Killalpaninna on July 16. October 8; one at Crows Nest Bore, M uloorina, on October 9; c.100 flew over our camp near FERAL PIGEON Columba livia Wangianna, heading east, on November 22; A flock of about 10 birds is resident in the 100-plus at Lake Killamperpunna on Novem­ town of Marree. It was formerly resident at ber 12; seven at Tardetakarinna W.H., and two Anna Creek H.S., but the free-living birds have 3 km to the north-west, over The Neales, on been destroyed by predators. December 21. Most of the birds seen were in breeding plumage. PEACEFUL DOVE Ceopelia placida Small groups of up to 10 birds were seen at Apparently an uncommon species in this area. all lakes and large waterholes along Cooper Cox and Pedler (1977) reported a similar situa­ Creek, from Lake Killalpaninna to Lake Hope, tion to the east of Lake Eyre during 1974-6. with c.50 at Lake Appadare, on July 10-16, Usually seen in woodland or scrub. 1978. 1977: one at Dalhousie Springs on May 20; one at The Macumba, north of Macumba H.S., GULL-BILLED TERN Gelochelidon nilotica on May 21; at least two in acacias and eucalypts Not as common as the preceding species. It near a large sandhill two km west of Lake Kop­ was seen in the same habitat as C. hybrida, and peramanna on October 7, and c.IO on Novem­ the two species were often seen together. It suc­ ber 13. cessfully bred in large numbers on an island at 1978: at least one at Blanket W.H., The Watts Bank, Nilpinna, about September 1974 Neales, on February 1; nine at Muloorina on (J. Nunn, pers. comm.). March 8 - in dense acacias and eucalypts along 1977: eight at Lake Eyre, east of William Frome Creek; one in a dead bush one km west Creek, on August 26, three on August 27, and of Purni Bore on March 25; two at Clayton on 10 on October 3; up to 10 at Lake Harry on july vll ; one at Lake Warrawarrina, Cooper October 8; one in non-breeding plumage at Creek on July 12; at least five at Waukatanna Morris Bore, Finniss Springs Stn., on Novem­ W.H., Cooper Creek, on July 14; at least two ber 4; one at Lake Killamperpunna on Novem­ near Lake Kopperamanna on July 16. ber 12; several at Welcome Bore, Stuart Creek Stn., on December 16. DIAMOND DOVE Geopelia cuneata 1978: 44 at Fat Bullock Swamp, Anna Creek Much more common than G. placida, this Stn., on January 31 - forty of these were in species was found in similar habitat - wood­ breeding plumage. Most of the birds seen were land and scrub, usually along watercourses. in breeding plumage. 1977: one at Algebuckinna on February 8, 20 on February 16 (including 15 in one dead CASPIAN TERN Hydroprogne caspia tree) and lO-plus on June 26 - all in Cooli­ This species was recorded only at large areas bahs by the waterhole; one in Coolibahs at of open water, especially lakes. Ockenden Creek on February 11; three at Peake 1977: three at Lake Eyre, east of William Creek, near the railway bridge, on March 8, and Creek, on August 26 and four on the following seven on December 19 - all in Coolibahs near day; three at Cooper Creek, upstream from the water and many observed drinking soon after Birdsville Track ferry crossing, on October 6; sunrise; one near Federal, in Gidgea, on April five at Lake Kopperamanna on October 7; five 10; several at The Stevenson, east of Pedirka, at Lake Killamperpunna on October 8, 'and on May 17; several in Coolibahs and Tea-trees nine on November 12; at least two at Lake at Stuart Creek, near Curdimurka, on June 24, Harry on October 8. and at least four on November 13; two at Purni 1978: seven at Cooper Creek, two km up­ Bore, in dense acacias, on July 24; several at stream from ·the Birdsville Track ferry crossing, Federal on July 27; at least one at Margaret four at Lake Warrawarrinna, one at a large Creek, near Curdimurka, on September 21; 10­ waterhole 16 km upstream and two at the large plus, in scrub between sandhills, at Lake Kop­ wa:terhole a further 19 km upstream on July 12; peramanna on October 7, and c.30 on Novem­ up to 100 at Lake Hope on July 13 - thirty ber 13; one or more at Margaret Creek, near were counted on one sandy point running into Mt.