Where are the birds?
Submitted: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 08:49
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jdphoto
Hi all,
I've been lurking for a while, and have found this
forum to be full of great info...so I hope I can get get some advice on the best current locations to see and photograph birds in Southwestern QLD and Northeastern SA?
In particular, with the water flowing in the Eyre, Diamantina and Cooper(I believe) has anyone been out that way recently and where can you get close to the wetlands and which ephemeral lakes have water right now?
More specifically...do the lakes in
Currawinya have water? I know they are on the Paroo, but if there is water there it is worth a stop on the way out from
Sydney.
How about the lakes between
Boulia and
Bedourie? I think part of and ABC segmant on Lake Eyre was filmed on one of those lakes, but I missed the name. And what is the flow in the Diamantina like at Diamantina NP and at Bridsville?
Or if you have been somewhere else out there that I haven't mentioned, please let me know where to head.
Thanks in advance...
Reply By: Rosco - Qld - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:04
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:04
JD
I'll answer one part ....
Currawinya definitely worth a visit. I'm sure the lakes will be full (they were last August) one is salt and the other just across the way is fresh + heaps of birdlife.
Cheers
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: jdphoto - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:59
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:59
I've been through
Currawinya twice---once about 12 years ago and the lakes had water. Last time was about 4-5 years ago and they were both bone dry. I was assuming that with the flows in the Paroo there would be water in them, but just wanted to verify.
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Reply By: Bob of KAOS - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:19
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:19
Coongie Lakes
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Follow Up By: jdphoto - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:57
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:57
Do you know if the lakes are full?
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Follow Up By: Rosco - Qld - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 10:07
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 10:07
They were last August.
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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 13:38
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 13:38
They were full last September with an abundance of birdlife.
Fantastic spot, one of my must go back too's.
Cheers
Deanna
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Follow Up By: Chris & Sue (Briz Vegas) - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 19:43
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 19:43
G'day Bob,
As of 2 days ago there was a lot of water there (full??) and a reasonable amount of bird life. We did a day trip out from
Innamincka but should have taken the camper and stayed out there. Will certainly make sure we do next visit.
Cheers,
Chris
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Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:52
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 09:52
JD,
I will be around all those place next week.
I hope to be seeing a lot of bird life because of the waters flowing from the north.
I will try and have a post with in the next few weeks with some information on the trip.
Wayne
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Follow Up By: jdphoto - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 10:02
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 10:02
Hey Wayne,
Have a great trip. Any info you can post would be worthwhile I am sure. I am thinking about heading off in a week or so. I am pretty sure I'll find some water, and some birds! Still, specific and current info is always the best.
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Reply By: Member - colin J (VIC) - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 15:42
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 15:42
The best way to get specific info on birds etc is to go onto the Birding aus site. They have a great archive and on their
forum you can ask about recent sightings etc. Hope this helps.
Regards from Big Col.
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Reply By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 15:44
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 15:44
jdphoto, are you looking for specific birds?
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Follow Up By: jdphoto - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 17:42
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 17:42
Hi Ruth,
No, I am not after anything specific. I am a landscape and wildlife photographer...and it's been a few years since I have spent any real time photographing birds. So with the water out west I thought it might be a good time to devote a trip more focused on that than landscape locations. Though I am certain to get some nice location images as
well.
A few of my birds are on my website at the following link
http://www.jdphoto.com.au/folio/vega.php?fid=yQBxNu5tsjJGQLKg
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Follow Up By: Member - Ruth D (QLD) - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 19:48
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 19:48
jd, nice action bird photos. Around the Diamantina and in the SImpson I have about 110 species identified - most of these are not wet weather/flood birds! You will enjoy your trip - keep your eyes open, they pop up everywhere, where you least expect.
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Reply By: Trevor R (QLD) - Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 08:31
Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 08:31
Nice bird photo's, will look at the rest on your website a little later. Just out of interest, what lens do you use for these type of shots? and are your shots freehand or tripod?
Thanks, Trevor.
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Follow Up By: jdphoto - Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 10:14
Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 10:14
Thanks for having a look.
All shot with wither a monopod or freehand...
Most shot using a Nikon 300mm 2.8 AFS with a 2x teleconverter. Some using film, Nikon F100, others digital, using Nikon D2x.
Pink Cockatoos was on Nikon F90, 80-200mm f 2.8. I can still hardly believe I got so close to them. Taken on
Bourke-
Hungerford road.
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