Mallee Birding with Ethan_03

The third day was north of Ouyen at Hattah and eastwards towards Annuello. A Black Falcon on the Old Calder Highway south of HAttah was a great start and then a Malleefowl was spotted on the road. It gave excellent views as it ambled off. A walk on open plain got us Orange Chat and Ethan managed to inveigle an Australian Owlet-nightjar out of a tree hollow but it scampered back in another on a different tree before we could see it properly. Next was a terrific view of a Mallee Emu-wren. I didn't take my camera with me on that particular walk so as to entice him out. And it worked. But there is a downside relating to the discussion we had in the car whilst travelling regarding birding, twitching, rabid twitching and Chuckles. More later.

On to Lake Mournpall by which time the wind had become ferocious so we moved back to Ouyen for lunch then a drive south along the railway line looking for White-backed Swallows, Rainbow Bee-eaters and Red-backed Kingfishers [only WbS to be seen] then on to Wemmen with its Regent Parrots, Little Friarbird, Red-rumped Parrots, Blue-faced Honeyeater and other delectables before ending the day at the Annuello FFR where we were able to see a female Gilbert's Whistler, Grey-crowned Babbler, great views of Mulga Parrots and Red-capped Robins, no Pied Honeyeaters and just "audio" of a Crested Bellbird. We finished the day at a tank west of Ouyen to successfully spotlight Spotted Nightjars.

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus

Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis

Yellow Rosella Platycercus elegans flaveolus The yellow race of the Crimson Rosella.

 Gilbert's Whistler Pachycephala inornata  female of the species.

Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis

Mulga Parrot  Psephotus varius

Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii male

Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus male

White-browed Woodswallow Artamus superciliosus

White-winged Triller Lalage tricolour

Go South 16 -- Whoey Tank

Six hundred and fifty kilometres to the south of Bowra Station, via Bourke, Cobar and Mt Hope, is Whoey Tank, an old dam of quite substantial size, tucked into the northern part of Round Hill Nature Reserve. Whilst the "tank" is empty, a small concrete tank of 20,000 or so litre capacity sits on the ground about 100 metres to the "tank's" east which has a very small and slow leak at its base. Here a small permanent puddle has formed and the birds love it. I placed a dead branch on the ground just a metre away from the puddle and, having arisen before dawn, sat in a chair directly in line with the rising sun and waited.

The leak and Blue-faced Honeyeaters.

Top of the tank and Striped Honeyeater.

Spotted Bowerbird

Blue Bonnets

Mulga Parrots - girl,boy,boy,girl

Go South 13 -- Bowra Station, Cunnamulla

Honeyeater heaven.

Spiny-cheeked HE
Acanthagenys rufogularis

Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus

Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis

Blue-faced HE
Emtomyzon cyanotis

Yellow-throated Miner Manuring flavigula 

Singing HE
Lichenostomus virescens

White-Plumed HE
Lichenostomus penicillatus

Brown HE
Lichmera indistincta

Pied HE Certhionyx variegatus

Magic. Eyes peeled and be there!