Is there such a thing as the wrong parrot?

Sunday the 19th May is the day birders all over South Eastern Australian head out to look for the Swift Parrot and the Regent Honeyeater in an attempt to gauge just how threatened these two species really are.  We decided that the grove of Ironbark just east of the The Mystery Pond would be a massive attraction to any passing Regents or Swifties and so we laid our plans.  As Tiff was banding on the Saturday, I made my way up for my first solo night in the cabin; a huge undertaking for someone who is terrified of her own shadow most of the time!

After a more than frustrating trip through the mountains (roadworks and coffee shops in Blackheath contributing in equal measure), I arrived just in time for a cuppa.  And then I got to work increasing the clearing around the cabin, chopping and hacking at the abundant biddy bush while trying to leave any wattle and styphelia well alone.  There were a couple of casualties, but all in all I was pretty pleased with my progress until I stood back and saw there was very little change!

Oh well, at least there will be lots of kindling next time. 

After a surprisingly mild, and uneventful night (I am sure it was just kangaroos coughing in the darkness and nothing more sinister) it was another glorious Little Bunda day heralded by one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen.  The old adage "...red sky in the morning, shepherds' warning" went through my mind but I was pretty sure we had nothing to fear for the day ahead.

And so it proved to be.  Tiff arrived about 9 and shortly after Gillian, a birder from Orange, turned up.  The three of us were to keep any counting of Regents and Swifties honest; as the KGB well knew, 2 can be corrupted but with 3, one will always snitch.

The sky was one of those impossible birding skies where everything is just a silhouette but as things started of incredibly quietly, that wasn't really a problem.  About half-way down the hill the honeyeaters and thornbills started appearing and by the time we reached the ironbark we were feeling quite please with the morning.  Unfortunately, the ironbark was only just coming into flower so not the beacon of nectar-highs we were hoping it would be.  Luckily that hadn't deterred all the honeyeaters and among the calls of Yellow-faced and White-napeds Tiff suddenly heard a Black-chinned Honeyeater.  And then another.  Flitting high in the canopy, in with the White-napeds just to make it extra difficult, were about 6 of these gorgeous threatened honeyeaters.  Another new species for the block and a threatened one at that!

After all that excitement it was time for a sit down and a banana.  The Brown Treecreeper was pretending to be a thrush in the Mystery Pond clearing and the Eastern Spinebills zoomed and clacked their wings around our heads, clearly working off the styphelia.  Then suddenly, two bright yellow bellies whizzed overhead, tweeping at each other.  I knew I didn't recognise the sound and Tiff's excited shout of "Turqs"was enough to have us charging up the hill after them.  But my first Turquoise Parrots had gone and no amount of pishing brought them back.  However, it was a great way to reach species number 80 AND our 8th threatened species.  That makes our Threatened Species Strike Rate 10%, which you would have to say was pretty outstanding.

And so another Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot Survey Day is done and though we struck out on those two, I think our substitutes were just as good, if not better as I have seen a Regent but I had never seen a Black-chinned one or a Turquoise Parrot before.

A Long Weekend

There is nothing like a long weekend (for those of us who have the whole weekend off work, of course).  In my case, a long weekend means a short intensive week churning out the 5 day's work in 4 so the anticipation is slightly ruined by frantic phone calls at 3pm on Thursday saying things are missing, unavailable or incomplete.  These are then followed up early Friday morning over coffee and hot cross buns and then again, 3 hours later, just as I hit the 110km/h zone outside Lithgow.  However, by the Mudgee turn-off, all is sorted and the long weekend can begin in earnest.

We were lucky enough to have company again this weekend.  A 10 year old can sometimes be above such things as spending time in the great outdoors with aunts, but not this one.  However, I suspect some of her enthusiasm is more due to escaping the presence of her 4 year old brother.

First things first though and, being Good Friday, a cup of tea and a hot x bun was in order as soon as we unpacked.  The cabin is really beginning to take shape and now the mattresses are in place, no more sleeping on the floor!

The next thing was to sort out was the fire-pit, something we have been talking about but not quite got around too.  Previous evenings had not been too bad but the time had come for some heating so out came the mattock and voila! a perfect fire-pit.  Rocks for the edges and firewood was never going to be an issue, though each piece was carefully inspected for residents first.

Unfortunately someone forgot the marshmallows and experiments with mandarin proved disappointing but we will be ready to go next time.  Recipes for open fire cooking gratefully accepted, unless they are for s'mores! 

