Major Creek Reserve

Visited: summer

Recommendation: This free camp area on the side of the creek is a lovely place to spend the night. There is lots of activity along the water's edge as well as creeping around the scrub.

A little south of Nagambie is the Major Creek Reserve, a free camping site right on the river. It is really beautiful, the water lined with reeds and further up the banks, the ubiquitous eucalypts. I never tire of sitting under these glorious trees. I had some ambition to learn the species when I first arrived in Australia. Short lived that - there are over 900 types of eucalypt. I'll stick to birds. 

There are plenty of those here. I nearly ran over a quail as I first arrived. I assumed it would be a Stubble Quail. I'd been looking out for them all the way east through the wheatbelt. I parked the van and backtracked. I got a few shots but into the sun. It was only a couple of days later when I sent the best image to a friend that we realised it wasn't a Stubble Quail at all. Turns out I am sharing a site with Painted Buttonquail. 

A few days later I had the opportunity to return and really look for them. The juvenile I saw before was replaced by a resplendant adult who very graciously ran around in front of me. I spent the rest of that morning parked in a potentially good spot and waited. Fortune was with me and I had the pleasure of watching and photographing these delightful little birds several more times. 

Painted Button-quail (Turnix varia)

Across the river was a large fallen tree, partially submerged. The herons liked to stand on it and a White-faced Heron was replaced by a White-necked Heron. I don't think I have seen one of those since Alice Springs. They are really beautiful birds, proud with their glorious plumage.