Plains Wanderer

Eastern Rosella

We're three days into a three week trip in the Australian interior. Our hosts for this trip are Patricia and Philip Maher, operators of Australian Ornithological Services. We've been on a trip with them before, our Tasmanian endemic tour in January. Phil is one of the top guides in Australia and Trisha keeps us organized, fed and lodged. They are a great team and run a fantastic tour service. 

The trip we are on is their Strzelecki Track Outback Tour where we will travel over 3000 miles of remote outback to see many Australian specialty birds. We left Melbourne on Sunday heading north in some unusually cold weather. Rain hasn't been too much of a problem but it's been pretty windy. Still, birding has been exceptional with many lifers for us both (this is our third trip to Australia). 

The major stops on our journey (in CCW direction)

Yesterday we entered grassland plains habitat, somewhat similar to the northern grassland prairie of North America. Our target bird for this day was the flagship species of the tour, the Plains Wanderer. This bird is the only member of its family and a very difficult one to see. In daytime they hunker down in the grass and are virtually impossible to locate. As we learned, the trick to finding them is an expert guide like Phil and trekking out in the dark for a spotlight expedition. 

After an incredible dinner (of lamb, of course) cooked by Trisha at a sheep sheering headquarters outbuilding, Phil and two of the landowners (John and his son Robert) took us in 4X4s for a drive across the prairie. It wasn't long before we picked up another tough bird to see - Stubble Quail.

Stubble Quail

Shortly after that the vehicle piloted by Phil turned up our first of three Plains Wanderers. Their behavior at night is considerably different than during the days as they will pretty much stand to a spotlight for extended views. It was a very special evening for 9 lucky birders. 

Plains Wanderer

  

We are continuing north into Mallee country now. The central deserts are still to come. Here are a couple photos of other species we've seen that I've had time to process.

Red-capped Robin

Spotted Pardalote

Brown Treecreeper