It would appear that bush food is not going to be a problem.  We had already been told that Sifton or Biddy Bush can be used to make tea though I can find nothing to support that so we will have to wait for some unwary visitors to experiment on.

Sifton Bush as far as the eye can see

Yabbi

A big walk on Saturday did reveal lots of other food options including Kangaroo Apples, a type of bush tomato, and a yabbi.  

Unripe Kangaroo Apple

OK, food might be a problem if you are really hungry or there are more than two of you, but it does go to show what is there if you look carefully.  And of course there is alway funghi, in such a variety of shapes and sizes though what they are and if they are edible will have to wait another day.  And another group of unsuspecting visitors!

As always there were plenty of birds to see and we ticked off all 6 threatened species pretty easily for a change.  I managed my best sighting ever of a Diamond Firetail, and after half an hour was wondering what had made them so hard to see on previous occasions!  Perhaps this pair were slightly distracted by whatever goings on were going on.

Eastern Spinebill (renamed Easter Spinebill!) seemed to be the bird of the weekend as they made the most of the Styphelia which was just coming into flower.  They had a bit of competition for the sugary nectar when more visitors arrived on Sunday, though I am sure there was enough for them and the 4 year old.  The Scarlet Robin was calling incessantly from near the road and even the elusive Brown Treecreeper put in an appearance.  

There were regular sightings of Wedge-tailed Eagles overhead and the discovery of an eerie (at the top of a tree in a gully so the nest was almost eye level) had to be one of the highlights of the weekend.  Roll on spring and baby eagles!

Spot the Chestnut-rumped Heathwren

The chestnut-rumped Heathwren was its usual elusive self though I am pretty sure I caught it lurking in the woodpile.  Apparently it is a bit of a mimic so what sounded like a seriously cheesed of Scrubbie in the Sifton Bush might just as easily been a CRHW having a laugh.  If only birds had one call and would stick to it, I really might stand a chance but with so many mimics around (the Mistletoe Bird was practicing its repertoire as well) I was just confused.

                                                                              There was also some birdbath action over the weekend, though the freezing nights meant a review of where it sits so that the ice will melt much quicker in the mornings.  This rustic birdbath, made from bits of leftover cabin, is perfectly serviceable and just goes to show you don't need to go mad.  It does seem to be the domain of the Willie Wagtails though.  In fact, the whole cabin seems to be their playground with sliding down the roof being their favourite game.

Greenhood orchids were plentiful, when you noticed them, making clambering through the woods a dangerous business indeed.  Looking up trees for birds and funghi while avoiding eye level twigs and branches and looking where you put your feet to avoid stumbling and/or orchids doesn't sound at all relaxing.  But there is no rush and so always plenty of time to look all around and avoid (most) of the beautiful plants that grow close to the ground.

Diamond Firetail

One last walk on Monday morning, before breaking camp and heading into the Easter traffic, produced the biggest sighting of the weekend, and more bushtucker!  This Sambar deer was as surprised to see me as I was to see it and after giving me the once over it turned tail and trotted down into a gully and away from the noisy intruders.  A direct competitor for food with the native roos and wallabies, it really doesn't belong on Little Bunda but it was still hard not to stop and admire it in the morning lig

Bambi for lunch anyone?

Knicker Drift

The downside to a weekender is the division of property between the two homes, leading to what I recently heard described as "knicker drift". All the visits up until now have been full of important deliveries: paint, furniture, bedding, crockery, but now finally, the end is in sight.  What will make the next trip quite momentous is that it will be the last of these big delivery trips as I squeeze two single mattresses, 3 pairs of curtains and their accompanying poles into the car.  From then on, all I will have to worry about is knicker drift.

Visitors

And so the day has come when we host our first (unrelated) visitors.  Grand Dame Sofia, the Lord Trayon and Prince William (possibly not their real names) arrive just in time for lunch on Saturday.  In the meantime we had jerry-rigged some weather proffing for the "Loo With the View" as rain had been predicted.

Now shower-proof Loo With a View

Can't help feeling that a blue tarp strung from trees always screams "dunny".  Ah well, better than getting rained on while going about one's business.

