Binoculars in the Backcountry: September 2017

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Grasswrens

Once you've seen a grasswren, you're hooked. This obscure genus of Maluridae (Australian wrens, not closely related to North American wrens) is just becoming better understood with their secretive nature and relatively inaccessible habitats. There are currently 11 recognized species which is sure to go up as isolated populations are studied further and likely split. On our trip though the central desert outback we hunted 5 species. Each species is tied to a very specific habitat type.

On the edge of the huge lignum swamps northeast of Tiboobura and Sturt National Park we scoured endlessly for two mornings before finally wrestling a pair of Grey Grasswrens (Amytornis barbatus) from the nearly impenetrable foliage. Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta) is associated with alternately wet and dry desert areas that can become vast swamps during good rains. That wasn't the case this year as the lignum was bone dry having seen less than an inch of rain in the previous year. It was tough going for the grasswrens and their population numbers were clearly very low.

Very dry lignum swamp

Hunting Grey Grasswren

Grey Grasswren

Atop the sand dunes at the edge of the Strzelecki Desert we found a pair of Eyrean Grasswren (Amytornis goyderi) in the tough sandhill canegrass (Zygochloa paradoxa). No canegrass, no grasswrens.

Sand dunes

Eyrean Grasswren

Next up was the Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus, ssp. raglessi) in bluebush habitat on the eastern edge of the Strzelecki Track. This extremely shy and secretive bird typically darts from one bush to another, barely giving a glance.

Thick-billed Grasswren

Then it was on to the Flinders Ranges and the spinifex grass covered rocky red mountains, the habitat of the Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi). Pay attention when you are stumbling around in spinifex, this needle sharp rigid grass bites hard. It took all morning and 5 miles of traipsing about the hills to find a single group of 4 individuals. The drought is hard on all the birds.

Spinifex habitat of the Flinders Ranges

Short-tailed Grasswren

The final species was the more widespread, but surely to be split futher in years to come, Striated Grasswren (Amytornis striatus striatus). The subspecies we sought was the Mallee country bird of mixed spinifex, saltbush and mallee tree habitat north of Adelaide.

Spinifex, saltbush and mallee trees

Striated Grasswren

When compared to the parrots and other colorful birds, the grasswrens certainly aren't the sexiest. But when you consider their character, specific habitat requirements, and difficulty to see, there's a lot to like. We set out to find five species and got them all, no doubt because of our expert guide Philip Maher who's been chasing these guys for over 30 years. Now that we're nearly half-way to seeing them all, it will be hard not to want to go back for more!

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Birding the Outback Desert

Letter-winged Kite (one of the three most difficult to see raptors in Australia)

We're back in relative civilization north of Adelaide after over a week in the outback central desert. The birding was excellent even with the severe and continuing drought. Our trip list is near 250 species with a few days to go. One focus of the desert is a family of difficult to see species - the grasswrens. We have one more species to go tomorrow so I'll do a special post just on them later. The scenery, by western North America standards wasn't much, but the Flinders Range for a couple days was nice. We have two days left on the trip before heading home and have really enjoyed our outback experience.