Photos of vegetation, Strzelecki Track August 2000
Strzelecki
Track Birding Tour
9 26 August 2000
Taxonomy follows
Christidis and Boles: The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and
Its Territories, 1994
with a few exceptions.
Place names:
Billiat Conservation Park (SE-South Australia mallee)
Bulloo Overflow (SW Queensland)
Hattah National Park (NW Victoria mallee)
Lake Bindigolly (SW Queensland)
Woorinen Evaporative Basin (NW Victoria)
Emu
Dromaius novaehollandiae
Common and widespread in inland areas, seen most days of the tour; greatest
numbers between Bourke and Cunnamulla with about 100 birds seen in a day. Also
good numbers seen in the Thargomindah area.
Malleefowl
Leipoa ocellata
Working mounds seen in Billiat CP and Hattah NP. An old adult male seen near
its mound in Hattah NP.
Stubble Quail
Coturnix pectoralis
Seen well out in the desert country this year with records in the Bulloo Overflow
and in a canegrass swamp just outside of Sturt NP. First record for AOS in these
areas.
Brown Quail
Coturnix ypsilophora
Also well out in the desert; a covey of about six birds flushed in floodout
country between Thargomindah and Noccundra. First record for this tour.
Plumed Whistling
Duck
Dendrocygna eytoni
Around 190 birds on a dam near the Bullo Overflow. First record for AOS in this
area.
Blue-billed Duck
Oxyura australis
About ten seen on Lake Bindigolly SW-Qld and at least one on the Woorinen EB,
NW Victoria.
Musk Duck
Biziura lobata
About six, including some with young, on Lake Bindigolly, SW-Qld and a
few on the Woorinen EB, NW Victoria
Black
Swan
Cygnus atratus
Quite a few seen on floodwater on the Riverine Plain, a few on Lake Bindigolly
and a few on a canegrass swamp on the Strzelecki Track.
Australian
Shelduck
Tadorna tadornoides
About 30 birds around the lakes in the Wakerie/Loxton areas along the Murray
River, SA. A few elsewhere in western Victoria.
Australian
Wood Duck
Chenonetta jubata
Widespread in low numbers, seen on most days of the tour.
Black
Duck
Anas supercilious
Common and widespread in low numbers, except in the desert country.
Australasian
Shoveler
Anas rhynchotis
Seen in low numbers on floodwater in western NSW and SW Qld; maximum of
eight birds south of Nuccundra, SW Qld.
Grey
Teal
Anas gracilis
Moderately common on floodwater in west NSW and SW Qld. One hundred plus
on Bulloo Overflow, SW-Qld; about 50 along the Murray River, SA.
Pink-eared
Duck
Malacorhynchus membranaceus
Moderately common on floodwater in SW Qld, NW-NSW and NE-SA. One hundred
plus on Bulloo Overflow, SW-Qld.
Hardhead
Aythya australis
Moderately common on floodwater and elsewhere in W-NSW and SW-Qld. Good
numbers (about 50) at Bourke Sewage Treatment Works (STW), Lake Bindigolly,
Bulloo Overflow and Woorinen EB, Vic.
Australasian
Grebe
Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Widespread in low numbers, seen on 12 of the 18 days of the tour even
in the desert country.
Hoary-headed
Grebe
Poliocephalus poliocephalus
Low numbers in floodwater in W-NSW and SW-Qld; about 50 on Woorinen EB,
Vic.
Great-crested
Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
Quite a few adults with young on Lake Bindigolly, SW-Qld; and a few on
the Woorinen EB, Vic.
Darter
Anhinga melanogaster
A few on swamps along the Warrego floodplain north of Bourke and about ten at
Lake Bindigolly and also on the Bulloo River, south of Thargomindah.
Little
Pied Cormorant
Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
Moderately common on floodwater in W-NSW and along the Murray River floodplain
in SA and Vic.
Pied
Cormorant
Phalacrocorax varius
Flocks flying overhead at Lake Bindigolly, SW Queensland and about 20 on lakes
along the Murray River in SA.
