Scarlet-chested Parrot near Mount Magnet, WA

Following recent good rains and reports of good birds in the region I spent the Anzac weekend at Wondinong Station, 75 Km NE of Mt Magnet. Drove to Paynes Find after work on Friday and hit the road at dawn on Saturday and it was clear as I travelled north and east that there had been substantial rains, with standing water in many places. Wondinong Station has comfortable donga style accommodation, a good kitchen, showers and laundry. There was an excellent range of vegetation in and around the station. The whole area has largely been destocked of sheep due to a severe wild dog and dingo problem. Only cattle can withstand the depredations of these packs; goats collect into big mobs and seem to stay close to the station. This leaves most of the land with little sign of grazing and hence good for birds. Bird of the trip was undoubtedly a single male Scarlet-chested Parrot. I left details of the sighting location with the station owners as it was actually in a neighbouring property which they had gotten permission for me to enter. Similar privileges would probably be available to others who stay there. An annotated list of the birds is as follows: Emu seen regularly Hoary-headed Grebe single individual at lake near station homestead Australian Grebe individuals on water bodies on road towards Cue White-necked Heron singles seen at various water bodies White-faced Heron groups of up to 4 at various water bodies Straw-necked Ibis flock of 6 in NW water body Pacific Black Duck one with young + pair Australian Shelduck one pair Maned Duck flocks up to 30 birds Grey Teal up to 20 birds; one pair with young Australian Shoveler one pair Pink-eared Duck 5 birds on one lake. Wedge-tailed Eagle various locations Whistling Kite various locations where water bodies occurred Australian Goshawk various Brown Falcon various locations Nankeen Kestrel Common Banded Plover Common – up to 20 birds; one pair with 4 runners Black-fronted Dotterel most water bodies. Crested Pigeon common Galah common Port Lincoln Ringneck common Elegant Parrot one pair Scarlet-chested Parrot Adult male with weak red band in mallee over spinifex Mulga Parrot common over spinifex, less common elsewhere Budgerigar common on Cue road Bourke’s Parrot group of four on Cue road; possibly multiple groups Pallid Cuckoo common Black-eared Cuckoo a few Welcome Swallow nesting White-backed Swallow prospecting Tree Martin very common Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike very common Australasian Pipit common; pair feeding young Rufous Songlark Willie Wagtail very common Red-capped Robin Hooded Robin Rufous Whistler Grey Shrike-thrush very common Crested Bellbird very common Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush one male on Mt Magnet road Grey-crowned Babbler very common White-browed Babbler Weebill surprisingly sparse Chestnut-rumped Thornbill very common Yellow-rumped Thornbill Slaty-backed Thornbill two locations Inland Thornbill Variegated Fairy-wren Splendid Fairy-wren White-winged Fairy-wren Western Gerygone Southern Whiteface Crimson Chat numerous Orange Chat a few pairs White-fronted Chat one Varied Sittella White-browed Treecreeper common where there was spinifex Striated Pardalote Pied Honeyeater two males White-plumed Honeyeater common White-fronted Honeyeater common Singing Honeyeater abundant Brown Honeyeater Yellow-throated Miner Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Mistletoebird Magpielark Black-faced Woodswallow Grey Butcherbird Pied Butcherbird Australian Magpie Western Bowerbird Torresian Crow Little Crow Zebra Finch On the way out via Lake Austin – which was full to the brim – there was a single Gull-billed Tern, numerous swans and other waterfowl, Avocets and Stilts (Pied but possibly Banded far out in the lake). As the water was only slowly evaporating and any more winter rain should make the country a great visit especially when spring wildflowers hit. Mark Stanley