Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Riverina Birding

This is part 2 of the birding tales from the Cocoparra National Park. Last weekend. Only a day late. I have been so busy today. I should get this done before the library shuts.

Striped Honeyeater (Plectorhyncha lanceolata)

I did not expect to see this bird. A lucky mistake.

White-browed Babbler (Pomatostamus superciliosus)

This White-browed Babbler was collecting sticks for its nest which was in a tree in the middle of the creek.

White-browed Babbler nest

immature Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)

This is a very young Grey Butcherbird but it still sung a very beautiful song.

Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus)

Someone made a big mistake naming these and the Black-faced Woodswallows. Just remember to reverse them.

White-browed Woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus)

Cocoparra National Park bird list

Australian ringneck (Barnardius zonarius barnardi) Mallee Ringneck , race barnardi.
White-winged Chough
White-browed Babbler (Pomatostamus superciliosus)
white-winged triller (Lalage tricolor)
immature grey shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
Red Wattlebird
Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor)
Peaceful Dove
Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus)
Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans)
Southern Whiteface (Aphelocepha leucopsis)
White-browed Woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus)
Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus)
Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)
Striped Honeyeater (Plectrhyncha lanceolata)
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
White-plumed Honeyeater
Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula)
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Restless Flycatcher
Emu
immature Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)
Pied Butcherbird
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

Riverina Birding.

Well here I am back in Cocoparra National Park after about two weeks. It is a lot drier now. There is only a couple of puddles of water in the creeks and all the small plant growth is dry and brittle.

Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans)

I spent most of my time in the camping ground just going up and down the fire-trail. There were quite a few birds near the main track.

Southern Whiteface (Aphelocepha leucopsis)

These photos are from the first couple of days and the rest will come in the next post. There are too many photos for a single blogging.

White-browed Babbler

Butterfly on Patterson’s Curse

I went for a walk to the dam and then onto the Ironbark picnic area. Quite a few birds around that area. I even got a photo of a coloured up Crimson Chat which I did not notice until processing the photos this morning. Too bad it is a bit soft. doh!

White-browed Woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus)

Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placidus)

Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus)

Riverina Birding.

The first stop at Cocoparra National Park was Jack’s Creek. I saw lots of Bees – European bees around a hive as well as native bees. A Rufous Whistler, some
White-winged Choughs, and a few obligatory Willy Wagtail. Not much else. Next stop was Woolshed Flat. There was Lots of Patterson’s Curse plus some wild flowers (to be identified).

Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis)

There were not as many birds around as usual even though the country was a lot greener.

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza uropygialis)

This Chestnut-rumped Thornbill was bringing bugs back to the nest .

Red Flower

This is possibly some type of Oriental Poppy. Still waiting for further confirmation. There was Patterson’s Curse everywhere. More than I have ever seen before. Must have had something to do with the good winter rains.

Butterfly on yellow flower

Thanks to the plant ID group of New South Wales Facebook group for the ID’s. This is Xerochrysum viscosum, a common daisy native to Australia. It is also known as Sticky Everlasting, Yellow Paper Daisy, Shiny Everlasting.

Bee on Purple Flower

This is an opium poppy.

Bee on yellow Flower