Birding from Lameroo to Tooleybuc
No Comments »16th September, 2007; Category: Trip reports
2007 New South Wales trip report #3
Lameroo to Tooleybuc
This long stretch of road took us through extensive wheat farming areas. The crops were surprisingly lush despite the rather dry winter. Rain will be needed by the farmers in this area in the next two or three weeks or the crops will die.
Along this road there are some stands of mallee eucalypts and native pines. In most parts however, the road side verge is the only remnant vegetation. The bird life is surprisingly abundant despite the lack of trees.
Crested Pigeons are abundant along this stretch; I must have seen several hundred. Australian (Black Backed) Magpies are also common as are the Little Ravens. I suspect there were a few Australian Ravens in this lot, but we were pressed for time and so I didn’t stop to check them out.
At one point soon after crossing over the border into Victoria my wife insisted that I stop so that she could get some photos of some daisies on the side of the road. While stopped I could hear a Brown Songlark calling nearby. Flocks of Galahs were seen from time to time but none at the locality known as Galah. This small community now comprises several scattered farm houses and a wheat silo next to the railway siding. It was probably a thriving little town many years ago.
We stopped at Manangatang for fuel. I love the way that place name rolls off the tongue. A short drive and we were at Tooleybuc, another wonderful place name. Here we crossed the Murray River and into New South Wales, our third state of the afternoon.
Along the way I added Pied Butcherbird (three sightings), Black-faced Woodswallow and Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike.
Pied Butcherbird
Lapwings and lunch by the lake at Lameroo
2007 New South Wales Trip Report #2
Lunch at Lameroo:
On quite a number of occasions we have pulled into a lovely park on the eastern edge of the mallee town of Lameroo for lunch or a cuppa. This park has a small artificial lake called Lake Roberts. This time we arrived in perfect time for lunch. As we drove through the town I saw Rock Doves flying around the wheat silos and House Sparrows near the houses.
As we drove into the park we observed two Masked Lapwings feeding on the grassed area. Later I saw a fluffy baby being closely guarded by the observant parents. A lone Willie Wagtail was feeding on the grass around the lake while a single Great Cormorant sat resting on the bank.
Great Cormorant, Lameroo, South Australia
Welcome Swallows swooped over the lake as we ate our lunch. We tried to ignore the gathering company of non-Australian ducks at our feet; they were getting none of our lunch. They included a motley assembly of various domestic breeds of ducks; at least one of them was a male Mallard. I saw several Red Wattlebirds and heard a large flock of Weebills feeding in the tree near our picnic site. Several Australian Magpie Larks searched the water’s edge for their lunch and I heard a Grey Shrike-thrush and a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater off in the distance. A small flock of Galahs flew overhead as we left. A Singing Honeyeater perched atop a nearby tree and watched us as we packed things back in the car.
I tried to get a photo of a Black-backed Magpie, but the ducks chased it off before I could focus.
It was a lovely start to our holiday trip. More tomorrow.
On the road to do some birding
6 Comments »14th September, 2007; Category: Trip reports
2007 New South Wales Trip Report #1
Murray Bridge to Lameroo
My wife and I are currently on a 23 day holiday trip through New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra), Victoria and parts of South Australia. We have a number aims for this trip:
- To visit our son and daughter-in-law in Sydney
- To visit friends in Melbourne
- To see Floriade in Canberra
- For me to do some serious birding away from home
- For my wife to get more photos of Australian plants
Over the coming weeks I will be posting a series of short trip reports, together with photos taken on the trip.
Murray Bridge to Lameroo:
I commenced my list of birds for the trip as we crossed the bridge driving out of Murray Bridge. A Whistling Kite was gliding above the river. This is always a lovely bird to add to any list of species. It was the first official bird of our trip.
Whistling Kite
We had set off about an hour later than expected so there were limited opportunities to stop for birding along the way. Most of my listing was done on the move from the car. I was careful to write in my notebook only when my wife was driving (but she is sometimes generous enough to write in my notebook at my request).
Driving through Tailem Bend I added Crested Pigeon and Spotted Turtledove to the list. I was on the lookout for pelicans but there were none soaring over the river as they often do here.
On the road through the mallee on the way to Lameroo there were many birds on the sides of the road, in the roadside verge or flying over the road. Australian Magpies were seen every hundred metres or so, sometimes in groups of three or more. At the little village of Jabuk I saw my first Black Backed Magpie, a race of the Australian Magpie. This area is a region of transition and both races can be found along this road, sometimes interbreeding.
Also common along this stretch of road were Little Ravens, White-winged Choughs and Willie Wagtails. I also saw several Common Bronzewing Pigeons and two Grey Currawongs.
Ostriches in Australia – and near my home
If I want to see an Ostrich I only have to take a ten minute drive from home.
Now before all you Australian twitchers out there jump in your car or on a plane to “tick” this species off your list, let me explain. The Ostriches I’m talking about are in the Monarto Zoo just down the road from Murray Bridge in South Australia. They have a thriving collection of Ostriches as part of their displays of African animals. Visitors can walk down the hill from the Visitor Centre and get a close look through the fence. You also get excellent views as you do the bus tour of the zoo.
Ostriches at Monarto Zoo, South Australia
Ostrich Farms:
Many people would not know that there have been several feral populations of Ostriches in Australia over the last hundred years or so. One such population existed near Port Augusta in the far north. They had been “farmed” for their feathers on a sheep and cattle station there in the late 1800s. A remnant feral population has existed in this region ever since, though their numbers were never more than a few dozen at best. Even though I lived in Port Augusta in the 1970s for ten years, I never managed to see even one.
Other ostrich farms existed in other states and several in the Coorong region of South Australia where a feral population existed for some time. None survive in that area today. A recent correspondent on the Birding-Aus forum lived in Port Augusta in the 1990s and he suggested that the feral population there was captured for sale. At the time Ostrich farming had a sudden but short resurgence. He was of the opinion that a small remnant population still exists in that region. There have been no recorded sightings to my knowledge in the last decade. CORRECTION: There was a report today on Birding -Aus of a sighting of a pair with 9 chicks (May 17th 2009) on Mt Arden Station near Port Augusta. (Note: there is no access to this area for birders.)
Further reading:
- Birds of Monarto Zoo – plus information about the zoo
UPDATE: Would all readers please note – I am not in the business of breeding and selling birds, Ostriches included. This is a blog about Australian birds in the wild.
Bird Word: Ornithologist
Ornithologist: another name for a birder or bird watcher, but usually someone who takes their interest very seriously. Those who study birds as part of their work are best called ornithologists.
I regard myself as a birder primarily. I watch birds. I photograph birds. I write about birds (on this blog). I talk (as a guest speaker) about birds. I read about birds. People come to me with their bird questions in person, on the phone, by email or through asking questions on this blog. I answer as best I can, knowing that I am still very much an amateur and learning all the time.
At times, however, I am at best described as an amateur ornithologist. I do not get paid for watching or studying birds but I do take some activities very seriously. For example, I have collected data for three bird Atlases over the last three decades. The data collected has been published and is a valuable part of our knowledge of the birds of Australia.
A special offer you can’t refuse:
Anyone living within a few hours’ drive of Murray Bridge, South Australia, who would like a guest speaker on birds, please contact me via the contact form. I am willing to speak at schools, clubs, churches and any other organization.
And if you provide the ticket, I’ll even fly interstate!
And overseas!
Happy birding.