Nine Grasswren tour report 20 July – 31 July 2014 Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd PO Box 2008 BERRI SA 5343 AUSTRALIA Ph. 1800-BIRDING Ph. +61409 763172 www.bellbirdtours.com birds@bellbirdtours.com ABN 40 159 352 002
Summary and checklist of 2014 Nine Grasswren Tour
Dates of tour: 20 July –31 July 2014
Leaders: Peter Waanders (assisted by Tonia Cochran & Chris Watson) next tour: July/Aug 2015 go to our tour program page tour brochure
Dusky Grasswrens, 31 July 2014, Alice Springs © P Waanders
Nine Grasswren tour report 20 July – 31 July 2014
Tour overview
The 2014 ‘Nine Grasswren tour’ started in Adelaide (SA) and finished in Alice Springs (NT). After visiting Birdlife Australia’s Gluepot Reserve (Red-lored Whistler, Black-eared Miner) we explored the bluebush plains around Whyalla (Western Grasswren, Splendid (turquoise) Fairy-wren) and travelled through the scenic Flinders Ranges (Short-tailed Grasswren) up to the Birdsville track where we had both Chestnut-breasted and Banded Whiteface as well as the elusive Grey Falcon and Eyrean and Grey Grasswren. Yellow Chat and Gibberbird were added here, too. Through the heart of outback Queensland we arrived in Mount Isa after ticking off Red-browed Pardalote, Painted Honeyeater, Australian Bustard and Black-breasted Buzzard while massive flocks of Budgerigars were wheeling through the sky. We had great views of both Carpentarian and Kalkadoon Grasswren as well as Spinifex Pigeons, Varied Lorikeets, Spinifexbird and mixed flocks of woodswallows coming in to drink. From Mt Isa we travelled west over the vast Barkly Tablelands, where Flock Bronzewings entertained us with their antics in the sky while we also found 2 Red-chested Button-quails. Finishing around Alice Springs we found Dusy Grasswren, Grey- headed Honeyeater and Spinifexbird while those people that took the 3-day extension in ended up seeing Painted Finch, Bourke’s Parrot and Grey Honeyeater to name but a few.
The weather was good throughout, with calm, sunny days and maximum temperatures in the 16-28 0C range, some frosty mornings, and no rain. A grand total of 206 bird species were recorded. The full bird list follows at the end of this document. Other sightings of interest included Freshwater Crocodile, Dingo, 3 spp of Kangaroo, Yellow-footed-, Purple-flanked and Black-footed Rock-wallaby.
Itinerary
20 July: Adelaide – Birdlife Australia’s Gluepot Reserve - Peterborough. 21 July: Whyalla Conservation Park and surrounds – Hawker. 22 July: Flinders Ranges – Leigh Creek area – Lyndhurst. 23 July: Mt Lyndhurst Station – Marree – Birdsville track to Mungerannie roadhouse. 24 July: Cowarie station near Mungerannie. 25 July: Birdsville track from Mungerannie to Birdsville. 26 July: Birdsville – Boulia, birding en-route. 27 July: Boulia – Mt Isa, birding en-route. 28 July: all day around Mt Isa. 29 July: Mt Isa to Barkly Homestead, birding en-route and north of Barkly HS. 30 July: Barkly HS –Tennant Creek –Alice Springs. 31 July: all day around Alice Springs.
A number of participants then joined the Red Centre Adventure, available as a stand-alone tour or an extension.
Nine Grasswren tour report 20 July – 31 July 2014
Cinnamon Quail-thrush, Australian Pratincole, Flock Bronzewing, Yellow Chat, Chirruping Wedgebill, Short-tailed Grasswren. Photos © P Waanders. Nine Grasswren tour report 20 July – 31 July 2014
Kalkadoon Grasswren, Painted Honeyeater, Banded Whiteface, Chestnut-breasted Whiteface, Dusky Grasswren, Carpentarian Grasswren, Spinifex Pigeon, Red-lored Whistler. Photos © P Waanders. Nine Grasswren tour list of birds seen 20-31 July 2014
1 Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae 32 Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae 2 Plumed Wistling-duck Dendrocygna eytoni 33 Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris 3 Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa 34 Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus 4 Musk Duck Biziura lobata 35 Black Kite Milvus migrans 5 Black Swan Cygnus atratus 36 Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon 6 Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides 37 Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus 7 Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 38 Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus 8 Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus 39 Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis 9 Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis 40 Swamp Harrier Circus approximans 10 Grey Teal Anas gracilis 41 Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax 11 Chestnut Teal Anas castanea 42 Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides 12 Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa 43 Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis 13 Hardhead Aythya australis 44 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio 14 Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae 45 Black-tailed Native-hen Tribonyx ventralis 15 Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus 46 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra 16 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 47 Brolga Grus rubicunda 17 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 48 Red-chested Buttonquail Turnix pyrrhothorax 18 Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca 49 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 19 Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis 50 Red-necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae 20 Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia 51 Banded Stilt Cladorhynchus leucocephalus 21 Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes 52 Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus 22 Great Egret Ardea modesta 53 Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops 23 Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus 54 Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus 24 White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica 55 Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 25 White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae 56 Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella 26 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 57 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 27 Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus 58 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 28 Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos 59 Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae 29 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 60 Rock DoveI Columba livia 30 Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris 61 Spotted DoveI Streptopelia chinensis 31 Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius 62 Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera Nine Grasswren tour list of birds seen 20-31 July 2014
