257) Leapin' Lizards!

Nephrurus levis (Smooth knob-tailed gecko) in the Simpson Desert, AU

Nancy is back from 3 weeks in the Simpson Desert being a research field assistant with the Ratcatchers (University of Sydney Desert Ecology Research Group).  I have a new appreciation for herps (that's reptiles and amphibians) like this wonderful gecko--what a smile he has!  When threatened, they lunge their tiny bodies (10 cm!) at their aggressor with a loud wheezing bark (Wilson and Swan, 2010, reptiles of AU). Isn't it amazing such creatures exist?!

Delma butleri (flap-footed lizard)

We were in charge of surveying several areas to keep track over time of who is where, when. This is done using a set of grids across the landscape that are comprised of pitfall traps.  Basically, we see who falls into our holes overnight. We rescue everybody in the morning, measure and weigh them, and set them free again. I recovered this guy from one of the traps that I searched. I hadn't guessed that though he looks like a tiny snake, he is actually a lizard with little vestigal hindlimbs.  They flee with rapid wriggling leaps when approached (Wilson and Swan, 2010).

Ctenophorus nuchalis (Central netted dragon)

Yep, dragons do exist, but bet you didn't know they were as lovely as this one.  No fire-breathing from these guys.  They were the second most common dragon in our area, always a joy to spot.

Gehyra variegata

Some of the reptiles didn't fall into our traps, but we were lucky to see them anyway despite their cryptic colouring.  These two (a gecko and a dragon) were in the trees right in our camp area.

Gowidon longirostris (Long-nosed dragon)

tracks

Not sure who made these tracks, but so nice to see signs of life in the soft sand of the dunes.  On dune crests, there were often myriad tracks of snakes, lizards, mammals and birds.  Fun to imagine the activity when we're not around.

Measuring a Dunnart

We saw great little mammals, too.  Here, Dave Nelson is measuring either Sminthopsis youngsoni or S. hirtipes (Hairy-footed or Lesser hairy-footed Dunnart).

 

Here's a little sandy inland mouse (Pseudomys hermannsbergensis), otherwise affectionally known as P. herm, emerging from a collection bag, ready to  be released to run back to home under a spinifex clump.

Main camp

Our camp was comfortably situated under a patch of Gidgee trees, an acacia of arid environments. The trees provided nice shade during moderately warm days.  While it was hot during a few of the days, some nights were cool--springtime in the desert is fine.  We stayed in '5 million star accommodation'--tents between the dunes under the starry starry sky.

baking bread over the coals

Dave was a superb cook, dinners were fantastic and included delicacies like freshly cooked bread!

betting at the races (mealworm races!!)

And everyone on the trip was fantastically fun--it didn't take much to entertain us, we had a good time when work was done for the day and we could relax and laugh at ridiculous things.

256) More reports from NZ

Time passes and the real world intrudes - the stories fade as do the memories of those places. I had see a picture of this gorge somewhere and we spend a good morning searching for the entrance. Magical place - so I'm not sayin'......

Kokako

The Kokako on Tiri Tiri was great to find. Very few breeding pairs anywhere and many of those in really deep forest, We saw them on our first day and again as we explored the island. This pair came too close for my big lens!!

They have the most marvelous song..

Hihi (Stichbird)

The Hihi was found around feeders which supplement their food. The revegetation on the island (a former cow pasture) is not mature enough to support the nectar feeders -- so sugar water stations are located around. The entrance holes are quite small to keep the larger birds away.
Note the leg bands - most of the endangered species are banded for identification - many even have names!

Kakariki (Red-crowned Parakeet)

North Island Robin

 This is one of the three NZ parakeets. All are endanger in the wild but this species breeds well in captivity. They are doing well on the island  and are seen in long looping flights near the  ocean.




















The robin are great fun - like Ozzie robins they are quite curious - if you scuff up the trail they come in to see if you have found lunch!

Very serious sailors in NZ. There were quite a few pretty high-end racing yachts around.

255) More New Zealand

At  Te-Reinga - the place where spirits enter the underworld on the N tip of NZ- is a lone kahika tree - Te Aroha. The spirits descend to the water on the tree's roots and continue to their spiritual home - Hawaiki

 Dirk contemplate the lighthouse at Cape Reinga overlooking the meeting between the Tasman and the Pacific Ocean.




















One of the eclectic cottages at Pagoda House in Kerikeri on the east coast. Each cottage is unique, from a truly tiny tree-house (where I stayed) to lavish platforms tents, an old tugboat, these gypsy-caravan themed cottages, and  a  refurbished 1950's trailer.

 No trip up the East coast would be complete without a stop at the bathroom in Kawakawa designed by the 20th century architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Note the  wine bottles forming the entrance wall.










The Saddleback is another of the NZ conservation success stories. From a population of 500 birds on one island there are now an estimated 7000 birds relocated on 11 islands. The related huia was last seen in 1963 so its not all good.

A Whitehead with breakfast on Tiri-tiri

Ah -- there are things in the deep here!

