Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Monday 15th October - Birds not bikes, including our first Cockatiel


Sunrise at Chat Alley. No Chats though.

Fleece instead of Lycra today.

The hide at Nudges Dam

Sulphur Crested Cockatoos. Big, noisy and boisterous.

Rufous Whistler makes a sound like a whip crack.

Red Capped Robin is a really handsome fellow.

Our first Cockatiel. 

The Avocets in Australia are a separate species and have brown heads

Day off the bike. Very early start for birdwatching to north of Rankins Springs. We followed the directions in book and on websites to the famous sites of Lake Cargelligo (pronounced Kar Jelly Go) sewerage works, Chat Alley, Old Wheat Paddock and Whooey Tank. All sights apart from the sewerage works were very quiet due to the drought and strong winds. Highlight of the day was our first ever wild Cockatiel which Mandy noticed at extreme range on a dead tree. I managed to get close to it when it went onto another view and get good views and pictures. The ponds at the sewerage works were alive with birds especially a very twitchy flock of Pink Eared Ducks which are always good value.
From information on the web I contact a lady called Mikla who is involved with organising birdwatching events in Grenfell where we will pass. She has a large area of land which she is planting up to make it wildlife friendly and has regular visits from two birds we want to see. She kindly agrees to let us visit her tomorrow if it is not raining, which it might be according to the forecast.
Finish day at Nudges Dam where we watch birds coming in for a last drink of the day including some gorgeous Mulga Parrots.
It was warm and windy today and tomorrow is due to be the same but also with the likelihood of rain showers in the afternoon. Guess which way the wind is supposed to be blowing!

0 km today in 0 hours 0 minutes – an average of 0 kph. Total so far remains at 3603.47 km

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