Big Zigzag Birding

week 020 | Gluepot to Hattah – Kulkyne | trip list 391 – 395

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West Victoria Mallee (and both, only "Mallee" named birds, as lifers!)

In an Eggshell:

  • Big Zigzag bird species count: 395 (+4 this week)
  • Big Zigzag bird families count: 81 (+0 this week: ) 
  • Big Zigzag Lifers: 79 (+4 this week: Chestnut Quail-thrush, Mallee Emu wren, Pink Cockatoo, Malleefowl)
  • Campsite Lifers 19 (+0 this week)
  • Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 109 (+4 this week)
  • eBird days of checklist streak: 138
  • Week’s special milestones: Clean-up genus Stipiturus (Emuwren), Clean-up Megapods of Australia

Bird(s) of the Week​

A warm Victorian welcome with Chestnut Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma castanotum) at Hattah – Kulkyne National Park

Pink Cockatoo (aka Major Mitchel Cockatoo) seems like an easy lifer in the right time and location. I spent a few hour in Ouyen with not much activity, but late afternoon they become the nosiest birds around 

Malleefowl, the mound-builder or the Megapod of the Mallee, not easy to spot. On the right places, they seen feeding on roadsides, dangerous for them, may useful for spotting it. Thanks for Michal from Explore The Mallee from his help!

Mallee Emuwren – ticked at Hattah – Kulkyne National Park, photographed better a few days later at Murray – Sunset National Park

Non-bird image(s)

Crossing from South Australia to Victoria

Mallee landscape at Hattah – Kulkyne NP

Sunset near Ouyen, Pink Cockatoo time

Week's Key location(s)

Hattah-Kulkyne NP was the site for the first to lifers: Chestnut Quail-thrush & Mallee Emuwren. Striped Grasswren was seen as well. I spent most of the time on Nowingi trail.

On the 2 evenings I was in Ouyen, Pink Cockatoos seen west and north to Blackburn Park. During the day could not find them. 

Seems that the best way to see Malleefowl is when the feed on roadsides as Hopetoun Walpeup Rd. May a better option is to contact 

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 16450 km (this week 990 km)

eBird Checklists this week

1519. 30 Nov 2024 10:13 AM Murrayville
1518. 30 Nov 2024 8:41 AM Salt pans west of Ouyen on Mallee Hwy
1517. 29 Nov 2024 6:15 PM Hopetoun Walpeup Rd at -35.30639, 142.17528

1516. 29 Nov 2024 8:49 AM Hopetoun Walpeup Rd at -35.30639, 142.17528

1515. 28 Nov 2024 6:56 PM Ouyen
1514. 28 Nov 2024 6:27 AM Hattah-Kulkyne National Park–Nowingi Track at Konardin Track

1513. 27 Nov 2024 8:54 AM Hattah-Kulkyne National Park–Nowingi Track at Konardin Track

1512. 26 Nov 2024 7:41 PM Kings Billabong Nature Walk, Nichols Point, Victoria, AU (-34.217, 142.227)

1511. 25 Nov 2024 9:25 AM Waikerie River Front Walk

1510. 24 Nov 2024 10:26 AM Gluepot Reserve
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