254) Land of the Long White Cloud

Tui dispersing pollen from NZ flax flowers

My major academic conference was in New Zealand so December was an opportune time for us to return.  Post conferencing Nancy came down and we toured the sanctuary 'islands' (both literal and figurative) of the N. Island. Once populated with many amazing species, NZ has seen 25% of its native species go extinct and many more at on the edge. Although human impacts play a role, one of the biggest contributors are introduced species - rats, mice, stoats, Australian possums. As they attempt to slow the loss of birds, conservation-minded kiwis (that is, inhabitants of New Zealand) have taken to extreme measures (see "The Big Kill" http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/22/big-kill) and have miraculously created "pest free" islands off-shore and fenced sanctuaries on the mainland.

At Reinga Lighthouse

I headed to the far north point of the Northern Island while waiting for Nancy's arrival. Point Reinga is a wonderful place where spirits depart the land. The history of the area weighs heavy as the cleared fields attest to the  timber and Kauri Gum industries which the residents depended on.

Takahe

Whitehead

A number of NZ bird species went to the wire. Once thought extinct, a relict population of Takahe was"rediscovered" in 1948 high in the mountains at the extreme of their range.  At one point their population dropped to 118 birds - current estimates are about 250 adult birds. This is one of a breeding pair on Tiri-tiri Matangi, an amazing predator-free island just a 30 min ferry ride from Auckland. 

Kereru (New Zealand Pigeon)

The little Whiteheads (Popokotea) were a bit hard to spot sometimes, but they had cheerful little chirps and whistles and moved about in sociable flocks.





















The Kereru are big beautiful birds.  A bit clumsy, they often gave themselves away when thrashily flying through the forest and landing heavily on bendy boughs. 

Korimako (Bellbird)

The Korimako have a lovely clear bell-like song.  Like the Tui, they have a noisy whirring flight.  We would have loved to hear the songs of the forest when the New Zealand birds were plentiful--they have such beautiful songs. This is a bird on Tiri-tiri - note the banded legs for identifications)

Silvereye (pollen on forehead)

Silvereye are relative newcomers to New Zealand, they get around and about.  They're also present in Australia.  This one is feeding on flax flowers - thus the pollinated forehead!

253) Festival of Fairywrens

Splendid Fairywren

We finally made time to head to Round Hill - an ecological island 500 km inland. It is an island in that there are some endangered species there which are geographically separated from the rest of their range (as if they were on an actual island). We were pleases to find a good number of Splendid Fairywrens  in their breeding-plumage glory.

Splendid Fairywren (Female)

The females were delightful, flitting about with their tails swishing to and fro.

Splendid Fairywren

Variegated Faireywren

We also had good views of beautifully plumaged Variegated Fairywrens

Variegated Fairywren

A wonderful find in some roadside saltbrush was a family of White-winged Fairywrens. With some patience I finally got a reasonably close view of one of the males - they are quite shy and keep their distance.

Inland Thornbill

We also spend some time determining the differences between the Inland Thornbill (here)...

...and the Chestnut Rumped Thornbill. Fast, twitchy flyers and really really similar!

Brown Songlark

Brown Songlark in full breeding plumage. What was striking was the size difference between the males and females (below)

Southern Scrub-robin

We were happy to find a few scrub-robins who were happy to lead me on a merry chase out into the malee (always an issue when you can't see the car and can't see anything but endless dry trees. No landmarks at all!)

Red-capped Robin (female)

The female Red-capped Robins were happy to pose - the males were about but far skitchiyer..

On returning to camp we were pleased to find a small flock of Southern Whitefaces around our tent. We have seen them (rarely) singly before but never in a flock.





















Nancy also found this amazing Shingback - prehistoric! This is his threat-posture as Nancy crouched to take a picture (as I sensibly stood 10 feet away ready to rescue her!)



Unfortunately our choice of weekends could have been better. We didn't find any of the unusual species we had hoped for - it has been really dry in the region and we picked the hottest weekend on record (for November - 43.7 C (110 F)!

So we will return come cooler temps to search, once again, for the our desired list....

252) A Quick Jaunt Down South

Flame Robin

I had a workshop in Canberra (Australia's capital - 3 .5 hrs south) and Nancy took the bus down to join me to explore some new terrain afterwards. We enjoyed the Rose Robins in Brisbane as we left, the Scarlet Robins in SE QLD and finally had some good sighting of the Flame Robin in one the great 'urban' birding areas just outside Canberra (a woodland right next to a large office park).

For comparison, here is  Scarlet Robin we saw in Buderoo National Park near Sydney  two days later. More black than grey and less red on the chest.

Superb Parr

Another major draw were the Superb Parrots that are doing very well in the green areas of the city. We had met  Canberra locals Tony and Cathy on a wildflower hike in N. Sydney and they graciously took us to the Olympic Training facility (parrots in the trees in the parking lot) and then to  a green belt in the 'burds where blooming trees were a draw for a heap of Superbs. Australia parrots are just amazing.....

White-winged Choughs

They also took us out to Mulligans flat - a predator-proofed (fenced) nature reserve N of town. It was pretty dry but we did did find this group of 8-10 White-winged Choughs fighting over who got to sit on the nest! They are communal nesting birds who share duties but it was quite a raucous ritual!

Southern Emu-wren

Back in Royal National Park I made another pilgrimage to Watamolla (a beach with good heath on the cliffs above) and got a slightly better photo of a Southern Emu-wren. This is one of Australia's smallest birds if you consider the tail is 2/3 its total length! They are quite shy and I am still on a mission to obtain a better photo.