Little
Black Cormorant
Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Good numbers (100s) along the Bulloo and Wilson rivers, SW Qld and moderately
common on lakes along the Murray River in SA.
Great
Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
Good numbers along the Lachlan River north of Hillston and at Lake Bindigolly,
and the Bulloo and Wilson rivers in SW-Qld. Few at lakes along the Murray
River, SA
Australian
Pelican
Pelecanus conspicillatus
Good numbers (100s) along the Bulloo and Wilson rivers in SW-Qld and about
50 on lakes along the Murray River, SA
White-faced
Heron
Egretta novaehollandiae
Common and widespread in low numbers even in the desert country.
White-necked
Heron
Ardea pacifica
Moderately common and widespread on floodwater in W-NSW and SW-Qld. Exceptional
numbers in sand dune country between Camerons Corner and Strzelecki Creek.
Great
Egret
Ardea alba
Widespread in low numbers in W-NSW and SW Qld. Best numbers (about 10)
on the Bulloo River near Thargomindah.
Intermediate
Egret
Ardea intermedia
Two at Bourke STW and one between Cunnamulla and Thargomindah.
Nankeen
Night Heron
Nycticorax caledonicus
Moderately common along the Bulloo and Wilson rivers, SW Qld.
Australasian
Bittern
Botaurus poiciloptilus
Two flushed from beds of cumbungi east of Deniliquin.
Glossy
Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Two on floodwater south of Wanganella, NSW, 10 August.
Australian
White Ibis
Threskiornis molucca
Much less common and widespread than Straw-necked Ibis.
Straw-necked
Ibis
Threskiornis spinicollis
Good numbers recorded in western NSW and SW-Qld and along the Murray River
in Victoria.
Royal
Spoonbill
Platalea regia
Widespread in low numbers in W-NSW and SW-Qld
Yellow-billed
Spoonbill
Platalea flavipes
Similar distribution to the previous species but in greater numbers. Highest
numbers in the vicinity of Bulloo and Wilson rivers, SW-Qld.
Black-necked
Stork (Jabiru)
Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
One immature bird seen on the Warrego River floodplain, north of Bourke; first
record on this tour.
Black-shouldered
Kite
Elanus axillaris
Exceptional numbers in the area Hillston-Cobar-Bourke to Cunnamulla, also a
couple in the Strzelecki Creek area. Quite numerous in the South Australian
and Victorian mallee.
Black-breasted
Buzzard
Hamirostra melanosternon
Only two pairs seen, one nesting in Sturt NP and another pair along the Strzelecki
Creek.
Black
Kite
Milvus migrans
Common and widespread; seen on 14 of the 18 days of the tour. Greatest numbers
in the vicinty of Sturt NP and Bulloo Overflow. Numbers reduced in the Strzelecki
Creek area since the introduction of the rabbit calicivirus.
Whistling
Kite
Haliastur sphenurus
Moderately common and widespread in W-NSW and SW-Qld; also along the Murray
River in SA.
Spotted
Harrier
Circus assimilis
Twelve birds seen for the tour in W-NSW and SW-Qld, with the greatest
numbers in the Strzelecki Desert between Camerons Corner and Strzelecki
Creek in SA.
Swamp
Harrier
Circus approximans
About 10 birds for the tour, mainly in W-NSW and SW Qld; a couple over
the Bulloo Overflow.
Brown
Goshawk
Accipiter fasciatus
One only at the Bulloo Overflow.
Collared
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter cirrhocephalus
Fairly well distributed throughout the tour; about nine birds seen including
a breeding pair in the SA mallee.
Wedge-tailed
Eagle
Aquila audax
Common and widespread, over 100 birds seen for the tour. Greatest numbers in
the Bulloo Overflow/Sturt NP area; around 20 birds feeding on dead kangaroos
near Wompah Gate. Numbers greatly reduced along the Strzelecki Creek
since the introduction of the rabbit calicivirus.
