Sunshine Coast Birds

Birding and other wildlife experiences from the Sunshine Coast and elsewhere in Australia - and from overseas - with scribblings about travel, environmental issues, kayaking, hiking and camping.

Saturday 7 June 2014

Around Oz, Part 1 - Ninderry to Longreach

Plum-headed Finch
Our road trip around Australia has started off on a good footing. Our first day took us to the southern Queensland town of Roma, where we caught up with relatives.
With Dot & Ferg Brindley in Roma 
 Heading west from Roma, a stop in a patch of scrub near Mitchell yielded White-throated Gerygone, Yellow Thornbill and Inland Thornbill.

White-throated Gerygone
Barcoo River camp Blackall
 Our first bush camp was on the Barcoo River outside the town of Blackall. Common birds about included Spotted Bowerbird and White-plumed Honeyeater. We had a pleasant two night-stay here.

Spotted Bowerbird

White-plumed Honeyeater
 In Blackall we visited the historic Woolscour facility. Nice birds included good numbers of Plum-headed Finches coming into the artesian well spills.

Plum-headed Finch

Wool Scour, Blackall
Euro

There is an abundance of macropods about, with large numbers of Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Euro. Red-necked Wallaby, Swamp Wallaby and Black-striped Wallaby are in small numbers. Once we started heading west of Barcaldine, large numbers or road-killed Red Kangaroos were noted.

White-winged Fairy-wren
It was nice encountering classic western species such as White-winged Fairy-wren, Splended Fairy-wren, Red-winged Parrot and Red-capped Robin.
Gidgee woodland - Blackall

Red-winged Parrot

Emu
Heading west of Barcaldine towards Longreach, we found plenty of Emu on the grassy plains.

Australian Bustard
Then just before Longreach, a trio of stately Australian Bustard.

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