Hi all I recently returned from a whirlwind trip through the Channel Country and Gulf of Carpentaria during which I covered 2000km in 8 days (excl flights from Bris-Mt Isa). The second-last day spent at Lawn Hill Gorge was one of the best birding days I’ve ever had. The weather was mercifully mild and I virtually had the place to myself as the Big Wet had just officially started. I picked up 12 lifers* in all, starting with a Silver-Crowned Friarbird* drinking from a puddle beside the road from Gregory Downs near Century Mines. A nature stop a little later revealed Long-tailed Finches* and Grey-Fronted* HEs right in front of me. At Adels Grove a Great Bowerbird* and White-throated HE swooped in to drink from the dripping tap by my swag. Just outside the Lawn Hill Gorge NP gate there were Little Woodswallows* galore to complete the set and Rufous-throated HEs* in a creekbed. I picked up Buff-sided Robin* (an easy get, among others here) in the campground and then canoed to the far end of the gorge, picking up Crimson Finches* and Purple-crowned Wrens* along the way, then lunched on a small beach where a couple of springs feed into the gorge. It was absolutely buzzing. At one stage I had 3 lifers in one bush and 4 species of finch (Chestnut-breasted, Long-tailed, Double-bar and Crimson) in two bushes side by side. I didn’t know where to look. I’m not strong on honeyeaters as the hyperactive little buggers never sit still but got White-gaped*, Yellow-tinted* and Banded* HEs. At the cascades I got a good look at a northern fantail. While cooking (then burning) breakfast the next day I flushed a Black Bittern* at Adels Grove and later after the smoke had cleared was able to photograph it. I’ll be posting some bird pix from my trip on pbase tomorrow incl a mystery HE. The trip had started promising at Mt Isa at Mica Creek on a scorcher of a day where I saw a Black-tailed Treecreeper* straight up and had two Kalkadoon Grasswrens* show within 20 minutes (sorry!) after I had persuaded a nice couple out for a 4WD joyride to come back a little later. I found the GWs in the grassy embankment above the little raised rocky track along the right-hand side of the creekbed after hearing their calls. That night I made it down to Boulia and had a possible Letter-winged Kite by the side of the road but couldn’t relocate it once I stopped. The next morning at the waterholes just along the Donohue Hwy I found the first of many Aust Pratincoles plus Spinifex Pigeons, Diamond Doves* and a White-bellied CS. I camped for a couple of days by a waterhole 70km south Boulia where it was hot and starting to dry off and fairly quiet birdwise. The highlights there were an Owlet Nightjar, numerous Night Herons, Brolgas, a Sacred KF nest right beside our camp and almost treading on a pair of Brown Quails with large brood of chicks. On the way north to the Gulf I saw Varied Lorikeets*, Blue-winged Kookaburra* and Ringnecks in Cloncurry, Oriental Cuckoos north of 3 Ways and Sarus Cranes* and Bustards near the Leichhardt River. On a desperate last day after a rough 6hr drive back to Mt Isa, I trekked to Warrigal Waterhole in fading light in the hope of seeing Painted Finches. The road was as bad if not worse as advised on BA and I had to abandon my ute less than 1km up the track. Alas the creek and falls weren’t running – must be some sight when they are – and I dipped. But after 19 lifers in 8 days, I’m not complaining. Thanks as always to the listers and Birds Qld for the precious local info. Much appreciated. Shane B Ascot Q
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