‘Yathong parrots’ Blue Bonnet Northiella haematogaster, Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus, Blue-winged Parrot Neophema chrysostoma, Mulga Parrot Psephotus varius. Photo courtesy Geoffrey DabbThe Easter camp at Yathong was conceived and expertly coordinated by Noel Luff.
Yathong is a huge nature reserve, 107,241 hectares, bang in the semi-arid centre of New South Wales. We were based at the refurbished shearers’ quarters, some distance from the homestead, that location reflecting what the management plan calls the past ‘rigid class distinctions’ of the larger Riverina sheep runs.
In accordance with the trend at recent COG camps, half of our complement of 21 arrived on the Thursday, the nominal ‘day before’. One of the first items into the spacious refrigerators – after a few small important bottles – was the Barn Owl that Tom Green had picked up by a roadside somewhere. A large proportion of the total bird list had been ticked by midday Friday.
The final species total was 99, with 36 of these being birds not likely to be seen around Canberra. It would have made the ton if we’d counted the Barn Owl or if Pat Moffat’s non-specific cuckoo had been added, but Martyn Moffat was able to add the 99th bird – a Zebra Finch and the only finch recorded.
‘Yathong parrots’ Blue Bonnet Northiella haematogaster, Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus, Blue-winged Parrot Neophema chrysostoma, Mulga Parrot Psephotus varius. Photo courtesy Geoffrey Dabb
It was distinctly warmish at times - even if you didn't take part in the scheduled scaling of the east face of the Merrimerriwa Ridge. Tom pointed out the reason for absence of entries in the visitors' book for December to March: no visitors with any choice would really want to be there in summer.
It was generally agreed that overall bird numbers were low as a result of the drought. Although a large tally of species was recorded, this was partly due to several 'tanks' having recently filled, and the presence here and there of greenish weed growth, mainly burrs of various kinds. Many species observations represented only one or two individuals across a large area and range of habitats.
Under the heading of ‘highlights and other moments’ the following come to mind.
# The busy and ever-alert Mike Doyle striding across the grasslands in the rust-and-gold light of each outback sunrise to find the first birds of the day. One morning they were Banded Lapwings.
'Ten-mile Tank'. Photo courtesy Geoffrey Dabb
# Sue Lashko becoming expert in the daily routine of the Blue-winged Parrots as they fossicked for the small black seeds of Common Heliotrope at the home ‘tank’.
# An unusual case of binoparalysis when Fiona Johnson was failed by her prestigious brand of binos. Fiona forewent the option of limiting her observations to birds at a precise distance of 5.753 metres in favour of borrowing Stu Harris’s slightly less prestigious but focusable reserve pair.
# Noel Luff being rewarded for his tireless patrolling of the creek lines (if they can be called that) by the sight of a pair of Square-tailed Kites.
# The park-like ambience of ‘Ten-mile Tank’, surely the Lake Como of the semi-arid zone.
# The hotspot with woodswallows, budgies and at least 50 Crimson Chats, the latter all in seasonally bland plumage except for their reddish rumps.
# At night, the ghostly gleam of the white sheet of the moth-hunting, day-sleeping Andreas Zwick, with Ted Edwards on hand to tell you everything about moths and butterflies you could remember wanting to ask.
# Kathy Walter successfully performing the old mock-goanna act to scratch up a sleepy Australian Owlet-nightjar from a hollow – but using her own fingernails for heaven’s sake. (Yathong is a good place for Lace Monitors – I noticed 6 at 5 different locations, one flailing across some roadside water like a charging crocodile.)
Everyone was grateful to Noel for the idea of a Yathong outing and his work to bring it about. Appetites for dry-country birds were stimulated rather than slaked, and most participants took advantage of the longish drive back to choose birdy routes and stopovers on the return to Canberra.
Geoffrey Dabb
‘Bronzewing drinking at dusk’