Lyrebird Tales
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Lyrebird Tales Volume 27 Number 1 March 2018 Three Months on the Road by Dace Fitton On a fine day in late May 2017 we left with our friends and our homes on wheels for a trip that was to take nearly three months. We travelled through three states and the Northern Territory. There were many highlights and many new ticks and great sightings of some lovely birds. We negotiated the Western Ring Road and then drove through the Western district, the sky and horizon country and crossed the border to South Australia. I enjoyed seeing the bird life change from our customary birds to the birds of the drier country. Our first stop was near Keith, just over the Victorian border; a farm stay, complete with a friendly camel. It was lovely to see the small flock of Musk Lorikeets in the gum trees. At our next stop, just outside Port Augusta we saw White-browed Babblers. They were foraging in the dirt and small, straggly shrubs, surprisingly unworried by the people and caravans around them. A special moment at our next camp, Lake Hart, Spinifex Pigeons at Kings Canyon photo © Dace Fitton was hearing the calls of the Crested Bellbirds in the morning. We left Kings Canyon, headed off to Alice Springs. The town We also got good view of one later on as it scurried around was buzzing. The Finke Desert Race was on in a few days’ while we were having our breakfast. There were some time. We were lucky to get a campsite and could only book Australian Pipits, plenty of Singing Honeyeaters and Black for a few days. The caravan park was full of motorbike crews, Kites overhead. getting ready for the big race. The Desert Park at Alice A few days later we arrived at Uluru, a vision of silky Springs was another must see, bird of the day for me was sandstone in various shades of oranges, browns and reds. the Dusky Grasswren that was in the dry grasses around the There had been rain previously and there was good green cages and I also loved seeing the young Crimson Chats in the growth around the base. We walked around (not on the rock) car park. and saw Galahs, Crested Pigeons, Magpie Larks, White- High on my list was to see a Western Bowerbird. I had heard plumed and Singing Honeyeaters, Zebra Finches, Willie that there was a bower in the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens. Wagtails, Rufous Whistlers and Splendid Fairy-wrens. Other The gardens were founded by Miss Olive Muriel Pink, who good sightings around Uluru were a Black-breasted Buzzard, was an outspoken advocate for Aboriginal rights and a Diamond Doves, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Little botanical artist. The gardens were founded in 1956 and Woodswallow, Australian Kestrel, Pied and Grey Butcherbird opened to the public in 1985. and Little Crow. At night in the campground, I could hear a Southern Boobook calling. Contents After leaving Uluru, we headed off to Kings Canyon (Watarrka), where we stayed at Kings Creek Station, a 1 – 5. Three Months on the Road by Dace Fitton working cattle/camel station. We got up early the next day 5. Committee. Notice of AGM. Interesting Sightings and walked the Kings Canyon Rim Walk. It was a wonderful Book launch of ‘Reserve for a bird’ hike, a six kilometre circuit with spectacular 360 degree views and amazing rock formations. I had another first, the 6 – 11. Reports of Meetings and Outings Spinifex Pigeons, plenty in the car park and more on the 12. Calendar of events walk. They were a lovely sight. Also saw some Grey-headed and White-plumed Honeyeaters, a Hooded Robin, many Zebra finches, Crested Pigeons, Galahs, Magpie Lark, Willie Wagtail, Little Crow, Australian Kestrel and Wedge-tailed Eagle. Lyrebird Tales The garden has over 600 Central Australian plant species and more than 80 bird species have been observed here. First we found an old bower, but it looked unused. We continued walking, and quite near the front gate saw a bower underneath a thick bush. There were two bowerbirds. One looked young, quite fluffy. Among other birds we saw were the ubiquitous Galahs, Yellow-throated Miners, Black Kites, Crested Pigeons, Australian Ringneck, Magpie Lark, Hooded Robin, Singing and White-plumed Honeyeaters, Grey- crowned Babblers, Black-faced Cuckoo shrike, and Pied Butcherbirds. As well as bird watching, we enjoyed the walk around the gardens and had an excellent coffee at the tearooms. Yellow Waters, Kakadu photo © Dace Fitton We all enjoyed the cruise so much we did it again the next morning. There was a special offer, at a reduced price for the second cruise, so again we got up in the dark. We had a different boat driver/guide and we went to other parts of the billabong and the second