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| Pilbara Grasswren |
After leaving the delightful Karijini National Park (see last post) we moved on to the bustling Pilbara town of Newman. Like the rest of
the Pilbara we have travelled through, this place is alive with an abundance of
personnel, vehicles and equipment from the mining industry.
We stayed in the Newman Caravan Park on the southern edge of
town. This is the site that has been reliable for the past decade or so for the
Pilbara Grasswren, split recently from the Striated Grasswren.
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| Grasswren site, Newman |
As per previous reports, head for the far north-east corner
of the caravan park. Proceed along the track (quite okay to drive if your
vehicle has clearance) that continues in that direction for about 1km, to a
distinctive point where five tracks converge.
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| Pilbara Grasswren |
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| Pilbara Grasswren |
Take the right track that follows a fence line. This track
is between two ridges. I found the grasswrens on the ridge slope to the left of
this track, about half-way up the slope, and about 150m from the five-track
junction.
I searched fruitlessly for the birds over three hours on my
first afternoon here. I checked out various ridges and slopes but the one above
looked by far the best habitat, so that is where my focus was the next morning.
I found the birds soon after sunrise, in a gully on the ridge slope.
The grasswrens were responsive to a tape of Striated
Grasswren. I had three birds hopping about me; in time they were joined by a
party of Variegated Fairy-wrens.
Other
good birds were about. I saw an Australian Little Eagle and at least two
Spinifexbirds.
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| Spinifexbird |
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| Spinifexbird |
Plumed Pigeons were also about along with good numbers of
Painted Finch.
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| Painted Finch |
Grey-headed Honeyeater was also quite common.
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| Grey-headed Honeyeater |
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