Little
Eagle
Hieraaetus morphnoides
Only around seven birds for the tour; single birds scattered throughout. Highest
number (3) on the Strzelecki Creek.
Brown
Falcon
Falco berigora
Common and widespread in low numbers. Highest numbers between Bourke and Cunnamulla.
Australian
Hobby
Falco
longipennis
Around 12 birds for the tour, scattered throughout. Highest numbers (4) along
the Strzelecki Creek.
Grey
Falcon
Falco hypoleucos
One bird seen by a single observer in the Flinders Ranges.
Black
Falcon
Falco subniger
Only five birds for the tour, three along the Strzelecki Creek and a pair on
Brachina Creek near the Flinders Ranges.
Nankeen
Kestrel
Falco cenchroides
Common and widespread. Greatest numbers between Noccundra and Tibooburra in
the Murray mallee of SA.
Brolga
Grus rubicunda
Exceptional numbers in SW-Qld with about 55 birds seen including a flock
of about 40 birds on Bulloo Overflow. Previously not seen by AOS in the Bulloo
Overflow.
Baillons
Crake
Porzana pusilla
One at the Bourke STW and around six at Lake Bindigolly.
Australian
Spotted Crake
Porzana fluminea
Three birds at Montechilina Bore on the Strzelecki Track.
Spotless
Crake
Porzana tabuensis
About two birds seen and another heard in a cumbungi swamp near Deniliquin.
Purple
Swamphen
Porphyrio porphyrio
Few in cumbungi swamps near Deniliquin and in cane-grass swamp in the Bulloo
Overflow.
Dusky
Moorhen
Gallinula tenebrosa
Few in cumbungi swamps near Deniliquin and Bourke and along the Murray River
in SA.
Black-tailed
Native-hen
Gallinula ventralis
Quite scarce, a few in lignum at the Bulloo Overflow and a few west of Tibooburra.
Eurasian
Coot
Fulica atra
Moderately common and widespread on floodwater and lakes; greatest numbers (about
20) seen on Lake Bindigolly.
Australian
Bustard
Ardeotis australis
Probably record numbers for this tour, six birds seen including two in NSW,
about 10 kilometres south of Barringun; and another four just south of Noccundra,
SW-Qld.
Little
Button-quail
Turnix velox
Good numbers in grassy areas west of Thargomindah and south of Noccundra.
Red-chested
Button-quail
Turnix pyrrhothorax
One bird flushed in the Bulloo Overflow. Not seen by AOS at this locality prior
to this 2000 tour.
Plains-wanderer
Pedionomus torquatus
Three adult females on the plains north of Wanganella, the males probably on
nests, 9 August.
Ruddy
Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
One on passage at Woorinen EB, 25 August.
Red-necked
Stint
Calidris ruficollis
About 40 on Woorinen EB, 25 August.
Sharp-tailed
Sandpiper
Calidris acuminata
Two on Woorinen EB, 25 August.
Black-winged
Stilt
Himantopus himantoptus
A few birds on scattered areas of floodwater in the inland and about 30 on Woorinen
EB.
Red-necked
Avocet
Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
Few pairs on rainwater swamps between Tibooburra and the Strzelecki Creek and
breeding birds in a bore drain on the Strzelecki Track.
Red-capped
Plover
Charadrius ruficapillus
Around 60 birds on Woorinen EB Vic.
Inland
Dotterel
Charadrius australis
Eight on the plains north of Wanganella and about three on the Strzelecki Track
at night north of Lyndhurst.
Black-fronted
Dotterel
Elseyornis melanops
Widespread in low numbers on various water bodies, mainly in SW-Qld, NW-NSW
and NE-SA.
Red-kneed
Dotterel
Erythrogonys cinctus
Only six birds seen on a rainwater depression between dunes in the Strzelecki
Desert, west of Camerons Corner.
Masked
Lapwing
Vanellus miles
Widespread in low numbers except in the most arid desert country in SA.
Banded
Lapwing
Vanellus tricolor
A few on the plains north of Wanganella including one on a nest 9 August. Good
numbers (about 20) in plains country along the Bulloo Overflow, SW-Qld
and a few west of Tibooburra.
Australian
Pratincole
Stiltia isabella
About six on plain along the Bulloo Overflow and a similar number on the huge
gibber plain on the Strzelecki Track.
Silver
Gull
Larus novaehollandiae
Low numbers Lake Bindigolly; along the Murray River, SA; and Victoria.
Gull-billed
Tern
Sterna nilotica
About 10 on Lake Bindigolly and a similar number at the Bulloo Overflow.
Caspian
Tern
Sterna caspia
Moderately common at lake Bindigolly and a few along the Murray River, SA.
Whiskered
Tern
Chlidonias hybridus
Moderately common at the Bulloo Overflow and a few on a tailings dam at Leigh
Creek South, SA.
Rock
Dove
Columba livia
Common around the more settled areas.
Spotted
Turtle-dove
Streptopelia chinensis
One along the Murray River, SA.
Common
Bronzewing
Phaps chalcoptera
Moderately common in the more heavily timbered area of western NSW and mallee
country in SA and Victoria. Highest number (about 15) between Hillston and Cobar.
Crested
Pigeon
Ocyphaps lophotes
Common and widespread, seen on every day of the tour.
Diamond
Dove
Geopelia cuneata
Reasonable numbers around Thargomindah and Noccundra; very numerous along the
Strzelecki Creek, SA.about to start nesting in this area.
Peaceful
Dove
Geopelia striata
Few birds along the Bulloo River near Thargomindah and along creeks in the Flinders
Ranges; heard at a few other localities.
Red-tailed
Black Cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus banskii
Around 20 seen all in Bourke, NSW, where they are becoming very tame.
Galah
Cacatua roseicapilla
Common and widespread, seen on every day of the tour.
Long-billed
Corella
Cacatua tenuirostris
Good numbers in the Deniliquin area.
Little
Corella
Cacatua sanguinea
Common and widespread from Hillston northwards. Breeding in good numbers along
the Strzelecki Creek and big numbers around the northern Flinders Ranges.
Major
Mitchells Cockatoo
Cacatua leadbeateri
Generally uncommon, mainly recorded in western NSW with a few in the Pink Lakes
(Vic) area. Highest numbers (about 30) between Bourke and Barringun, NSW.
Sulphur-crested
Cockatoo
Cacatua galerita
Seen only along the Murray River, SA and the Murray River and its associated
streams in Victoria and NSW.
Cockatiel
Nymphicus hollandicus
Good numbers from Thargomindah, Qld, through to Lyndhurst, SA. Highest
numbers west of Tibooburra and along the Strzelecki Creek.
Musk
Lorikeet
Glossopsitta concinna
Around 20 in flowering street trees in Morgan, SA.
Purple-crowned
Lorikeet
Glossopsitta porphyrocephala
About six in flowering street trees in Morgan, SA. (Also about 10 in Crosbie
State Forest on our way back to Melbourne)
Red-winged
Parrot
Aprosmictus erythropterus
Seen on only two days, small numbers between Cobar and Bourke and about 10 in
the Cunnamulla/Eulo area.
Superb
Parrot
Polytelis swainsonii
Three birds east of Deniliquin (10 August) and three birds in river redgum forest,
south of Deniliquin (26 August)
Regent
Parrot
Polytelis anthopeplus
Four birds near Loxton, SA, (22 August); a very brief fly-by in Hattah NP.
Yellow
Rosella
Platycercus elegans
Good numbers along the Murray River, SA and Vic and in river redgum forest near
Deniliquin. Some birds near Loxton showed characteristics common to Yellow and
Adelaide Rosellas.
Adelaide
Rosella
Platycercus elegans
Several pairs seen in Burra, SA.
Eastern
Rosella
Platycercus eximius
Few in the Deniliquin area and along the Murray River in western Victoria.
Australian
Ringneck
Barnardius zonarius
Moderately common from Goolgowi, NSW, north to Thargomindah, Qld, and
in the Victoria and SA mallee. A few pairs of the intermediate race were seen
in the Flinders Ranges.
Bluebonnet
Northiella haematogaster
Fairly common from Hillston, north to Thargomindah and good numbers in Sturt
NP and along the Strzelecki Creek and in the SA and Victorian mallee.
Red-rumped
Parrot
Psephotus haematonotus
Moderately common from Deniliquin north to Bourke and in the Victorian and SA
mallee; an isolated population of the pale form on the Strzelecki Creek.
Mulga
Parrot
Psephotus varius
Surprisingly scarce, low numbers seen from Cobar north to Noccundra area, Qld.
Good views were finally obtained in the Victorian mallee.
Budgerigar
Melopsittacus undulatus
Exceptional numbers from Thargomindah through to the Strzelecki Creek; breeding
in the coolibars along the Strzelecki Creek in unprecedented numbers.
Bourkes
Parrot
Neopsephotus bourkii
Seen from Thargomindah through to Sturt NP. The greatest numbers (about 20)
from Noccundra south to the Grey Range.
Elegant
Parrot
Neophema elegans
Good numbers (about 25) in the Brachina Gorge area, Flinders Ranges; some entering
nest holes in ancient river redgums.
Pallid
Cuckoo
Cuculus pallidus
Scattered birds in SW-Qld and NE SA. First records by AOS at Bulloo Overflow
and Strzelecki Creek. Good numbers in SA mallee and exceptional numbers in the
Victorian mallee (about 20 birds seen in a day).
Fan-tailed
Cuckoo
Cacomantis flabelliformis
Two heard calling at separate localities on 10 and 26 August in the Deniliquin
area.
Black-eared
Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx osculans
One at Brachina Gorge in the Flinders Ranges.
Horsfields
Bronze-Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx basalis
Recorded in low numbers at scattered localities throughout the tour. Best numbers
(about six seen in a day) along the Strzelecki Creek.
Barking
Owl
Ninox connivens
Two pairs along the Bulloo River, south of Thargomindah, were a nice surprise.
First time recorded on this tour.
Southern
Boobook
Ninox novaeseelandiae
Scattered birds at Deniliquin, Strzelecki Creek (probable breeding), near Ouyen
and in the mallee at Hattah NP plus a road kill near Thargomindah.
Barn
Owl
Tyto alba
Few at scattered localities: two near Cunnamulla, one on the Strzelecki Creek
and two near Ouyen.
Tawny
Frogmouth
Podargus strigoides
Few at scattered localities: pair at Deniliquin, two near Thargomindah, two
in dense pine scrub at Billiat CP.
Spotted
Nightjar
Eurostopodus argus
One bird on the road at night south of Thargomindah and another seen well during
the day in the Grey Range, west of Thargomindah.
Australian
Owlet-Nightjar
Aegotheles cristatus
One on Frome Creek, Sturt NP and two in the mallee at Hattah NP.
Azure
Kingfisher
Alcedo azurea
Only seen on the Edward River or associated backwaters near Deniliquin with
a pair possibly nesting in Gulpa Island SF on the 26 August.
Laughing
Kookaburra
Dacelo novaeguineae
Moderately common from Deniliquin, north to Bourke; good numbers along the Murray
River in Victoria.
Red-backed
Kingfisher
Todiramphus pyrrhopgia
Recorded from Bourke north to Noccundra and right through to the Strzelecki
Creek. Exceptional numbers (about 20 seen for a day) between Thargomindah and
Noccundra and along the Strzelecki Creek.
Sacred
Kingfisher
Todiramphus sanctus
Only a few birds scattered from Cobar north to Thargomindah the species
not having migrated back from the north at this point in time.
Strzelecki
Track 2000 trip report bird list continued ...
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