As with past visits to this location, we will camp at the old shearers’ quarters, which means that there is space for tents and camper vans. We will have access to a basic kitchen (tank water, fridge/freezer, a sink for washing up), a microwave which I will provide, a large dining table, as well as very basic bathroom facilities (toilets and hot showers). There is limited internet access around the shearers’ quarters. We will bird on the property, including one night excursion, as well as at some spots closer to Deniliquin. Numbers strictly limited to 16 participants.
I anticipate most will plan to arrive from Thursday 17 April, and depart on Monday 21 April.
To register contact Sandra (shirmax2931@gmail.com) with name and mobile number, and name and number of an emergency contact.
Fourteen COG members joined the Easter Camp year based at the old shearers’ quarters on a private property north of Wanganella, about 60km north of Deniliquin. We were again joined by the property owner, a keen birder himself, as we visited various semi-arid habitats around the property, as well as woodland, scrublands, dry forests and wetlands further afield in the Wanganella area, around Deniliquin, and at the Mathoura Reedbeds and Gulpa Creek Forest adjacent to the Murray Valley National Park. The weather was lovely for birding and camping – warm to hot days 26 – 32˚, mild nights and generally clear and calm conditions. Once again sunrises and sunsets on the plains were outstanding, and the possibility of an aurora had a couple of people up early in the mornings.
In all 102 bird species were seen by the group over the three plus days and nights – a very good tally considering that the property and the area in general had received little rain since Christmas and was looking very dry. Unfortunately, the Mathoura Reedbeds were essentially dry; not a waterbird to be seen (although some lovely Yellow Rosella were).
John’s house and dam area gave us good views of a resident roosting Southern Boobook, a lone Black-tailed Native Hen and some Greater Bluebonnet. The surrounding paddocks had Emu families, Banded Lapwing and many Red Kangaroos. Woodland and grassland areas far and wide gave us target inland species such as Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Brown Treecreeper, Purple-backed and White-winged Fairy Wren, Southern Whiteface, Red-capped Robin, Singing and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Yellow-throated Miner, White-fronted Chat, Black-faced and White-breasted Woodswallow, Apostlebird, Pied Butcherbird and a few Zebra Finch. We also lucked on a couple of parties of Grey-crowned Babbler. Phil Maher’s re-vegetated woodland patches around Wanganella and Mathoura remain impressive in the flora planted and still thriving; productive for flowering mistletoe and Mistletoebird. The 8 Mile Creek wetland near Wanganella did have water and produced an array of waterbirds, including significant numbers of Pacific Black Duck, White-necked Heron, Yellow-billed and Royal Spoonbill, and Australian Pelican.
A variety of raptors were seen including Wedge-tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Black and Whistling Kite, Australian Hobby and Brown Falcon.
The highlight target bird Plains Wanderer was, for the first time on COG trips to the property, not to be found, despite a couple of hours pacing and torch sweeping around the grassland paddocks, then driving and spotlighting around other possible spots.
From a social perspective, we again enjoyed communal nibbles and drinks each evening before dinner and the bring-a-plate shared meal – confirming the culinary skills of all. Many thanks for the conviviality of all participants; the generosity of those sharing their knowledge on flora and fauna and their vehicles for carpooling; to John for hosting us again; and, of course, to Sandra Henderson for organising another very successful Easter camp.
Julie McGuiness
