When we arrived at Gundabooka for a five day workshop with the Australian Sound Recording Group we knew straight away we were going to have a great time. Gundabooka National Park was in peak condition after heavy rainfall earlier in the year, resulting in a widespread flowering of eremophila and wildflowers throughout the region.

Mt Gundabooka

On arrival we headed for the Belah Shearers Quarters which was to be our home for the next five days. After greeting the other members and settling into our rooms we set of for a quick explore of the nearby dam and bush before dinner. We could hear Black Honeyeaters calling and it wasn't long before we saw them flitting around, these became one of the most common honeyeaters seen over the next five days. On the way to the dam we came across a party of Chestnut-crowned Babblers, a pair of Striped Honeyeaters in a nest that looked as if it was a hanging basket made of spiders web and a Spotted Bowerbird amongst other species. At the dam Black-fronted Dotterels were feeding around the margins, and an Australasian Grebe was on the water. A flock of Cockatiels were perched in a dead tree and later came down to drink. Mallee Ringnecks and Mulga Parrots were also nearby.

Track to Bennets Gorge

The next day the group went on a field trip to Bennets Gorge, fewer birds were seen in this area but perhaps not surprising as there were 20 of us marching through the bush, however we did see some Zebra Finch at the Mount Gundabooka Outlook and some were lucky enough to see a Black-eared Cuckoo.

Spotted Bowerbird Bower

Later in the afternoon a member of the group had discovered the Spotted Bowerbird's Bower. The bower was decorated with all sorts of found objects, a light globe took central position within the bower and an assortment of concrete, rocks and zinc bolts decorated the front. About half a metre away another area was decorated with a colorful cacheBowerbird cache.
My favorite objects here were a pair of child's safety scissors with bright red handles and a coiled piece of orange plastic coated electrical wire these were complimented with an array of bluish coloured items.

EremophilaMy highlight of the third day was a visit to a spot along the road a few kilometers north of the shearers quarters. A member of the group had successfully recorded Painted and Pied Honeyeaters here the day before and had reported seeing Painted Honeyeaters nesting. As we approached we flushed a couple of Diamond Doves which were sunning themselves of the road. Jill and Howard were already at the site and alerted us to a Pied Honeyeater which was calling mournfully from a dead tree, the Painted Honeyeaters could be heard calling not far away. As we stood waiting for the Painted Honeyeaters to make an appearance Black Honeyeaters were feeding on the nearby eremophila, Budgies and Woodswallow flew overhead. After a while a Painted Honeyeater flew down the the edge of the road to collect some nesting material and we were able to have a good look at its colors in the brilliant early morning sunshine. After watching the honeyeaters for a while we decided to return for the mornings presentation.

Mulga Ant Nest

Other birding highlights for the trip were a pair of Major Mitchells Cockatoos which were seen preening in a tree by the dam who also made several flyovers of the camp and a group of Red-winged Parrots that appeared on the third day and were seen on several occasions after that.

Throughout the week interesting talks were provided by the members and many members were able to make excellent recordings of some unusual nomadic species as well as some more common but interesting species. In all 22 AWSRG members, partners and friends attended the Workshop, including four United Kingdom based members. One new AWSRG member made a long trek from Western Australia by plane, train, bus and automobile to reach the workshop venue, whilst many others drove from NSW, Victoria and Queensland. The 2009 AWSRG Workshop was an event that will doubtless be fondly remembered for years to come by participants.

Gundabooka National Park bird list