The plus side of huge piles of cumulous nimbus overhead is, however, intersting atmospheric phenomana; in this case a halo around the sun.  I had to take this through my polarised sun-glasses to capture the full effect so couldn't actually see a thing!  I am quite pleased with the result

Halo

There was just time to do a quick scout around for the Spotted Quail-thrush (no luck) before The Visitors arrived.  A slightly different direction this time took as to the top of a steep cliff and rewarded us with a splendid view of a Scarlet Robin.  Three Rainbow Bee-eaters busily migrating overhead were the weekend's first new sighting for the block, though the bad light and their quick progression made it impossible to get a look at them.  But now that we know we lie on their migration path, we can be ready next year.

Back to the cabin to discover the Grand Dame and her entourage had arrived so time to show off Little Bunda to a some tree-hugging, bird-watching pals.  

After admiring the 'Wendy House' and a delicious lunch of quiche and a bit more quiche, we set off for The Mystery Pond. Prince William (Bill to his mates) needed to be firmly restrained as the scents and sights of Little Bunda were just too tempting for him.  I did mention he was a dog didn't I?

Following the carefully flagged path to The MP we were a little concerned at the lack of birds.  Admittedly it was high noon but when you have been boasting to your visitors of your extensive bird list, is a little demoralising to not even be able to produce a Brown Thornbill.

However, as we progressed down the steep hillside through groves of Ironbark, White-box and Kurrajong even our Grand Dame Sofia had to admit it was a bit nice.  Eastern Spinebill, Brown Treecreeper (one of our threatened species) and Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters all added to the charm.

The recent good rainfalls didn't seem to have made a huge impression on The Mystery Pond but we were pleased to see there were still at least 3 turtles swimming about.

An Eastern Long-necked Turtle

Hmm, will have to look this one up

The rain had, however, had an effect on the local funghi.  Dozens of different varieties have sprung up but few as colourful as these two.  

Boletus ananas

We didn't risk mushroom omelettes for dinner.

I might have mentioned before that reptiles seemed a bit thin on the ground at Little Bunda but it might be because they are all as shy as this little guy.  He took some catching but then very kindly posed for some quick diagnostic photos before being set free again.

A shy Nobbi Dragon

Grey Butcherbird

While taking a well earned break at the pond, and watching 3 Wedge-tails circling above us, a Grey Butcherbird came in to check us out.  He obviously thought we looked a bit shifty as he followed us back up the hill, shooing us out of his territory and making sure we didn't steal the silver on the way out.

After a brief interlude, when Bill took off after scents unknown and we stomped about shouting "Bill!" to no avail, we settled down to a delicious dinner, a rather nice bottle of red and earth hour.

Cor!

Not that we had any lights to turn out.  Just as well really as we were dive bombed by bats and any bright lights might have improved their aim!

After a spot of spot-lighting (apparently GD Sofia and I were being a little foolish expecting aboreal mammals and should have been happy with the Giant centipede, Green Hood Orchid and large Hunstmen spiders) and some healthy debates on various topics we all retired but not before hearing our first Owl for the block - a Boobook who continued to chirp on and off all night.

Finally!

Sunday started off just as leisurely as it should with plenty of tea, coffee and muesli all round.  Though a hunt for the elusive Scarlet Robin and a tripout to the Callitris lookout was on offer, I opted to stay at the cabin and tackle the daybed.  The rather large Swedish furniture company had happily swapped the distorted frame for one more fit for the job and, with the help of the Grand Dame, we soon had a completed, sturdy and rather smart day bed ready for use.  Well, apart from the mattresses: they are at the top of the list for the next trip.  When the wanderers returned there was just time for more tea and banana bread, and a tantalising brief glimpse of a Chestnut-rumped Heath-wren before every had to leave; except me.  There was the usual round of goodbyes, followed by the usual round of "did you pack the......"s and then all was quiet and I was by myself.

There were a few twitters in the bushes, some squeaks from the trees and 8 4WDs headed up the dirt road coming from who knows where but clearly heading home after a weekend of trail-biking.  Peace and quiet.

Nankeen Kestrels over the road - grrrrrr

Suddenly I spotted to bright blobs in the tops of two dead trees over the roads.  That beautiful, brilliant brown could only be Nankeen Kestrels - still missing from our list.  I watched them for a while, willing them to find something more interesting in our trees, on our side of the road but with no luck.  They flew off and I was left wondering what it was about rusty cars and goats that so attracted the them.

