I am passing on information from Lorand Szucs about his recent (October 12-13) successful trip to Neale Junction in WA’s Great Victoria Desert in search of Princess and Scarlet-chested Parrots. This follows a similarly successful visit to the area at this time of year in 2009 by myself, Bill Watson and Alexander Watson. Unfortunately, visits in October 2010 proved fruitless.
Lorand reports that Princess Parrots were in good numbers at Neale Junction; he saw at least 50 there, mostly in one morning. This compares with a maximum of 17 that we saw over 2.5 days in 2009. Lorand saw at least 10 Scarlet-chested Parrots and heard others; we saw just one in 2009. Lorand photographed the two species in the same tree! Both species had well-developed young, indicating local breeding.
A subsequent trip to Neale Junction by Birdquest found even more Princess Parrots, with a daily estimate of 90 birds.
Lorand also had a pair of Princess Parrots well to the west of Neale Junction on the Point Sunday Road, a few hundred metres north of the Point Sunday campsite. This site would be accessible by 2-wheel-drive.
Four-wheel-drive is needed to reach Neale Junction, about 1.5 days travel from Kalgoorlie, much of it on good roads.
Greg Roberts
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