Mariala NP to Forest Den NP

Drove from Mariala NP to Forest Den NP via Adavale, Blackall, Barcaldine and Aramac. Stunning scenery along the drive north, esp to the east of Idalia NP. We came across another party of White-browed babblers along the road north of Adavale. No Grey Falcons were on any towers along the route, but we saw several Wedge-tailed eagles and numerous young Emus. Blackall a beautiful town - stocked up at the butchers and treated ourselves at the bakery - excellent produce!

Camped overnight next to Torrens Creek. A couple of lovely open camp sites next to water. Heaps (8 degrees) warmer - 500 odd kms north and back up over that Tropic line! Did a quick morning drive through the park on the access road before leaving at 9.30am

Species of interest + bird list for the Park itself:

Black gidgee (Acacia argyrodendron) Coolabah (E. coolabah), Leopardwoods, Eremophila

Common brush-tail possums, resident in the nearest dead tree hollow next to iur camp, were unafraid! Cheeky scar-bum dominant male took all our apple pieces, mum and juvenile (unsealed, on her back) had to find their own food!

Royal spoonbill
Striped HE
Brown HE
Spiny-cheeked HE
White-plumed HE
Singing HE
Yellow-throated miner
Black-breasted buzzard
Little eagle
Brown falcon
Whistling kite
Black kite
Nankeen kestrel
Black-shouldered kite
Blue-winged kookaburra
Galah
Sulphur-crested cockatoo
Budgerigar
Pale-headed rosella
Crested pigeon
Peaceful dove
Spotted bowerbird - resident near our camp, expert in convincing impersonations of Whistling kites and Owlet-nightjars!
Brown treecreeper (many, roosting in tree hollows close to the camp)
Grey-crowned babbler
Purple-backed fairy-wren
Jacky winter
Willie wagtail
Magpie-lark
Australian magpie
Grey butcherbird
Pied butcherbird
Rufous whistler
Grey shrike-thrush
Black-faced cuckoo-shrike
Black-faced woodswallow
Striated pardalote
Yellow-rumped thornbill
Weebill
Horsfields bushlark
Owlet-nightjar
Boobook owl
Australian raven
Mistletoebird
Double-barred finchRead more