Black Fronted Dotterel's at Texas - Easter 2013

Dumaresq River - Texas 2013

This Easter weekend saw us take our second family Camping/Fishing/Birding weekend to Texas on the Qld/NSW Border of the Dumaresq River.  This time were were camped in a different location from the previous visit two years ago and were on the New South Wale's Side of the river. The spot in which we camped was on a private property which our brother-in-law and his father had taken the time to manicure the head-high cobbler's peg's the week before so we were able to camp comfortably.  When we arrived at camp I witnessed a large brown bird of prey scoop a fish up from the river and while watching this, my brother in-law's father told me that the previous week when they had visited the spot to mow the grass, they had witnessed a platypus in the creek just before dark!  The property owner had confirmed their sighting telling them that platypus had always been common on their property but during the drought years had disappeared for some time, but in the last few years since the increased rainfall they had again returned and they witnessed them regularly.  Unfortunately it was not our turn to see this beautiful creature in the wild ourselves, despite me getting up early in the morning.  The location however looked perfect for platypus and it was wonderful to hear that they are surviving well in this area.

Birding wise -  my bird list is far less that my previous visit to Texas, I did see a "newbie" bird for me - the beautiful little Black Fronted Dotterel's which camouflaged beautifully with the large river rocks on the river edge, the Azure Kingfisher was only a fleeting flash of blue for me, but Brendon saw a pair of them as did other family members who kayaked along the river.  Unfortunately the sudden onset of rain on Sunday morning stopped any further birding on the last day. All in all it was a great weekend in a beautiful part of the country with great company in the great outdoors.

Happy Easter,

Judi


Bird List for Texas - 29-31 March 2013

1. White-Plumed Honeyeater
2. Pale-headed Rosella
3. Noisy Miner
4. Rainbow Lorikeet
5. Scaley-breasted Lorikeet
6. Red-winged Parrots
7. Red-rumped Parrots
8. Galah
9. Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
10. Little Corella
11. Peaceful Dove
12. Crested Pigeon
13. Curraong
14. Galah
15. Australian Magpie
16. Grey Butcherbird
17. Pee Wee (Magpie Lark)
18. Superb Blue Wren
19. Striated Pardalote
20. Black Fronted Dotterel
21. Wood Duck
22. Pied Cormorant
23. Darter
24. Straw-necked Ibis
25. Restless Flycatcher
26. Willie Wagtail
27. Azure Kingfisher
28. Laughing Kookaburra
29. Welcome Swallow
30. Apostlebirds
31. Unknown Brown coloured Kite/Falcon
32. Black-shouldered Kite
33. Southern Boobook Owl

Other Species:

1. Eastern Grey Kangaroo
2. Eastern Water Dragon

Butterflies:

1. Wanderer
2. Lesser Wanderer
3. Orchard Swallowtail
4. Cabbage White Moth

Fish:

1. Yellowbelly
2. Murrary Cod 
3. Freshwater Catfish (Jew Fish)
4. European Carp x 1 (Disposed of)

I loved the reflection of this gum tree on the Dumaresq River late afternoon,
however I think the photo didn't really capture how beautiful it was at the time.

Weeping Willows on the Dumaresq River

White-Plumed Honeyeater

Female Superb Blue Wren

Black Fronted Dotterel

Black Fronted Dotterel with reflection

Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo's - a daily sight in large numbers

Peaceful Doves

Dragonfly

Dragonfly (Scarlet Percher???)

Galah's

These Bright Yellow Flowers/Weeds were abundant amongst the cobbler's pegs under the gum trees.

Flowering Grasses on the Dumaresq River

On the first morning that I rose early in hope of seeing a platypus - I witnessed this Eastern Grey Kangaroo's odd behaviour as it went from one side of the river where the rapids began, to the other and back three times before finally deciding to emerge from the water on the other side, it was almost like it was going for an early morning swim!

Lastly - two "Cabbage White Moths" that were also in large numbers in the mud on the rivers edge.