Borah Reserve

This morning Isaiah and I took off for the hour long drive to Borah Traveling Stock Reserve near Manilla. It is one of the favorite birding places in NSW for a number of birders.

Typical bushland at Borah Traveling Stock Reserve.

We arrived around 0940 and were welcomed by Dusky Woodswallows and Jacky Winters. A little further were a pair of beautiful White-browed Woodswallows too!

A Dusky Woodswallow checking us out from the safety of his vantage point.

I was just chilling with Isaiah when a larger bird flew into view and landed within my newfound digiscoping range. It was an immature Pallid Cuckoo. Later on a pair squabbled while we had lunch.

immature Pallid Cuckoo

We checked out a few other areas here and perhaps the most intriguing find was the following creature:

Yes, I found another tick! Well actually Isaiah found it. When he seen it crawling on our blanket I had laid on the ground he called out, "Daddy, spider!" I am still waiting to confirm its identity.

I was unable to add anymore to my TRC year tally, but overnight news may yet add some. Walcha Shire Council to my east has been forceably amalgamated with Tamworth Regional Council. Thus my survey area has broadened. I will check out if I have any extra records from up there this year that I can now slip in.....

Here is the link to today's birds:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26370169

Locks Lane

After a crazy day again at work I decided to take the long way home. Locks Lane is a dirt lane that is nearly in the middle of Tamworth and follows the river for a kilometre or so. In summer the long grasses along its verge make ideal habitat for finches, and they can easily be found then. Today I pulled over near the creek crossing as I had spotted some Chestnut-breasted Mannikins. I tried digiscoping through my Zeiss binoculars with my Samsung phone and the results are below. Mind you, it would have been much better if I was fast enough to take the photo when the Mannikins were only 2 metres away, but alas a car whizzed by flushing them to 30 metres away. There were a couple of Plum-headed and Double-barred Finches about too, but they didn't pose for me.

Chestnut-breasted Mannikins at Locks Lane, Tamworth

Further up the road I came across a gathering of Australian Reed Warblers and a Golden-headed Cisticola. I drew upon my time in Karumba with the Ferryman to pish up all the Cisticolas. Then they popped up everywhere, including right in front of me. So I digiscoped it too! It is a bit over-exposed but I am still learning!

Golden-headed Cistiola that responded to me pishing

Here is the link to the complete list I found in my quick drive through:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26280629

MORNING AT CHAFFEY DAM

This morning I decided to leave the challenges of life and head to Chaffey Dam again. I thought I may be able to add to my TRC Big Year total of 215 for 2015. Once again I dragged my son along. He is used to the setup, and either has a go at spotting the birds, or plays with his cars, or today, play with my car!!! 

I arrived at the western side first. There were many boats zooming around so the birds were hugging the banks. Initially there was not much to note, but upon my third stop along that side I found what looked like good wader habitat: muddy edge, some green weedy cover and a good number of birds already present. I did find 5 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, but no other migratory waders were present. There was also a lone Red-kneed Dotterel among the Black-winged Stilts.

So off to the eastern side. This side is the main entrance to Chaffey, and the best birding is up around the entrance to the dam. So we headed up there. Swans, Pelicans, Cormorants, Ducks, and a good number of Great Crested Grebes greeted us (see picture below). They were using an old road which is mostly underwater to roost along. While I was out checking the edges unsuccessfully for more migrants my son remained at loose in the car. He pulled out his favourite CD from the CD player; now it doesn't work. He had fun pretending to drive, and then tooted the horn. Well, at least that flushed a few birds nearby lol. He had alot of fun!

Array of species together: Pelican, Little Black and Great Cormorants,
Great Creted Grebes in water behind. Black Swans were just out of shot to the right.

On the way out a Australian Pipit posed for his photo too. I obliged from the car.

Australian Pipit posing.

I totaled 55 species in just over an hour, but did not manage to add to my year tally. My complete listing for today is on eBird here:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26260198