Birdline South Australia Weekly Update

Birdline South Australia Published sightings for the week ending 5 Oct 2014. Thu 2 Oct Short-tailed Grasswren Mt.Ives Station At least one bird located and photographed on the track up to the top of Mt.Ives. Not far from the top on the rocky track. We were on foot and found the bird about 7am. It was located by Ken Haines. It presented extremely well as indicated from the photo. Bernie OKeefe and Ken Haines Princess Parrot, Scarlet-chested Parrot Mamungari Conservation Park Princess Parrots were found at two locations in Mamungari Conservation Park (also known as aUn-named Conservation Park) in the Great Victoria Desert. Three groups of 2-8 individuals were observed in the vicinity of the mid-point of the park along the Anne Beadell Hwy, 525 km west of Coober Pedy. Another group of eight individuals was encountered on the western edge of the park. Equally exciting, at least a dozen sightings of Scarlet-chested Parrots were made over a two-day period a very widely dispersed, from approximately 50km east of Mamungari, right through the park, and to beyond the WA border. The SCPs were seen as individuals, and groups of two to four birds only. A large proportion appeared to be immature. Additionally, although the atargeteda new Taipan species Oxyuranus temporalis has not yet been found, we did find and photograph a very unusual, large (1.8m) elapid snake genus Pseudechis in Mamungari for which identification is very perplexing. Near-black dorsally and peppered with yellow spots. It was quite elongate, with small narrow head, so could easily be mistaken for something in Pseudonaja (Brown Snakes), or even Oxyuranus. Mamungari was intended to be only a stopover on the very rough eastern stretch of the Anne Beadell Hwy (goat track!), but proved to have some of the most impressive birding habitat Iave seen during this very extensively travelled year. It is neither overly burnt nor grazed, and is an incredibly beautiful area. Next stop aThe Junctiona. John Weigel and Murray Scott John Weigel and Murray Scott Orange Chat, Crimson Chat, White-fronted Chat Boolcoomata Station Spotted all three species of chat on the drive in to Boolcoomata Station. Andrew O’Brien Tue 30 Sep Grey Falcon Birdsville Track–Marree to Mungerannie One pair seen on a communications tower south of Mungerannie. Bernie OKeefe and Ken Haines Mon 29 Sep Grey Grasswren Birdsville area 3 Grey Grasswren in lignum on the side of the road south of Birdsville on the Birdsville Track. Ken Haines and Bernie OKeefe Sun 28 Sep Arctic Tern Port MacDonnell Bob Green Fri 26 Sep Gibberbird Coober Pedy area One Gibberbird located on the William Creek Rd from Coober Pedy, 46 kms from the turn off from the highway heading towards William Creek. It was on the left hand side of the road. Bernie OKeefe and Ken Haines Wed 24 Sep Thick-billed Grasswren Memorial off Stuart Hwy, S of Coober Pedy A number of Thick-billed Grasswrens calling strongly just after dawn at the Memorial site about 12 kms south of Coober Pedy. Most were about 450 meters from the Memorial directly behind from the highway. Bernie OKeefe and Ken Haines Sun 21 Sep Chestnut-breasted Whiteface Lyndhurst Three Chestnut-breasted Whitefaces located after a 3 hour search. Bernie OKeefe and Ken Haines Western Grasswren Iron Knob area A number of small parties of Western Grasswren we located on the Whyalla-Iron Knob Rd about half way along, directly opposite the construction camp. Bernie OKeefe and Ken Haines