Sometimes plans change .. Unfortunately the whole week I'm waiting for the car to be fixed. Luckily I'm in Mount Isa - Kalkadoon!
In an Eggshell:
- Big Zigzag bird species count: 308 (+1 this week)
- Big Zigzag bird families count: 78 (+0 this week)
- Big Zigzag Lifers: 53 (+0 this week)
- Campsite Lifers: 14 (+0 this week)
- Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 81 (+0 this week)
- eBird days of checklist streak: 89
- Week’s special milestones: non.
Bird(s) of the Week
Kalkadoon Grasswren (Amytornis ballarae) was hardly seen during my visits here two weeks ago. This week, to ease the long car repair waiting time, it gave me better experience, especially for Global Big Day! Pamela street water tanks, Mount Isa.
pan – pan – panella… this melodious call of the Crested Bellbird was my wakeup call after a night in the desert with a broken car, actually a broken wheel. One day earlier, for unclear reason, one rear tire blew-up, and the other rear just fall apart from its base, and here I am stוck in the desert 500 km from Mount Isa. Luckily with Starlink connection I was able to arrange help, and the rest of this week is just waiting for all the arrangements to be done, and I’ll be up on the roads again.
Buff-banded Rail is mostly common on the east coast of Australia. I was surprised to find it in George McCoy Park, Mt Isa City, on the almost arid Leichhardt River. This eBird hotspot, conveniently located 50 meters from my hotel, has become my daily birding site as I am stuck here until my car is repaired. (photo from 2013),
Non-bird image(s)
100 km north of Lark Quarry, 500 south of Mount Isa, Broken Wheel site. During the 24 hours I was waiting for towing, just 2 cars passed.
The water dripping next to the first Pamela street water tank attracts many thirsty birds.
Week's Key location(s)
Broken Wheel Point -Cork Macunda Road, Middleton, Queensland
At least by eBird checklists, George McCoy Park, Mt. Isa was never birded as hard as this week. The 49 species I recorded there boost this site list from 50 species to 68. Just 50 meters walk from my hotel.
The spinifex around Pamela street water tanks, Mount Isa are great habitat for the skulky Kalkadoon Grasswren, and probably the best birding destination in town.
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 11420 km (this week 0 km)
eBird Checklists this week
