Brookfield Conservation Park Mallee Birding

Getting out into the mallee is always one of my favourite pass times. So, when a friend suggested we head north this weekend to Brookfield Conservation Park how could I refuse?


Being less than 2 hours from Adelaide - 125km to be exact, it really is a convenient place to visit. You can pick up food and drinks in Truro - the Servo is open very early - before you continue onto Brookfield, approx 36km further north (about 25 minutes).


Brookfield is a major area of mallee vegetation within the Murray-Darling Basin, north of Goyders Line and provides crucial habitat for the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat. You will see wombat burrows throughout the park as you venture around the 2 main nature trails. I was very happy to see one this evening as it emerged from its burrow.


The nature drives start at the Shearing shed. Travel about 4km to the picnic area where you can follow the well signposted 3 Habitat Walk before continuing on. Further along the track the road splits - you can do the Mallee Track or the Bluebush Track. Both are worth exploring.


Other fauna species at Brookfield include Fat-tailed Dunnart, Red and Western Grey Kangaroo, Common Dunnart, Echidna, as well as various bat species.

Over 100 bird species have been seen here including Malleefowl, Redthroat, Gilbert's Whistler, Australian Owlet Nightjar,  Grey Currawong, Grey Butcherbird, White-winged Chough, Splendid Fairywren, Southern Whiteface, Mulga Parrot, Bluebonnet, Mallee Ringneck, Chestnut-crowned and White-browed Babbler, Chestnut Quail-thrush, Australian Raven, Red-capped Robin, Hooded Robin, Crested Bellbird, Spotted Pardalote, Weebill, Grey Shrike-thrush, Rufous & Golden Whistler, White-eared Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked & Singing Honeyeater, Mistletoebird, Pallid Cuckoo, Black-eared Cuckoo & Emu.


Please note there is NO camping allowed here but day visiting is allowed. There is a picnic area  provided with toilet and some well sign-posted walks leading off from the picnic area. The 3 Habitats walk is excellent and you might be lucky enough to see a Wombat or Chestnut Quail-thrush!

Here are a few photos from this weekend.

Female Mulga Parrot

 

Hooded Robin

 

 

Redthroat

Golden Whistler

 

                                                            White-eared Honeyeater

 

 

 

 

Chestnut-rumped Thornbill

 

 

 

Galah - Male & Female

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Kangaroo Joey

 

 

Red Kangaroo - female

 

 

 

 

 

Roadtrip to Hattah CP, Warby Range & Chiltern National Parks Vic

 

 

This year I was lucky enough to find myself with 6 days off over the Easter weekend! To me this obviously means ROADTRIP!

So, packing the essentials  eg cameras, bino's, thermos, hiking gear, Icehouse & Midnight Oil CD's, coffee, camp chairs and laptop I was ready to hit the road.

After sleeping in the mallee near the SA Vic border I found myself at Hattah Kulkyne National Park by 7.45am.

 

 

 

 

 

A few hours of birding had resulted in no luck for my quest to get a photo of the elusive and endangered Mallee Emu-wren. I had seen these birds in 2010 at Billiatt Conservation Park. Sadly a fire has since gone through there and I don’t believe anyone has seen them there since.

I was keen to try and get a photo of them on this trip, but having searched for a few hours I'd almost given up. I was driving back towards the exit when I saw one last spot with habitat that looked pretty good so climbed back out of the car. I'd only walked for a few minutes when suddenly I heard a tiny peep, one of their contact calls coming out of the Triodia. I listened and looked more intensely and sure enough another answered. I was surrounded by these invisible featherballs!

Time and patience is everything in the mallee so I waited, trying to remind myself to breath. Finally I was rewarded when they started moving from clump to clump of their favourite home, Triodia irritans. Perfectly named if you ever get the grass seed stuck under your skin!!

Seeing these little bundles is a real privilege but trying to get a photo is some thing else all together! Talk about an extreme sport!  I am relieved to have something to show for the effort.

 

 Mallee Emu-wren

 

 

 

 

The usual view - Rear End of Mallee Emu-wren

 

 

The male Mallee Emu-wren has blue on his face and white throat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I continued on my journey feeling very happy and slept near Lake Tutchewop before continuing the next morning to Warby-Ovens National Park.

 

 

Lake Tutchewop

 

 

 

 

 

                                                        White-breasted Woodswallow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purple-crowned Lorikeet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birding near Wenhams Camp was great, with the highlight being a lovely Turquoise Parrot who remarkably perched near me long enough for a photo. These little Neophema are notoriously difficult to find perched and flush very easily so I was happy with this little bird!

 

 

Turquoise Parrot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other birds seen here included Speckled Warbler, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Australian Hobby, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Weebill, Noisy Friarbirds were in huge numbers,  Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella, Leaden Flycatcher, Grey Fantail,  Rufous Whistler, Scarlet and Red-capped Robin and White-throated Treecreeper. Painted Button-quail were active near the campground.

 

 

Crested Shrike-tit

 

 

 

Crested Shrike-tit with lunch - a Stick Insect

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

Speckled Warbler

 

 

 

Speckled Warbler are beautiful

 

 

I was sitting at a waterhole near here in the evening when a flock of 20 Gang-gang Cockatoo landed in front of me! One of the males got curious and climbed down to eye level to take a closer look as I sat there. He chatted away quite happily to me, making all sorts of little chatty noises posing as I snapped a few photos. Finally the group decided to move further into the trees to roost. A magic experience.

Male Gang-gang Cockatoo

 

 

 

 

I spent some time birding around Chiltern - Mt Pilot National Park. Especially at Bartley's Block, Klotz Track & Green Hill Dam which as usual was very enjoyable. With similar species seen as at the Warby's but with more Honeyeater species. Plenty of Yellow-tufted & Fuscous Honeyeaters, Black-chinned Honeyeaters, White-winged Chough and a pair of energetic Brown Falcon.

 

 

Six days actually was not long enough, I think 2 weeks would have been better to be able to spend more time at each location. Chiltern is a beautiful little historic town and the buildings are gorgeous. It is worth getting up early to look at the town before it gets busy with tourists during the day! It looks like a movie set!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weebill

 

Lace Monitor

The things you notice while birding! Looks like flights are travelling  further these days!

 

Rufous Whistler - female

 

 

I definitely think the Warby's and Chiltern are 2 of my most favourite birding areas in Victoria and would highly recommend a trip here!

Wedge-tailed Eagle