Hi all, We went to Bowra for a week over easter and as always had a brilliant time. Joy ticked off Grey Falcon and I got a quick re-fresher look at one. The volunteers are doing a brilliant job and the place is looking better than ever, especially the facilities in the shearers quarters and the homestead grounds. They have had good rains and the grass in the front paddocks is long enough to hide the kangaroos (smile). There are a lot of trees in flower and the grasses have very heavy seed heads. If you have a chance to get to Bowra this spring I think it is going to be an exceptional year because of all this feed. Of course it is brilliant right now, as always, with lots of birds in full courtship and breeding going on already. Plum-headed Finch were common and there were raptors everywhere. Emus are in large flocks and we even saw a Chestnut-breasted Quailthrush at head-height in a tree. Hall’s Babbler were not easy to find but it may have been because the family we did see had young birds with them. My bird list for the week was 105 species and I know I missed seeing a couple because I was looking the wrong way. There were plenty of frogs, lizards, dragonflies, butterflies and even fish in the bore drain. I will have to buy a whole new set of field guides before I go back (smile). If you happen to need accommodation in Hillston on the way check out the Hillston Motor Inn, the rooms have the best bathrooms/shower outside the big cities and they give each guest a complimentary small bottle of wine, red or white, and some home-made Rocky Road when you check in. YUM. On the first night out of Bowra on the way back to Melb the shower was particularly appreciated (smile). cheers Jenny http://jenniferspryausbirding.blogspot.com.au/ _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org