Trying again, as the first attempt must have been in HTML format, and
I’ve never figured out how to open any of those. Now trying plain text only. So if anyone cares, here’s the summary again and hopefully it will be viewable this time.
Hi all,
Rather late, but here is the promised summary to this thread — for the archives, if nothing else:
Having said that we want to go to Mungo and Broken Hill (now off the list), various members responded with:
Encouragement:
Depending on how the winter goes it should be stupendous (if we get average or better rain) or just glorious (if less than average). The whole SW of NSW has been the best for 30+ years so anywhere will be good. The one disadvantage is that many roads and national parks in NSW are closed because access is difficult but by spring many may be back on line. (Peter Ewin)
Great praise for:
Hattah:
Hattah has to be my favourite Victorian mallee park (at least 2wd accessible anyway), have been going there on and off for years. One of my favourite things is camping at Hattah in the evening as the flocks of Regent Parrots fly in, then have a fire while boobooks and barn owls call around the place. The whole area is good for all the mallee parrots and most of the other mallee birds. The Nowingii Track is probably the best and most accessible place left to see Mallee Emu-wren… there would be heaps of info in the archives on how to find these. No good for fishing… there is blue-green algae in the lakes at the moment. If your younger son is into orienteering then mallee is a real good challenge… a whole lot of looking the same and no landmarks. (Tim Bawden)
has lovely camp grounds with apostlebirds and parrots next to lakes which were full when we were there. Plenty of walking options and 4WD not required. (Rosemary Royle)
Wyperfield:
probably the other very good Western Vic mallee park that you don’t need a 4wd to get to the good bits (Tim Bawden)
Mungo:
Geology and birds (Peter Ewin, Tim Bawden)
If you are going to Mungo NP, you will have a good chance to see several dry country bird species, but especially – along the road between Mungo and Mildura – Major Mitchell Cockatoos. They have been relatively common along that road. (Bob Cook)
Alps:
I would recommend stopping somewhere in the box ironbark on the way… maybe Kamarooka near Bendigo or at Chiltern (Tim Bawden)
Misc:
Broken Hill – Silverton and Living Desert well worth an explore Depending on where you want to drive other possible spots – Willandra NP (near Hillston) and Yanga NP (Balranald). (Peter Ewin)
Along the south side of the Murray River west of Mildura has some great birding, fishing and camping spots. Try the information centre in Mildura. (Bob Cook)
Mootwingee, Menindee Lakes, Wyperfield, Grampians, Little Desert (Mallee Fowl at Wimpeys near Nhill). Any of the Mallee areas and the Grampians should have wildflowers. (Brian Fleming)
And caution:
just check road conditions before you head off. (Peter Ewin)
In the Mallee I strongly recommend a GPS properly used, as one patch of scrub looks exactly like ……… (Brian Fleming)
And help:
Westprint Maps at Nhill cover much of the areas you are interested in. (Brian Fleming)
somebody has hopefully mentioned “Where to Find Birds in Victoria” to you already. Produced by BA-Vic Group. (John Harris)
And I followed that up to find:
The best place to buy this book is through CSIRO publishing
http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/18/pid/6131.htm
Also if you’re a Birds Australia member, you will get 15% off. (Fiona Blandford, Reception, Birds Australia)
Thanks to all for input. What a great list!
Gordon Cain A casual birder who didn’t see much on my Saturday walk today, but was still refreshed Schofields, NW Sydney
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