queensland

I only just noticed the bright reflected stripes across his chest; obviously coming from the ripples on the water. I've only just realised too, that these guys have a slightly upturned bill! But you can't really see it in this angle. Strange how things suddenly occur to you isn't it.

The emus drank their fill and started to walk away. They'd really hardly got out of sight when another came in from behind us and walked down to the water just yard from the car! He then waded through to the other side and went off in the same direction as the others. I haven't even cropped...

After the Goshawk, things went rather quiet and as it was getting towards lunchtime we set off back to the cabin. En route we stopped off at a different part of the Homestead Dam. There was a family group of Emus there, and at sight of our car the youngsters were ushered back behind a bush. But...

The last one from that session at the Back Dam was this Masked Woodswallow. Dapper guys these I think. This is a nomadic species found in central areas of Australia, very rarely on the coast.

Suddenly Hans could hardly contain his excitement, and alerted us to a Brown Goshawk coming in. He settled not far from me and stayed for a few minutes. What a lovely bird this one is and, obviously, a Lifer for me too. Needless to say all the small birds we'd been watching had disappeared!

A flock of Galahs flew in, most settling in the tree, then some started to drop down onto the dead branch in the water. There's 5 there, you can just see one drinking on the far right.

A female White-winged Triller was another species to come in to this very isolated outback dam. It really was like an oasis in the middle of a desert.

.... with a startling white eye!! This is the Australian Raven and another Lifer would you believe! Three of them came in then flew away.

Another old friend turned up at the dam for a drink - a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater. Not the closest of the birds, as he was on the far left bank but my camera seemed to cope not too badly.

Three Cockatiels flew down for a drink, a male with two females. Such pretty wee birds and so lovely to see them in the wild too.

Then another Life.... this pretty little White-plumed Honeyeater. They were probably the most common species to visit this dam and there were quite a few of them.

We headed for what's called the Back Dam and after getting ourselves settled under bushes near the waterside waited to see what would come. The first bird down for a drink was a very pretty little Diamond Dove and a new Lifer for me.

Early the next morning Hans and Judy were back for me, bringing breakfast with them, which we had in the beer garden. Shortly after getting through the gates to the reserve, we found a Major Mitchell's Cockatoo on top of a dead tree. This view, with the crest erected is one most bird...

There was now a Galah in a dead tree on the dam, seems to be talking to himself! The light was beginning to go now, as you can see. So it was time to return to Cunnamulla, my base for the next two nights. Hans and Judy had accommodation at Bowra, but they were full for my first two days... I...

I showed you a female triller from the other end of the dam taken in the morning. Well this afternoon there were a pair at the top end and this handsome male was foraging on the ground. Nice birds, aren't they.

Now we were back and passing the Homestead Dam again but the top end of it. Here a Masked Lapwing was presiding. There are two subspecies the nominate from New Guinea and North Australia, and this one from south and east Australia and New Zealand (which may one day be split as Black-shouldered...

I saw this species on my very first day of birding with Ken, and here he is again with Hans & Judy. Such a sweet looking bird this one.

Shortly after taking the picture of the Whistler, this Black Kite flew across and landed in a tree not too far away from us.

A group of pretty Fairy Martins sitting on telegraph wires. I'm sure someone musical could do something with it LOL

After lunch we set off to drive around the reserve. Hans had hear whispers of a Black Buzzard, both though we found the location, there was no sign of the bird. On the drive found this Whistling Kite who flew around for a bit and had a battle with a Black Kite, and I'll show you him later...

..... Lifer. Rather attractive Masked Woodswallows. These are females. They seem to be trying to cool down, it was very hot there that day.

We had both the dotterels at the dam, this time a juvenile Red-kneed Dotterel. He seems to have long legs too, doesn't he LOL

On a dead tree in the middle of the dam was a pretty Rainbow Bee-eater.

There really was quite an assortment of species using this dam. Here's a Little Corella, wasn't expecting that, as I was looking for waders LOL

An adult Pied Stilt was keeping a wary eye on her youngsters. These guys can be quite feisty if anything comes too close!