Bill - AKA Prince William, AKA You Evil Dog

Ahh, how I love to be alone in the country

The problem is, you never really are.  As we sloshed on the paint in companionable silence last weekend, with only bird calls and the occasional very high aeroplane to bother us, I think we both thought how lucky we are.  Then Cher arrived.  I don't mean literally, but it would appear that the neighbour likes a bit of Cher on a Saturday afternoon.  It sounded like a "Best of... " compilation CD on high rotation with the filler tracks skipped: Turn Back Time and that one from Spalsh again and again and again.  Not surprising then that after a couple of hours we were humming along.

Occasionally we got a reprieve as the wind swung around to the east and as the afternoon wore on the music improved a bit with some classy 90s ladies - Sinead, Tori, Kate.  When it stopped and I felt my head explode with the silence.

Sunday afternoon appeared to be a repeat session so I suspect it coincides with the first beer of the day.  Sounds like a plan to me.

Bird Lists

I can't remember any birds from the first visit.  The landholder walked us up through the cleared area - "ideal spot for a dwelling" - through the wood to what is now known as The Callitris Lookout, a stand of Black Callitris on the ridge with views between trees across the Macquarie flood plain.  There were clear signs of Kangaroos, Echidnas and Wombats but I cannot recall a single bird sighting from that day!  Amazing to think we are now up to 65; not that I have seen them all as Tiff, living closer, has had a few extra visits.

Little Bunda

The "official" bird lists started in August 2013 when the land wasn't even ours.  The hunt for The Mystery Pond saw us stray onto the neighbouring property looking for a gentle way down the ridge but all we found was exposed track and a wild pig.  Crossing back over the "border" we were rewarded with our first threatened species, a Diamond Firetail and not much later the second, a pair of Speckled Warblers.  As we trudged back up the hill, we spotted out third, a Scarlet Robin.  Not a bad way to start the list!  Among other sightings that day was a Wedge-tailed Eagle high over-head, a White-throated Treecreeper (now known as Lungs as it never seems to draw breath) and the ever present shadow of a Grey Fantail, stalking us and demanding to be counted.

The Mystery Pond

How Little Bunda Came To Be

Inspired by a friend's sea-change, Tiff and I decided to explore the opportunities for a tree-change, or at least a part-time one.  Luckily with a job that takes her all over NSW looking at people's properties (and an ability to spy on them from satellites), Tiff was ideally suited to sniff out something suitable and in May 2013, whilst doing a flora and fauna survey on a property 40 minutes north-west of Bathurst, she came across the perfect spot.

Part of a bigger property called Bundaburra, Little Bunda was part of a sub-division as it was unsuitable for running cattle on due to its steep topography and dense woodland.  Dense woodland and steep topography appealed greatly to us so we snapped it up.

It didn't take long to agree on a price, but the mortgaging and sale process took a ridiculously long time so it wasn't until October 2013 that we finally settled and were able to really start exploring it.

Time To Paint

When the cabin went up in November, we were told to get some paint on it asap to protect it from the extreme elements Little Bunda is exposed to.  But November and December were busy, January is just too hot so it had to be February.  And then of course there was the colour decision: to blend or not to blend.  Which shade of blue/green/purple/grey?  Different trim or not?  Oh, decisions, decisions.

In the end I went with green (of course) with white trim.  Having been assured that one time would do the whole cabin, I panicked on the drive up and bought another 4 litres; just in case.

Brushes, rollers, drop sheets, ladders.  Check, check, check.  And then the hard work started.  And blimey, was it hard!  Starting on the two most exposed walls made sense but in the afternoon sun, we were both soon sweating buckets and wondering what we had let ourselves in for.  After finishing the first tin of paint, and just over half of the cabin, we decided to call it a day.

The decision then to start putting the bed together was probably not a very well thought out one as the light was fading and we were both tired and hungry.  Luckily, part of the bed turned out to be so badly bent that it was impossible to erect so we gave up, cooked dinner and lay on a blanket under the stars until the cold drove me inside, to my mattress on the floor.

Day two didn't start too early and after the usual morning potterings we got stuck into and completed the painting.  Well almost.  The trim on one window and the door still needs to be done and a second coat will be required, but for the moment "that will do, Pig", as my sister put it.

So what to do now?  A stroll through the south-west corner of the block seemed the perfect plan and we were lucky enough to pick up a new species (number 65) when a Brown Goshawk alighted briefly above us.  Back to the cabin for tea and Gingersnaps and a guest appearence by a gorgeous Bearded Dragon, the colours of sandstone and only 2 metres away.  We watched it as it watched us.

And then it changed colour!  

Time to pack up and head home after a wonderfully satisfying, if knackering, weekend.