Grasswrens and fairy-wrens

Martin, what can I say but thank you. I do get a certain number of appreciative emails, mainly from beginners, but nothing like this. I guess that experienced ornithologists like you seldom see the need, or even have the time, to refer to websites like mine because they know most of it already. Sadly for me, in recent times the bottom has dropped out of picture sales (which help to keep the website afloat), partly a result of difficult times and environment bashing by the coalition governments around the country, but also because of the advent of an absolutely brilliant range of digital images by all the newer and younger photographers. I hold some of them in awe! In regard to White-throated Grasswrens, it certainly hasn’t been for the want of trying by you. I agree Gunlom in recent years has been badly affected by fire and is no longer an easy place to find them, but they are known from many other places, all very much more difficult of access. Maybe you are lucky you didn’t wander in above Jim Jim falls – the last person to do this had a very scary incident with a wild buffalo! Incidentally, I’ve had two more people reply to say that the White-throated was their first grasswren – I guess when Gunlom was OK it was fairly easy. If you do get onto them they are quite noisy, not like most other grasswrens. About the escarpment walking trail, I’m not familiar with it, but the birds are known from near Birdie Creek which is up in that general area on the south side of the Katherine River. The secret is to try to locate an area that has been burnt very little – if there are any. I really don’t understand why there is so much fire in these remote areas – I suppose once they start they are impossible to control in such rugged terrain. In regard to the Sandhill Grasswren, they have been seen again recently near the carpark for the sunset viewing area at Uluru – if you go there in the morning there’s nobody there. They have been known from that place for a long time – the trouble in that area is that you are not supposed to wander off into the scrub. Your eclipse male Splendid F/W at Goyder Lagoon is certainly a long way out of the known range and that is an area that has been surveyed intensively. The most likely explanation is that you actually saw (in the heat of the moment!!) an immature Blue and White. In winter plumage they are fairly alike – both have blue wings and tail and younger B & W males take nearly four years to acquire adult plumage. Have a look at my pic #535210D. In a few months that bird would have had a black bill and easily be mistaken for a winter Splendid male. We all make mistakes – my wife keeps reminding me more and more. Best wishes Graeme Chapman