Month: October 2024

Big Zigzag Birding

week 015 | Heading to Birdsville’s Birds! | trip list 317 – 332

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Great to hit the road again! Heading south via the three B's (Boulia - Bedourie - Birdsville)

In an Eggshell:

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 332 (+15 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 80 (+1 this week: Larks) 
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 59 (+4 this week: Yellow Chat, Crimson Chat, Gray Grasswren, Gibberbird)
  • Campsite Lifers: 15 (+1 this week: Gray Grasswren)
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 88 (+4 this week)
  • eBird days of checklist streak: 103
  • Week’s special milestones: over 100 days of checklist strike, Grasswren 4th, Canon EF 400 f4 DO IS USM out – RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM in!

Bird(s) of the Week

Yellow Chat at Lake Machatti, which can be called Lake Chatties 🙂

Crimson Chat at Lake Machatti

Orange Chat at Lake Machatti

Wedge-tailed Eagles are always stars while roadside birding 

Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella), monotype species in its genus, with its long legs, seems to be the linking chain between Coursers and Pratincoles. Obviously member of Pratincoles and Coursers (Glareolidae)
Photographed on Boulia – Bedourie road, QLD.

Non-bird image(s)

First sunrise after hitting the road again. I did not notice the billabong next to free camp as I arrived after dusk. There is even a White-necked Heron on this photo…

Lignum habitat of Gray Grasswren, near Cuttaburra Water Hole Camping Area

Week's Key location(s)

Tow new “chatties” at Lake Machttie

Cuttaburra Water Hole Camping Area

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 12260 km (this week 740 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1463. 26 Oct 2024 12:34 PM Waddy Acacia, Eyre Developmental Rd, Qld
1462. 26 Oct 2024 11:48 AM Eyre Developmental Road, Birdsville, Queensland, AU (-25.408, 139.472)
1461. 26 Oct 2024 10:43 AM Eyre Developmental Road, Birdsville, Queensland, AU (-25.237, 139.563)
1460. 26 Oct 2024 6:11 AM Cuttaburra Crossing, Eyre Developmental Rd
1459. 25 Oct 2024 5:40 PM Cuttaburra Crossing, Eyre Developmental Rd
1458.25 Oct 2024 6:49 AM Lake Machattie, Diamantina
1457. 24 Oct 2024 5:40 PM Eyre Developmental Road, Bedourie, Queensland, AU (-24.572, 139.56)
1456. 24 Oct 2024 9:21 AM Boulia Bedourie Road, Bedourie, Queensland, AU (-23.759, 139.613)
1455. 24 Oct 2024 7:35 AM Boulia Bedourie Road, Boulia, Queensland, AU (-22.989, 139.84)
1454. 24 Oct 2024 7:12 AM Boulia Bedourie Road, Amaroo, Queensland, AU (-23.226, 139.716)
1453. 24 Oct 2024 6:34 AM Boulia Bedourie Road, Boulia, Queensland, AU (-22.989, 139.84)
1452. 23 Oct 2024 6:19 PM Racecourse Road, Boulia, Queensland, AU (-22.89, 139.938)
1451. 23 Oct 2024 6:25 AM Boulia Mount Isa Highway, Waverley, Queensland, AU (-20.943, 139.425)
1450. 22 Oct 2024 6:29 AM Lake Moondarra–south of Clearwater Lagoon, Mount Isa
1449. 22 Oct 2024 6:15 AM 20 Lanskey Road, Lanskey, Queensland, AU (-20.69, 139.5), Mount Isa
1448. 21 Oct 2024 6:08 AM George McCoy Park, Mount Isa
1447. 20 Oct 2024 6:06 AM Pamela Street Water Tanks, Mt Isa
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 014 | Ditto at Mt. Isa | trip list 308 – 317

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Still waiting for the RV to be fixed - George McCoy Park has never been birded so much. Cuckoos' week litraly

In an Eggshell:

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 317 (+9 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 79 (+1 this week: Owlet-nightjars) 
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 55 (+2 this week: Spotted Nightjar, Latham’s Snipe)
  • Campsite Lifers: 14 (+0 this week)
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 84 (+3 this week)
  • eBird days of checklist streak: 96
  • Week’s special milestones: lifer 4545 counts? 

Bird(s) of the Week

Dripping water from the first tank at the famous Pamela Street site, attracts among many other birds also dozens of painted firetails.

Pheasant Coucal was one of the surprises at George McCoy Park, Mount Isa, and one of the 4 Cuckoos’ week sepcies.

Non-bird image(s)

View east from Mount Isa Outlook. The first water tank at town’s edge seen among the spinifex hills, the Kalkadoon Grasswren habitat.

Leichhardt River, George McCoy Park section ,Mount Isa. Birding under the is ideal on rainy days.

