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Visited: winter and spring
Recommendation: This is an attractive and large rest area where travellers can camp. There is a creek running alongside the site and the surrounding trees attract a wide range of wildlife. The area is particularly good for nocturnal birds.
My next stopover was due to be at the NT/SA border rest area. However, it was teeming with people taking their photos next to the big signs. Way too noisy for me and it wasn't long before I decided to shuffle off to the next place. I always plan for this and I knew there was another rest area not too far south. But ... that was the opposite problem. It was exposed and lonely. So further south it was. My next planned stop was at the Agnes Creek rest area and coincidentally my friend Louise had stopped there and said it was nice and there was an Owlet-nightjar there.
While it was very quiet during the day on this massive site, Agnes Creek came alive at night. The solitary Pied Butcherbird and numerous Yellow-throated Miners couldn't compete with the night birds. I stayed 2 nights in the end to maximise my opportunities which, as ever, were a mixed bag.
Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)
Not long after it got dark on the first night, I heard a suspicious cooing from the tree right next to my van. I dashed out expecting the Owlet-nightjar and was delighted to actually find a Barn Owl. Hopelessly unprepared for photography and with no flash, I improvised with my torch and tried to get some shots. I wished I hadn't bothered really as it took time away from looking at this beautiful bird. It was very curious about me and peered around a branch before flying closer and stared at me for around 5 minutes. What a fantastic experience.
Eastern Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
Buoyed by this experience and that I heard owls calling during the night, I was determined to get better photos the next one. I could hear them hooting from several places but this time they weren't heading my way. After some time I did hear a hoot from a tree close by. I knew it was the Owlet-nightjar this time. It wasn't a big tree with a bit of foliage and I looked and looked for the bloody bird but I couldn't find it. As I turned to go back to the van it let off a loud shriek. I swear it was laughing at me! I looked again, still couldn't find it. I was tempted to shake or kick that bloody tree but I thought that would be unkind. I gave up. I'll find another, nicer bird soon.
On my next visit, I again had mixed success. There was a lot of activity, a lot of noise but I struggled to locate species. After a lot of skulking around I found the Port Lincoln Ringnecks feeding on eucalypt trees. They look so beautiful in the sunshine. One, for a split second, sat nicely for me.
Port Lincoln Ringneck Parrot (Barnardius zonarius zonarius)
A rather severe looking Australian Hobby sat up high watching the area carefully. I find this small raptor to be so interesting. Although it is widespread and common, you don't see them that often. Their unique markings make them easy to identify. The tear drop marks on the face can help to break up the falcon's silhouette, making it more difficult for prey to spot. This is particularly useful when the falcon is hunting from above. Their agility and speed also help to make them an efficient hunter.
Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis)
Best of all at Agnes Creek was finding a small group of Ground Cuckooshrike. They passed over several times and I managed to get a good look at one as it paused briefly close by. A long lens certainly helped as I have found these birds to be very intolerant of people and will not stick around for long.
Ground Cuckooshrike (Coracina maxima)
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