Highway Chile - Jimi Hendrix Experience

 Now, you may call him a Tramp but it goes a little deeper than that, he's a

'Highway Chile'

Another night tucked away in the local Caravan Park sleeping in the car, which for a tiny Suzuki is surprisingly comfortable. Toilet and shower on hand along with the bravery just to bowl in and do the necessary unlike some who have more novel creature comforts (as above). The first couple of hours were spent in the sea-side shelter firstly confirming MULGA PARROT and then trying to sort those little b*s*a*ds out that today were flying past in increased numbers.Returning to the car for a drink I met caravaners

TERRY and JENNY

who, confirming I was a 'birdwatcher' told me of the Fairy-Wren Sp, Finch Sp and Quail Sp they had spotted from the boardwalk yesterday, guzzle, guzzle and I needed a walk.

Before leaving there were close but brief views of a

GREY-CAPPED BABBLER

and soon after a view of the ONSLOW SALT MINE, a product shipped all over the world from here.

STAR FINCH

Both Finch species already seen were easily located and the small covey of possibly 5 BROWN QUAIL were found at the leaking tap as suggested by my informants, but not a sign of a Fairy-Wren.

Now, the distribution map in the Field Guide, although not in 'tablets of stone', clearly shows a bold orange blob covering most of the Continent of Australia, except that is for a few hundred miles inland of the Coastal Fringe. Being well aware of this during other searches I had, along with Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, mentally eliminated the possibility of the small Parrots being the 'much sort after'

BUDGERIGAR

but at long last, here the little buggers where flying right over my head, and out to sea.

Not only that, but the deck particularly and many of the bushes were now 'alive' with the little 'beauties',

what a GREAT TICK?

So, once again John your prediction was right!

On the same premise I am, until told differently by Dave (Parrot-Face) Penney, calling these 2 birds

ALEXANDRA'S PARROT

another supposed resident of the interior.

YELLOW WHITE-EYE
was all else avian for the day, but

this nifty little LIZARD brought another good day to an end.
 The use of the word 'chile' is a deliberate misspelling of the word "child", to mimic that Hendrix didn't pronounce the end of the word, which he also used on the song "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)" from Electric Ladyland. Trivia - My house name is 'Sligh Return'.

Sweet Dreams - Marilyn Manson

I left Exmouth this morning under the cover of dark, at 04:00 to be precise, which with the benefit of hindsight proved to be a bad move, particularly for the wildlife. Ever since leaving Perth for the north, all roadsides have been strewn with animal carcasses, especially Kangaroo, 

 

 but 'free roaming' farm animals, like this huge bullock, fall foul as well. I wouldn't like to have been in the vehicle responsible for this casualty! However, it would unfortunately now be my turn to add to the slaughter and while not a fast driver at any time, at night on dirt roads 60Km/h is the max. Nevertheless 2 x Spotted Nightjar and a Malleefowl scummed to the headlights and were d.o.a. while I remain distraught.

I arrived at ONSLOW just as the sun peeked over the horizon and immediately took a liking to the place, it felt as if there was potential here?

It wasn't a long wait before this SHORT-BEAKED ACHIDNA was found asleep and not showing which end was which.

Furthermore, be assured there won't be any of those corny Steak and Achidna Pie jokes.

Please allow me to introduce you to my new Mates

LYNETTE and SUE

of the Onslow Community Telecommunications Department

(aka Come In And Use The Internet Any Time You Like Bagsy)

Apart from the very warm welcome, hot and cold drinks were provided at frequent intervals, when once again the photos wouldn't upload Lynette returned to work (after hours) to give me more time and when I finally left was weighed down with gifts such as a computer bag, pens, notepads etc.

Thank You for great hospitality and kindness, not to mention a good laugh.

What is left of the pier with attendant CRESTED TERNs, but it was now time to take up a comfortable position on the beach and try a little 'sea-watching'. While this has never been my favourite department of the hobby in hot sunshine, with shade if needed and a gentle cooling onshore breeze it wouldn't have mattered if not a single bird past by.

