Thanks for your nice feedback Martin, and no prob re your comments about my trip report (at http://tim-dolby.blogspot.com.au). However you may have taken my comments slightly out of context. For instance, in terms of the distribution of Spinifexbird and Spinifex Pigeon, I’m aware of the population range that you mention. For example in July 2010, I wrote to birding-aus stating “Of interest, a pair of Spinifexbird has just been recorded on a spinifex covered mesa plateau at Mt Walker, 8.5 km south Hughenden (385 west of Townsville). A relatively sedentary species, this appears to be at least 200 km outside the northern end of its range. The closest records are from Bladensburg National Park (south of Winton) and Adelong Reserve (near Lake Galilee). They were observed last Saturday (24 July) by Peter Valentine nest building in a clump of spinifex near the Reay Lookout. Peter took some excellent photographs. They were first observed on Tuesday June 29, where (it appears) they were mistakenly identified as Striated Grasswren. Cheers, Tim Dolby” (see http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/birding-aus/2010-07/msg00408.html).
I’ve noted that you followed up this report in Feb 2011. In terms of Spinifex Pigeon, in 2003 I visited Georgetown and specifically looked for Spinifex Pigeon (along Forsyth Rd from memory), unfortunately to no avail.
So, thanks again. Essentially in this case my comments weren’t meant to read like an Atlas-type statement about the distribution of Spinifexbird and Spinifex Pigeon in Qld, rather they were a generalised comment about the distribution link between Triodia pungens at Bladensburg (central Qld) and birds such as Spinifexbird, Rufous-crowned Emu-wren, Striated Grasswren, Spinifex Pigeon and Painted Finch. (Ps. you’ve missed the record of Spinifex Pigeon, at Granite Gorge Nature Park – this is 788 km NNE of Bladensburg. Thanks again 😉
Cheers again,
Tim Dolby
From: martin cachard [mailto:mcachard@hotmail.com]
Hi Tim,
What a fantastic trip you had with Greg & Tim out in the fabulous Mt Isa region – your report was an excellent & very sensitive piece that was a pleasure to read, especially from my perspective – it is one of my favourite locations to go birding too & always has a surprise or 3 whenever I’ve ventured out there myself.
Sorry, & I really hate doing this, but I do have a couple of minor corrections to point out to you from your report, however. They are to do with your mention of most north-easterly limits of known ranges for Spinifexbird & Spinifex Pigeon…
Spinifexbirds do occur in a small & seemingly isolated population on the flat-top of Mt Walker, 10kms or so SE of Hughenden – this site is approx 200kms NE of Bladensburg NP. Spinifex Pigeons occur commonly in the tussock grasslands in the savanna country around Georgetown, from at least as far east as 25kms E of Newcastle Range near the Einasleigh River – the Newcastle Range is some 450+ kms NNE of Bladensburg NP !!
Because of the large amount of km’s involved in these discrepancies, I felt it prudent to mention them.
But Tim, what a great trip you guys must’ve had !! I’m heading out that way & onto the Qld channel country again in July & I just can’t wait – reading reports like your’s, & also the recent one of Tim Faulkner’s, only gets me even more excited!!
Well done on a great adventure & on a beautifully written piece…
Cheers,
Martin Cachard,
Cairns,
0428 782 808
This email, including any attachment, is intended solely for the use of the intended recipient. It is confidential and may contain personal information or be subject to legal professional privilege. If you are not the intended recipient any use, disclosure, reproduction or storage of it is unauthorised. If you have received this email in error, please advise the sender via return email and delete it from your system immediately. Victoria University does not warrant that this email is free from viruses or defects and accepts no liability for any damage caused by such viruses or defects. ===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line) to: birding-aus-request@vicnet.net.au
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
