SA outback update – grasswrens galore

Hi all, In recent weeks we’ve made 2 trips up the Birdsville track and 2 trips up the Strzelecki track as well as visited other parts of outback SA. I thought I’d provide a brief update on our findings. In recent years numbers of small ground-dwelling birds, particularly grasswrens, have crashed, for reasons unclear to me, except that there’s been a dramatic increase in cats after the wet years of 2010-12. However on our most recent trip just over a week ago we found all species, including varous Western Grasswrens along the Iron Knob road (see previous message regarding removed railway carriages), a pair of Short-tailed Grasswren in the Flinders Ranges (but gone are the days where you could just drive up to Stokes Hill and be surrounded by them), a pair of Thick-billed Grasswren near Lyndhurst (but gone are the days where you’d have to shoo them out the way while searching for Chestnut-breasted Whitefaces). Striated Grasswren at Gluepot has met a similar fate – you’re more likely to come across a cat these days there. A shameful situation! Luckily they’re still readily found further east in the Bookmark mallee scrub as well as at Hattah, there together with Mallee Emu-wren. Eyrean Grasswren we’ve found in various places and Grey Grasswren as well. Last week I found a recently fledged Grey Grasswren, very cute! Inland Dotterels seem to have moved away from the area though, but there is still the odd Bustard around. We’ve had a few sightings of Chestnut-breasted Whiteface, both at Coober Pedy and Lyndhurst (don’t ask…) although they too are much rarer than just a few years ago. Banded Whiteface is still around in good numbers, as is Cinnamon Quail-thrush, and all inland chats – Orange, Crimson, Yellow and Gibber. There appear to be no Letter-winged Kites present this season – it’s pretty dry in most parts except the Flinders Ranges and NW of there – while Grey Falcon has been treating us to regular sightings along the Birdsville track. Hope this is of use to someone! cheers, Peter ——- Peter Waanders Bellbird Tours / Southern Birding Services / Australian Birding Store PO Box 2008, Berri SA 5343 Australia Phone: 1800-BIRDING (free from landlines within Australia) mob.: +61 (0)409 763172 sat.: +61 (0)424 212889 Email: birds@bellbirdtours.com Bellbird Tours: www.bellbirdtours.com Southern Birding Services: www.sabirding.com Birding Store: www.birdingstore.com.au Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Southern-Birding-Services/134270499971996


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