Week's Key location(s)

Ditto for George McCoy Park, Mt. Isa. Numbers climbed a bit:  Mt. Isa Lookout on the map as well. And about the cuckoos: Not lifers, but 4 species seen this week, and 2 of then been added to Big Zigzag list: Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Pacific Koel and Pheasant Coucal.

One more ditto here for Pamela street water tanks.

Moondarra Lake is just 15 km from Mt. Isa, and quite birdy area.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 11420 km (this week 0 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1446. 19 Oct 2024 6:14 PM Mount Isa Lookout
1445. 19 Oct 2024 6:16 AM George McCoy Park, Mount Isa
1444. 18 Oct 2024 6:07 PM Pamela Street Water Tanks, Mt Isa
1443. 18 Oct 2024 1:34 PM Barramundi Way, Mount Isa AU-QLD -20.58749, 139.57056
1442. 18 Oct 2024 1:08 PM Barramundi Way, Mount Isa AU-QLD -20.59251, 139.55879
1441. 18 Oct 2024 12:28 PM Barramundi Way, Mount Isa AU-QLD -20.59594, 139.55325
1440. 18 Oct 2024 11:47 AM Barramundi Way, Mount Isa AU-QLD -20.60096, 139.55290
1439. 18 Oct 2024 11:10 AM 4825, Mount Isa AU-QLD -20.61249, 139.54599
1438. 18 Oct 2024 6:11 AM Pamela Street Water Tanks, Mt Isa
1437. 17 Oct 2024 6:40 PM Mount Isa Lookout
1436. 17 Oct 2024 6:01 AM George McCoy Park, Mount Isa
1435. 16 Oct 2024 6:11 PM Mount Isa Lookout
1434. 16 Oct 2024 6:07 AM Pamela Street Water Tanks, Mt Isa
1433. 15 Oct 2024 5:43 PM Pamela Street Water Tanks, Mt Isa
1432. 15 Oct 2024 6:07 AM George McCoy Park, Mount Isa
1431. 14 Oct 2024 6:25 AM George McCoy Park, Mount Isa
1430. 13 Oct 2024 6:56 AM George McCoy Park, Mount Isa
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 013 | Towed back to Kalkadoon from Broken Wheel site | trip list 307 – 308

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Sometimes plans change .. Unfortunately the whole week I'm waiting for the car to be fixed. Luckily I'm in Mount Isa - Kalkadoon!

In an Eggshell:

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 308 (+1 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 78 (+0 this week) 
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 53 (+0 this week)
  • Campsite Lifers: 14 (+0 this week)
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 81 (+0 this week)
  • eBird days of checklist streak: 89
  • Week’s special milestones: non. 

Bird(s) of the Week

Kalkadoon Grasswren (Amytornis ballarae) was hardly seen during my visits here two weeks ago. This week, to ease the long car repair waiting time, it gave me better experience, especially for Global Big Day! Pamela street water tanks, Mount Isa.

pan – pan – panella… this melodious call of the Crested Bellbird was my wakeup call after a night in the desert with a broken car, actually a broken wheel.  One day earlier, for unclear reason, one rear tire blew-up, and the other rear just fall apart from its base, and here I am stוck in the desert 500 km from Mount Isa.  Luckily with Starlink connection I was able to arrange help, and the rest of this week is just waiting for all the arrangements to be done, and I’ll be up on the roads again. 

Buff-banded Rail is mostly common on the east coast of Australia. I was surprised to find it in George McCoy Park, Mt Isa City, on the almost arid Leichhardt River. This eBird hotspot, conveniently located 50 meters from my hotel,  has become my daily birding site as I am stuck here until my car is repaired. (photo from 2013),

Non-bird image(s)

100 km north of Lark Quarry, 500 south of Mount Isa, Broken Wheel site. During the 24 hours I was waiting for towing, just 2 cars passed. 

The water dripping next to the first Pamela street water tank attracts many thirsty birds. 

Week's Key location(s)

Broken Wheel Point -Cork Macunda Road, Middleton, Queensland

At least by eBird checklists, George McCoy Park, Mt. Isa was never birded as hard as this week. The 49 species I recorded there boost this site list from 50 species to 68. Just 50 meters walk from my hotel.