trip was every bit as interesting as the first. As well as seeing many of the birds from the previous day we also saw Rajah Shelducks, Black-necked Storks, (on a nest), Brolgas, Bar-shouldered Dove, Green Pygmy-geese, Hardheads, Peaceful Doves. We also saw brumbies grazing nearby. In the afternoon we went to look at the ancient aboriginal Yellow Waters Billabong Cruise photo © Dace Fitton rock art, in the Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) area. We were having a cuppa at a picnic ground on the way back when I Another highlight of the trip was the early morning Yellow saw an unusual bird, took out my binoculars and there in a Waters Billabong cruise, through the wetlands in the Kakadu tree was a Yellow Oriole – another new tick. The traditional National Park. The start was early, 6.45am and we got up owners were burning off and there was a strong smell of before light. But it was worthwhile, watching the sun coming smoke in the air. As we drove around small fires burned close up on the billabong while we waited for the boat journey to to the road. On the morning we left I walked round the camp begin. ground and was pleased to see a Leaden Flycatcher before First I saw a Rufous Night-heron (there were many) and the cloud of mosquitoes forced me to retreat and we quickly Magpie Geese flying overhead. There were also many egrets packed up. – Great, Intermediate and Cattle Egrets and Australian Darters. We had the good fortune to see three types of Kingfishers – first the Azure, darting around, low, just above the water, then a Forest Kingfisher and finally we saw the tiny Little Kingfisher. We had good views before it flew off. Interspersed with seeing birds, we also saw a good many crocodiles. They posed well for the photographers and we were glad to be in the safety of the boat. Among my favourite sightings was that of the Comb-crested Jacanas; another first. Watching them treading on the lilies was a delight, as was the sight of a male bird with 6 tiny legs protruding from his feathers. Eventually he allowed his 3 fluffy chicks to emerge. The boat driver said there had been 4 chicks the week before, but now there were only three. We also had good views of a White-bellied Sea-eagle. There were very many Wandering and Plumed Whistling-ducks, Pied and Black Cormorants, Masked Lapwings, Sulphur-crested Zebra Rock Mine, Lake Argyle photo © Dace Fitton Cockatoos, Magpie Larks, Little Corellas, White-faced and Pied Heron, Glossy Ibis, Willie Wagtail, Rainbow Bee-eater A few days later found us at the Zebra Rock Mine Caravan and Red-tailed Black Cockatoos. Park. The park is in the Northern Territory, not far from the 2 Lyrebird Tales Lyrebird Tales Western Australian border. We really enjoyed the stay. Black Cockatoos were a lovely sight. When we arrived I saw a Peaceful surroundings, friendly and helpful caravan park Mistletoe bird, then Magpies, Great Bowerbirds, Little owners and staff and the memory of the sunset cruise. The Corellas, Grey Shrike-thrush, Torresian Crows, Willy-Wagtail, caravan park is not far from the eastern side of Lake Argyle Rainbow Bee-eaters, Rufous Whistler and Double-barred and this part of the lake has wetlands and is wonderful for Finches. bird life. Among the birds seen on the cruise and around the The road to the Bungle Bungles was extremely corrugated park were Peaceful Doves, Little Friarbirds, Willie Wagtails, and so we decided to take a four wheel drive bus day trip. Galahs, Torresian Crows, Great Bowerbirds, Magpie Larks, We were very glad we made the decision. There had been Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, Rufous Whistler, Long-tailed and heavy rain earlier and the first creek crossing claimed a few Double-barred Finches, (Gouldian Finches have been seen cars while we were staying at Mabel Downs. The bus driver here, but I did not see any) Yellow-tinted Honeyeater, White- said that she had to drive straight through; if you veered left winged Triller, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Paperbark there were big holes in the creek bed. The sight of cars Flycatcher (many around the store/café), White-bellied making the return journey on the back of a semi trailer was a Cuckoo-shrike, Black-winged Stilt, Glossy Ibis, Bar- sobering sight. The bus bumped its way over the road to the shouldered Dove, Rajah Shelduck, Pacific Black Duck, Bungle Bungles. It was like one and a half hours of driving Whiskered Tern, Magpie Goose, Masked Lapwing, Straw- over a gigantic washboard – a very good decision to leave necked Ibis, Intermediate, Cattle and Great Egrets, Darters, the car behind and to take our van would have been Osprey (on nest), Little and Pied Cormorants, White-breasted unthinkable.