Archive for the 'Trip reports' Category

2007 New South Wales trip report #5

Balranald

We stayed the night in a small but comfortable cabin in the Balranald Caravan Park. We thought we wouldn’t get much sleep because a transport truck seemed to pass the park every minute or two. Surprisingly we both slept well but woke early because we were cold. If it wasn’t a frost it was very close to it. After breakfast a bitterly cold wind started blowing, but the sunny, cloudless morning promised a good day.

Murrumbidgee River, Balranald, NSW

The small town of Balranald is situated on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. It flows into the Murray River nearby. I didn’t have much of a chance to seek out birds around the town and along the river. A small flock of Galahs cavorted around the park and along the river. Some Sulphur-crested Cockatoos made their raucous calls echo through the tall River Red Gums along the banks of the river.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

Near our cabin I heard a call that sounded like a rosella parrot. I only caught a glimpse as it flew off; I am guessing that it was probably a Yellow Rosella. They are quite common along these river systems. A few Red Wattlebirds and a small flock of Noisy Miners (honeyeaters) were feeding in the trees in the caravan park. I checked out the river for water birds; a single Little Pied Cormorant was resting on a log on the river bank.

In and around the town I saw some Welcome Swallows, Australian Magpies, Rock Doves and House Sparrows.After buying a few supplies from the local store we headed off towards Hay.

 2007 New South Wales Trip report #4

Tooleybuc to Balranald

We crossed the River Murray at Tooleybuc and into New South Wales. The bridge here is old and narrow with a very restricted load bearing capacity. It is also a single lane bridge so one has to watch for oncoming traffic. Fortunately it was not busy when we crossed and I didn’t have to stop for other vehicles.

The road to the next town of Balranald took us through some of the flood plains of the Murray River and a smaller tributary called the River Wakoo. From memory this river is more of an anabranch of the Murray rather than a tributary.

Crested Pigeon

Birds seen along this stretch of road included more Galahs, Crested Pigeons, Australian Magpies and ravens. I also recorded several Willie Wagtails and Blue Bonnet Parrots, their red flanks showing clearly in the setting sun. At one point I was delighted to see a single Major Mitchell Cockatoo flying near the road, but I didn’t get a very good look at it. Birding at 100kph is a little hazardous.

A short distance on I slowed down to check out a Black-shouldered Kite, hoping that it would turn out to be a Letter-winged Kite. They are very similar except for the underwing patterns. The Letter-wing is far rarer – and I have yet to see one. This individual didn’t change that situation. [sigh]

Closer to the small town of Balranald (population 1200) and our destination for the day, we were disturbed to see a dead kangaroo on one side of the road and a dead Wedge-tail Eagle on the other. Kangaroos are a common road kill and the magnificent Wedge-tail Eagles, our largest bird of prey, commonly come down to the roadside to eat the carcass. This unfortunate bird didn’t fly away quickly enough and paid the ultimate price for trying to survive.

It was a sad finish to an otherwise good day’s travel with some good bird sightings.

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

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.