63 Flock Bronzewing Phaps histrionica 94 Mulga Parrot Psephotus varius 64 Spinifex Pigeon Geophaps plumifera 95 Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus 65 Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes 96 Elegant Parrot Neophema elegans 66 Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata 97 Spotted Bowerbird Chlamydera maculata 67 Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata 98 Western Bowerbird Chlamydera guttata 68 Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis 99 White-browed Treecreeper Climacteris affinis 69 Pallid Cuckoo Cacomantis pallidus 100 Black-tailed Treecreeper Climacteris melanurus 70 Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis 101 Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus 71 Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae 102 Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus 72 Red-backed Kingfisher Todiramphus pyrrhopygius 103 Splendid Fairy-wren Malurus splendens 73 Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus 104 White-winged Fairy-wren Malurus leucopterus 74 Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides 105 Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti 75 Brown Falcon Falco berigora 106 Rufous-crowned Emu-wren Stipiturus ruficeps 76 Australian Hobby Falco longipennis 107 Dusky Grasswren Amytornis purnelli 77 Grey Falcon Falco hypoleucos 108 Kalkadoon Grasswren Amytornis ballarae 78 Black Falcon Falco subniger 109 Carpentarian Grasswren Amytornis dorotheae 79 Galah Eolophus roseicapillus 110 Short-tailed Grasswren Amytornis merrotsyi 80 Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea 111 Western Grasswren Amytornis textilis myall 81 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita 112 Eyrean Grasswren Amytornis goyderi 82 Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus 113 Grey Grasswren Amytornis barbatsu 83 Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus 114 Pied Honeyeater Certhionyx variegatus 84 Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor 115 Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens 85 Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna 116 Grey-headed Honeyeater Ptilotula keartlandi 86 Red-winged Parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus 117 Grey-fronted Honeyeater Ptilotula plumula 87 Crimson (Adelaide) Rosella Platycercus (elegans) adelaidea 118 White-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotis 88 Crimson (Yellow) Rosella Platycercus (elegans) flaveolus 119 Yellow-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus ornatus 89 Australian (Pt Lincoln) Ringneck Barnardius (zonarius) zonarius 120 White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus 90 Australian (Mallee) Ringneck Barnardius (zonarius) barnardi 121 White-fronted Honeyeater Purnella albifrons 91 Blue Bonnet (yellow-vented) Northiella h. haematogaster 122 Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis 92 Blue Bonnet (pale form) Northiella h. pallescens 123 Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala 93 Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus 124 Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula Nine Grasswren tour list of birds seen 20-31 July 2014
125 Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis 156 Chirruping Wedgebill Psophodes cristatus 126 Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis 157 Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus 127 Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata 158 Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis 128 Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata 159 Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen 129 Crimson Chat Epthianura tricolor 160 Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor 130 Orange Chat Epthianura aurifrons 161 White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus 131 Gibberbird Ashbyia lovensis 162 Masked Woodswallow Artamus personatus 132 Yellow Chat Epthianura crocea 163 White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus 133 Black Honeyeater Sugomel niger 164 Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus 134 Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta 165 Little Woodswallow Artamus minor 135 Black-chinned Honeyeater Melithreptus gularis 166 Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus 136 Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta 167 Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae 137 New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae 168 White-winged Triller Lalage sueurii 138 Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris 169 Varied Triller Lalage leucomela 139 Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus 170 Gilbert's Whistler Pachycephala inornata 140 Red-browed Pardalote Pardalotus rubricatus 171 Red-lored Whistler Pachycephala rufogularis 141 Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus 172 Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris 142 White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis 173 Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica 143 Redthroat Pyrrholaemus brunneus 174 Crested Bellbird Oreoica gutturalis 144 Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris 175 Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus 145 Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa 176 Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa 146 Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis 177 Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys 147 Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis 178 Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta 148 Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis 179 Paperbark Flycatcher Myiagra nana 149 Chestnut-breasted Whiteface Aphelocephala pectoralis 180 Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca 150 Banded Whiteface Aphelocephala nigricincta 181 Australian Raven Corvus coronoides 151 White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus 182 Little Raven Corvus mellori 152 Chestnut-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus ruficeps 183 Little Crow Corvus bennetti 153 Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis 184 Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea 154 Cinnamon Quail-thrush Cinclosoma cinnamomeum 185 Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans 155 Chestnut-backed Quail-thrush Cinclosoma castanotum 186 Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii Nine Grasswren tour list of birds seen 20-31 July 2014
187 Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata 188 Southern Scrub-robin Drymodes brunneopygia 189 Horsfield's Bushlark Mirafra javanica 190 White-backed Swallow Cheramoeca leucosterna 191 Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena 192 Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel 193 Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans 194 Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis 195 Little Grassbird Megalurus gramineus www.bellbirdtours.com 196 Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi 1800-BIRDING 197 Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis 198 Spinifexbird Megalurus carteri 199 Silvereye Zosterops lateralis I next Nine Grasswren tour: July/Aug 2015 200 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris I 201 Common Blackbird Turdus merula go to our tour program page 202 Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum
203 House SparrowI Passer domesticus tour brochure
204 Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata
205 Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii
206 Australasian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae