Showing posts with label Black-winged Stilt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black-winged Stilt. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

BOWRA SANCTUARY - Part 1




Our next port of call was Bowra Sanctuary in western Queensland, a former cattle property just west of Cunnamulla and a place that no self respecting birder should ever miss!





We enjoyed our stay of five days there and although the pickings weren't quite as rich when we visited four years ago, it still lived up to its reputation as an outstanding birding destination.


Black-winged Stilt


There was plenty of water around from the rain events that had affected much of eastern Australia in the previous months, which was great for the wildlife, plants and the landscape as a whole.     


Black-fronted Dotterel


Black-fronted Dotterel pair mating 


With much activity around the homestead area, we didn't have to go far to see some of the action with these Native-hens strutting along within view of our campsite.


Black-tailed Native-hens



Spotted Bowerbird bower



Western Grey Kangaroos



Wild horse


The 14,000 hectare property has many kilometers of tracks to explore so packing a picnic lunch and finding a spot beside the water to watch the varied bird life was a favourite activity. 


Sawpits Creek lagoon







White-faced Heron



White-necked Heron



Brolgas


Even though we were well in to winter with night time temps in the minus, the days were sunny and warm and some of the plant life obviously found this conducive to flowering. 











Cheers & Happy Birding



Friday, December 21, 2012

SUNSHINE COAST RAMBLES



The break in our travels during mid year found us back on the Sunshine Coast for a while, where I visited a few of my local haunts. There were some big seas and on shore winds prevailing, so I headed up the coast to try a spot of sea-bird watching. Apart from a few Australasian Gannets and a tern or two  there wasn't much about. 



Point Arkwright







Point Perry rockscape


The sewage treatment plant at Maroochydore had a few waterbirds present, some loafing on the grass banks and others busy feeding in the nutrient rich waters.   


Chestnut Teal & Pacific Black Ducks


Black-winged Stilt


Out at the Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary some of the local passerines were making the most of the winter sun.


Maroochy River & Mt.Coolum



Welcome Swallow


Willie Wagtail


Scarlet Honeyeaters


A visit to Parklands Forest Reserve yielded some close up views of some inquisitive members of the Malurus family and a shrike-thrush posing as a treecreeper.


Variegated Fairy-wren - male


Variegated Fairy-wren - female 







Little Shrike-Thrush


Along the north shore of the Maroochy River at Mudjimba, a far off shape on the sand banks turned into a Beach Stone-Curlew through the field scope. I had read a report of a sighting by Greg Roberts in a post he published on his excellent blogsite http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com.au/, which gave me the incentive to look for this enigmatic wader.


Maroochy River - north shore



Beach Stone-Curlew

A much better image below by Ian Montgomery at: http://www.birdway.com.au/






Cheers and Happy Birding