The spinifex around Pamela street water tanks, Mount Isa are great habitat for the skulky Kalkadoon Grasswren, and probably the best birding destination in town.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 11420 km (this week 0 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1428. 12 Oct 2024 5:04 PM George McCoy Park, Mount Isa
1427. 12 Oct 2024 10:02 AM Camooweal St at Isa St, Mt Isa
1426. 12 Oct 2024 6:08 AM Pamela Street Water Tanks, Mt Isa
1425. 11 Oct 2024 6:35 AM George McCoy Park, Mount Isa
1424. 10 Oct 2024 6:25 AM George McCoy Park, Mount Isa
1423. 09 Oct 2024 6:08 AM George McCoy Park, Mount Isa
1422. 08 Oct 2024 7:09 AM West St Mt Isa
1421. 07 Oct 2024 6:30 AM  George McCoy Park, Mount Isa
1420. 06 Oct 2024 6:50 AM Broken Wheel Point -Cork Macunda Road, Middleton, Queensland, AU (-22.854, 141.606)
Big Zigzag Index
Big Zigzag Birding

week 012 | Little Zigzag Bird, and the Not Exists one | trip list 293 – 307

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From the grasslands around Boulia to the Dainasor district

In an Eggshell:

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 307 (+14 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 78 (+1 this week: Pratincoles and Coursers) 
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 53 (+8 this week: Red-backed Kingfisher, Letter-winged Kite, Flock Bronzewing, Red-browed Pardalote, Rufous-crowned Emuwren, Grey Falcon, Opalton Grasswren, Hall’s Babbler)
  • Campsite Lifers: 14 (+2 this week: Red-browed Pardalote, Opalton Grasswren)
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 81 (+8 this week)
  • eBird days of checklist streak: 82
  • Week’s special milestones: Reached 300 on my Big Zigzag list. Cleanup Elanus genus with Letter-winged Kite, Over 50 trip’s lifers, 3rd Grasswren. 

Bird(s) of the Week

The LITTLE ZIGZAG BIRD in the BIG ZIGZAG TRIP
Coorabulka road stretches on dry grasslands for about 150 km from Boulia to Esterbla Down National Park (Queensland). Most of it is well maintained dirt road, which allows you to drive safely at 100 km/h, but for me this road took the whole morning, as I stopped every 10-20km or so, to scan each line of trees which appeared here and there on dry creeks. 4-5 eBird reports gave me some hints where they were seen lately, and after 4 hours of search, I found a tree loaded with19 of one of my most desired birds in Australia – Letter-winged Kite (Elanus scriptus), what an amazing bird! And to make it even sweeter, as I was try to find a good view position, I flushed a small group of another lifer – Flock Bronzewing (Phaps histrionica).

Flock Bronzewing (photographed later on Cuttaburra Crossing, Eyre Developmental Rd).

Hall’s Babbler at Lark Quarry Conservation Park

Rufous-crowned Emuwren at Lark Quarry Conservation Park

Red-backed Kingfisher (photographed laster near Birdsville)

4 week later, Gray Falcon photographed at South Austrlia

Non-bird image(s)

Gray Falcon’s nest on the telecommunication antenna among the spinifex of Lark Quarry area. 

In Sean Dooley’s book, The Big Twitch, he describes his 2002 “big year”, as he was trying to break the record with 700 species in Australia. One bird, the elusive Grey Falcon, described by him as “doesn’t actually exist”. But this week, I was evidenced the it is a reality, even two! 2 Grey Falcons (Falco hypoleucos) flew rapidly on this very windy day, above me and the spinifex near Lark Quarry. Another dream bird on me list.

Week's Key location(s)

Coorabulka road. My Letter-winged Kites site.

Huge telecommunication antenna served as a well known Grey Falcon nest base, at Lark Quarry T/O, Winton Jundah Rd. The nest is not occupied for about 2 weeks, but luckily while I was exploring 2 adults flew by and gave me a chance to see them.  Also the site for Rufous-crowned Emuwren, Opalton Grasswren, Hall’s Babbler.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 11420 km (this week 1160 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1419. 05 Oct 2024 9:16 AM Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways., Winton
1418. 04 Oct 2024 6:39 PM Lark Quarry Road, 400 metres north, Winton
1417. 04 Oct 20241 0:07 AM Lark Quarry Conservation Park–Spinifex circuit walking track, Winton
1416. 04 Oct 2024 6:40 AM Lark Quarry Road, 400 metres north
1415. 03 Oct 2024 6:30 AM Lark Quarry T/O, Winton Jundah Rd, Winton
1414. 02 Oct 2024 4:53 PM Lark Quarry T/O, Winton Jundah Rd, Winton
1413. 02 Oct 2024 1:25 PM Lark Quarry Conservation Park, Winton
1412. 01 Oct 2024 4:00 PM Burke River at Racecourse, Boulia
1411. 01 Oct 2024 6:52 AM Burke River at Racecourse, Boulia
1410. 30 Sep 2024 11:04 AM Coorabulka Rd, Whitewood Creek Crossing, Diamantina
1409. 29 Sep 2024 4:56 PM Burke River at Racecourse, Boulia
1408. 29 Sep 2024 12:27 PM Dajarra
Big Zigzag Index