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Visited: Autumn
Recommendation: This is a real Outback experience. The campsites are basic but the area is stunning, particularly at sunrise and sunset. You can find some great dry specialist birds here.
Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus)
Across the Outback are large sheep and cattle stations and you can stay at some of them. It is a great way to spend time in the Outback and still have flushing toilets! And so, my first stop as I crossed the border into Queensland was the station at Charlotte Plains. There were 2 sites - the Sheep Shearing site and the Borehead site which has hot spring baths. I stayed at the much smaller Sheep Shearing site and was glad as it was quiet with very few people.
The first thing I noticed was that there were Brown Treecreeper everywhere. Climbing the trees, hopping around on the ground and in the campsite. It was lovely to see this large treecreeper just pottering around.
White-lipped Green Tree Frog (Litoria infrafrenata)
The amenities were a decent block and it seemed very fitting that in the shower was a large green frog, we are back in Queensland after all! It wasn't quite so funny when I turned the water on and it started to slide down the wall. Underneath it was a pinky red and it was covered in slime. It was a very quick shower!
Bourke's Parrot (Neophema bourkii)
The next morning I drove up to the other campsite early in the morning and it wasn't long before there were parrots everywhere. I spotted the Greater Bluebonnet but didn't get decent photos. As I entered the camp I saw Bourke's Parrots on the ground. These guys are only a little bigger than budgies but very handsome.
The Bourke's parrot is also known as the Bourke's parakeet or Bourkie, is native to the arid and semi-arid regions of Australia.
These are relatively small parrots, measuring only 18-23 cm (7-9 inches) in length. They have a distinctive coloration – mostly grey-brown above with a pinkish-red abdomen and a blue rump. Around their eyes, they have a prominent white patch, giving them a "spectacled" look.
Unlike many parrots, Bourke's parrots spend a considerable amount of time on the ground because their body colouring provides good camouflage in their natural habitat. They can also fly well, but tend to travel in short, swift bursts with glides in between.
I wandered through the campsite and out the other side. Hot spring baths seemed out of place to me in the heat of the Outback! I found, or rather heard, a group of Apostlebirds squabbling over some water. It is great that I am now back in range of them.
True to their namesake, Apostlebirds are known for their strong family bonds and cooperative breeding habits. They live in groups of around six to ten birds, typically consisting of a dominant breeding pair, several females, and immature helpers (usually the previous season's young). These young birds play a vital role in the group's success. They act as helpers to the breeding pair, assisting with nest-building, feeding chicks, and keeping an eye out for predators.
Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea)
On the way back to the Sheep Shearer campsite, I was startled to see a pair of Brolga just wandering along the road. The Brolga, also known as the Australian Crane is an iconic bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea.
They are one of Australia's largest flying birds, standing around 1 to 1.3 meters tall with a wingspan of 1.7 to 2.4 meters. They have a slender build, long legs, and a long neck. Their plumage is mainly grey with black wingtips, but the most striking feature is the red to orange patch on their head, which extends down the throat like a wattle.
Unlike other cranes, Brolgas have a unique adaptation - a special gland located near the corner of their eyes. This gland helps them expel excess salt from their bodies, which is important as they often inhabit wetlands with brackish water.
Brolgas are known for their monogamous relationships. They typically pair for life and work together to raise their young.
Brolga (Antigone rubicunda)
The next morning I returned to the Borehead site to try to get the bluebonnets and just before the entrance to the site, I heard their distinctive call. Success! These are really interesting birds, typically found in small groups of under ten birds, with some pairs separating to breed before rejoining the flock in late spring with their young.
When flushed, they will quickly leave the ground with whistling calls, flying to a nearby tree where they fall silent and adopt an upright posture to observe the intruder before returning to the ground. Their flight is described as undulating or jerky, usually below treetop level.
These parrots form monogamous pairs and typically breed only once a year. However, in years with abundant rainfall, they may attempt to raise two broods. Both the male and female participate in selecting and preparing a nesting site, often choosing a hollow in the trunk or limb of a living or dead tree with a small entrance hole.
Greater Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster)
On the other site of the camp again, I found some Mallee Ringneck. There are four recognized subspecies of the Australian Ringneck, each with a distinct range and plumage variation. This was the last of the species that I needed and it was good to see them.
The Mallee Ringneck is found in eastern parts of the Northern Territory, north western Queensland, and eastern Australia.
They are mainly green plumage with a yellow collar and green head. The underparts are yellow and blue and there is a distinctive red patch on the forehead.
Mallee Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius barnardi)
I was now on my way out of the station and heading back to Cunnamulla but I wasn't finished yet. A Rufous Songlark sat nicely for me. Interesting that I hadn't heard their distinctive call but had seen a couple of them.
Rufous Songlark (Cincloramphus mathewsi)
I had to go through a closed gate on my exit and as I pulled up, I was startled to see a Brown Falcon with some prey just the other side. I sat quietly and watched. It was throwing something around and digging at it with its beak. I realised it was a rock. I think this was a young bird practising. It was quite incredible to watch.
Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)
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