Hi All, Thanks to everyone who helped with info regarding the “Barham Ostriches”. We visited there this morning, stopping at a couple of spots on the way for other birds. Arrived at Lashbrook Road (25-26km from Barham along the Barham Moam Rd) at about 10:00am. Lashbrook Rd is right at the eastern end of the roadworks/detour, at present – as some have said, there are few other landmarks!
We only drove about 200m up Lashbrook Rd from the main road before we spotted a big male a few hundred metres off to the east (right) side of the road, in a paddock of young wheat. While photographing it, we saw two other, quite young birds, walking past behind. Got some pics of them, too.
Drove further up the road, and at 2.3km along from the main road, there are some stock yards, with a shed back in the distance. There were three more birds near it, one a huge male.
We as far along Lashbrook Rd as we could before a gate, stopped and had a cuppa, and searched the area for Chestnut-crowned Babblers, which Geoff Leslie reported a few days ago. Found lots of White-browed Babblers, but sadly no Chestnut-crowneds among them. Will have to hope for Gluepot the day after tomorrow!!
Headed back to Vic, and looked for Johnston’s Swap, between Kerang and Cohuna. Very poor signage, though we eventually found Hird’s Swamp. Nice lot of Black-talied NAtive Hens, White-winged Fairy-wrens, and numerous others.
Huge numbers of White-necked Herons everywhere!!
Now in Ouyen, heading to Nowingi Track tomorrow, then on to Waikerie in SA, for Gluepot the next day.
Thanks again for everyone’s help.
John Tongue and family (normally) from Ulverstone, Tas.
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Hi John
Interesting that you saw White-browed Babblers on Lashbrook Rd. We also were advised that Chestnut-crowned were there but we only found a group of about 6 Grey-crowned about 1km along the road (we didn’t go right to the end of the road). It therefore seems that three species of Babblers are present within about 2kms along that road – pretty special?!?
Bob Cook
Hi all (again), I meant to include with the last posting that on the way back down LAshbrook road, we met and chatted to a local, who said the ostriches had been about for at least 15 years, and that last season he came upon a nest with 14 eggs. When we said we’d counted 6 bird on the way up the road, he said, “oh well, there must be some down my laneway!” (didn’t find out exactly how many there are!). We saw two around the yards/shed, another 4 half way back to the road (one very flighty one close to Lashbrook road, in canola), another adult female out in the canola, two more way off on the irrigation canal banks, and one back near main road – ie, we had at least 7 for the day.
John Tongue, Ulverstone, Tas.
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