Overview


Being positioned between the temperate climates of the south-east and the tropical climes of Queensland, Bundaberg is an extremely biodiverse region of the east coast, featuring over 8 major habitat types, from sub-tropical rainforest and brigalow to wetlands and coral reef cays, and ~200+ bird species to go with it. However, it's not just the birdlife; Bundaberg also boasts the largest concentration of nesting sea-turtles on the east coast. My aim is to share snippets of Bundaberg birding as well as reports from my birding trips further afield.


Uluru-Kata Tjuta/Alice Springs - Sept 2013

A while back I went on a trip to NT where we went to Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon and parts of the West MacDonnells. A few lifers here and there, the weather was great... we had a shower at one stage but otherwise sunny with a nice breeze. With a bit of rain in the last few weeks, the land was “refreshed”, flowers bloomed and butterflies were frequent and was ideal for wildlife. No surprise that the first bird I saw was White-plumed Honeyeater at Uluru and while walking around, Little Woodswallow favoured the caves in the rock and a Willie Wagtail appeared from way up the top... how odd, but he seemed happy up there. As well, the usuals were seen but I had no luck finding a Striated Grasswren... I couldn’t loose the group though, so perhaps we will return for an exclusive birding trip.

Uluru

Katta Tjuta

My first three lifers were seen at Kata Tjuta, which were Grey-headed Honeyeater, Dusky Grasswren and Western Bowerbird. Also, Australian Ringneck (race zonarius) and Budgerigar were spotted and Zebra Finches were in astonishing numbers. Apparently a Spinifex Pigeon appeared at the water refill station, and I was behind everyone... it would have been a lifer and that was the only Spinifex Pigeon seen for the whole trip! While driving to Kings Canyon, Black-faced, Masked, Little and White-browed Woodswallows were spotted, and we stopped at a sand dune lookout which provided views of White-backed Swallow and White-fronted Honeyeater which are both lifers. At the canyon, the usual birds were seen but Hooded Robin was added to the list.

Holden "Crumbledore"

The last day at Ormiston Gorge, Spinifexbird was added to the list, which is another lifer as well as some Australasian Grebes, Black Duck, Black-fronted Dotterel and Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants that were found in the waterholes in the gorge. I am definitely going back next year... I picked up a brochure for the 2013 Red Centre Bird Festival which was happening that very week, so I hope to go there in 2014.

Monitor spp.

Ormiston Gorge pound walk

Brandon

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