Tag Archives: Major Michell

Birding Bowra Part 3 – Deeper Into The Property

Posted on by

In this section we will see birds that are found as you leave the Bowra homestead area and turn in the opposite direction of the main road, heading deeper into the property.  Of course it’s pot luck which birds will be there at any given time of year and depending on rainfall.  Most cars can make it about 5km down the road but depending on road conditions you will probably need a 4WD to go further.  Always check with the caretaker before heading out.

Look in dense bushes for Fairy-wrens, Homey-eaters and Crimson Chats.

IMG_8694 IMG_8704a IMG_8702a IMG_8711a

Ground foragers like Cockatiels and Bourke’s Parrots are common here.

IMG_8715 IMG_8699a IMG_8701a IMG_8720a

Major Mitchell Cockatoos often breed in this area.

IMG_8734a IMG_8750a IMG_8755a

Odd looking Noisy Friarbird.

IMG_8761a

And a close-up of a beautiful Bourkie!

IMG_8763a

Birding Bowra Part 1 – Road To Homestead Area

Posted on by

Since there are so many places to see birds, I am breaking this down into several parts.  The first area to explore is the part where you first enter Bowra Station at the letterbox and drive the main road to the homestead – about 5 or 6 km.  This is a fantastic area for parrots, as you can see from the photos below we saw many species just in this area such as Cockatiels, Mallee Ringecks, Galahs, Major Mitchell Cockatoos, Mulga Parrots and various Honey-eaters, an Emu and of course lots of kangaroos!  I also saw a Bluebonnet flying away at the speed of light near the gate.IMG_8570a IMG_8582a IMG_8583a IMG_8585a IMG_8561 IMG_8559 IMG_8554a IMG_8549a IMG_8544a IMG_8537 IMG_8834a IMG_8834b IMG_8840a IMG_8842a IMG_8852a IMG_8854a IMG_8870a IMG_8874a IMG_8881a IMG_8902a IMG_8905a IMG_8908a IMG_8911a IMG_8912a IMG_8916a IMG_8924 IMG_8925a IMG_8935a IMG_8936a IMG_8938a IMG_8947 IMG_8965a IMG_8970

Bring boots as sometimes you have to walk through the bush!

IMG_8971

My Top Thirty Bird Sightings Of 2014

Posted on by
1

Most other years this would be a top ten, but with 3 major birding trips this year I am struggling to make it a top thirty!  If you want to see last year’s birds click here.   There is no way I could single out one top bird with so many to choose from so they are being presented in chronological order.  I haven’t finished blogging the Queensland road trip or the African Adventure so I have to cheat a bit with the photos.  They are my photos but just pasted in.

1.  Carnaby’s Cockatoo – seen at several places in Western Australia, Feb 2014.

.

2.  Western Rosella – seen at Dryandra and Stirling Range in Western Australia, Feb 2014

.

3.  Purple-crowned Lorikeet – seen near Fitzgerald National Park, Western Australia, Feb 2014

.

4.  Western Bowerbird – seen at Nallan Station, Western Australia, Feb 2014

.

5.  Splendid Fairy-wren – seen at Yanchep, Western Australia, Feb 2014

.

6.  Orange-bellied Parrot – seen at Melaleuca, Tasmania, March 2014

.

7.  Eastern Ground Parrot – seen at Melaleuca, Tasmania, March 2014

.

8.  Swift Parrot – seen on Bruny Island, Tasmania, March 2014

.

9.  Major Mitchell Cockatoo – seen at Bowra Station, QLD, March 2014

.

10.  Cockatiels – seen at Bowra Station, QLD, March 2014

.

11.  Satin Bowerbird – seen at Girraween, QLD, March 2014

.

12.  Ultramarine Lorikeet – seen on Ua Huka, Marquesas, French Polynesia, June 2014

.

13. Rimatara Lorikeet – seen on Rimatara, French Polynesia, June 2014

.

14.  Cape Parrot – seen in King William’s Town and Magoebaskloof, South Africa, Nov 2014

.

15.  Lilac-breasted Roller – seen in Kruger Park, South Africa, Nov 2014

.

16.  Echo Parakeet – seen at Black River Gorges, Mauritius, Nov 2014

.

17.  Vasa Parrots – seen at Ankarafantsika, Madagascar, Nov 2014

.

18.  Schlegel’s Asity – seen at Ankarafantsika, Madagascar, Nov 2014

.

19.  Hoopoe – seen at Ankarafantsika, Madagascar, Nov 2014

.

20.  Paradise Flycatcher – seen in Kakum National Park, Ghana Nov 2014

.

21.  Red Malimbe – seen in Kakum National Park, Ghana Nov 2014

.

22.  African Grey Parrot – seen (fleeting glimpse) in Kakum National Park, Ghana Nov 2014

Didn’t click fast enough!

23.  Senegal Parrot – seen in Shai Hills, Ghana Nov 2014

.

24.  Tacazze Sunbird – seen at Addis Ababa Hilton, Ethiopia, Nov 2014

.

25.  African Red-bellied Parrot – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

.

26.  Cordon Bleu Waxbill – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

.

27.  Meyer’s Parrot (Brown Parrot) – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

.

28.  Red-and-yellow Barbet – seen at Tarangire, Tanzania, Nov 2014

.

29.  Superb Starling – seen all over Tanzania, Nov 2014

.

30.  Lovebirds – seen in Madagascar (Grey-headed), Tarangire (Yellow-collared) and Ndutu (Fischer’s).  Just couldn’t choose between them!  Nov 2014

.

These aren’t necessarily the rarest birds but they were birds that made a major impression on me.  Maybe for their rarity, maybe for their beauty or maybe for their behaviour! Apologies for not having profiles up on about half the birds but I still have a lot more to blog about!