That wasn't quite how it panned out as giving the local breeding WHITE-BREASTED WOODSWALLOWS the once over there was suddenly a flurry of action off-shore. Apart from the cold and wet weather, all of this gave me a feeling of being sat on Chesil Beach and witnessing a decent Shore-Bird passage, but what were passing here we no Waders. They were Parrots, chuckin' hundreds of them, but too distant to determine which species. Flocks numbering from a few 'tens' to quite possibly 1,000 were flying by intermittently but by the end of the vigil there was no clue as to the final total, although a few were identified. Among the throng were COCKATIEL, RINGNECK, ELEGANT PARROT, what looked every bit like MULGA PARROT (which is a Lifer if it can be verified) and most numerous a tiny species that I couldn't make head nor tail of. With the aid of the Field Guide and limited experience all I could conclude was DOUBLE-EYED FIG-PARROT, but just one huge snag as they are confined to just small regions of the East and North East coast.

A large number of inquisitive LITTLE CORELLA then arrived from inland distracting me from the job at hand, not to mention

about a dozen of the Continents only Bee-eater

RAINBOW BEE-EATER

after which the Parrot passage (if indeed that's what it was - do they 'migrate' Dave?) seemed over. From then on all I had to look at were

SACRED KINGFISHER

STAR FINCH

more of a bird I have grown to love, especially as they almost land on you when 'pished'

WHITE-PLUMED HONEYEATER

plus 'hundreds' of the dazzling ZEBRA FINCH.

Unfortunately, the post ends as it started when a passer-by pointed out that I had a bird stuck in my grill, which was one of the SPOTTED NIGHTJARs. The only 'up-side' to this will be that 2 primaries and a secondary feather will live on (along with all the other exotic bird feathers from around the world) as part of my Dreamcatcher. A great pity!

THERE ARE ONLY 2 GUESSES WHERE I WILL BE TOMORROW MORNING?

Clue - IT WON'T BE CHESIL BEACH!

When The Boat Comes In - Trad

SINGING HONEYEATER's

were everywhere today as we continued the journey north, avoiding wherever possible the main 

Indian Ocean Highway.

At the tiny coastal hamlet of Port Gregory there were a series of very interesting looking Salt Pans, but without a bird to be seen they were committed to the memory bank as potential on the return run - surely something must be attracted here at some time or other? Just a short stop here to pick up more water did have an added benefit as a small party of 

RINGNECKs (Port Lincoln) encountered at fairly close quarters

and seemingly unconcerned at my presence. Not sure about the name, the Port Lincoln bit being a mystery and no designation as to Parakeet, Lorikeet etc. Back on track and rounding the next bend, there at the side of the road stood Rod Hull! Yes, I'm aware of rooftops and TV aerials but there he was. If proof were needed not a mile further on was the first of 26'ish

EMU

Firstly, a group of an estimated 20 individuals feeding by the roadside, but quickly disappearing into the long grass as I pulled a U-turn. Later this family group of 6 were spotted and although distant enough did allow a shot or two. It may well have been Rod was there doing auditions?

Not caring one little bit for those who use wild creatures as 'playthings', I gave Monkey Mia (advertising "Swim and Touch Real Live Dolphins") a real wide berth, while as for reasons of being a 'big town' the same went for Carnarvon. We were now covering some ground but the birdlife was becoming same, same. You can only shoot what you see.

FAIRY MARTIN

LAUGHING TURTLE DOVE

WHITE-PLUMED HONEYEATER

plus a flight of very obliging and aerobatic

CRESTED TERNS

at EXMOUTH where I ended up spending the night.

It's almost time to turn 'inland' and that means no fish, so all the stops were pulled out today. The ploy involves (1) finding your angler, (2) tickle his/her ego "bet you've caught some beauties in you time, (3) cor, those look good could use one of those for tea, (4) walk away with what I did this afternoon, a decent 'side' of Barramundi, one of my favourites. No shortage of BBQ's along the coast, many with gas supplied so, with your correspondent full of 'fresh fish', here's today's offering.

You shall have a Fishy on a little dishy, you shall have a Fishy

When the Boat Comes In