Pinnarendi Station

 

Check my birding map for specific location.

My stay at Pinnarendi Cattle Station was my first at a working station and I loved it. Not only was it well organised with walks to 3 dams but there was also a fabulous cafe where all the food was homemade. I completed the circuit around the dams several times and there was plenty of bird life. The highlight was my first good look at the White-throated Gerygone. In New Zealand we only have one species of warbler and it's call was very similar to the White-throated so I knew instantly what it was. I was hoping it would be territorial and stick around the same location I heard it. It did and after tracking it for a while, I got my first shots. Described on eBird as a 'small plain bird with thin bill' doesn't really do it justice.

White-throated Gerygone (gerygone olivacea)

It always makes me smile when I hear the buzz of a flycatcher and by the second dam I caught the male and female calling.

Male Leaden Flycatcher (myiagra rubecula)

Female Leaden Flycatcher (myiagra rubecula)

The Grey Fantail is a curious and active bird who often flies around people looking for bugs. I love this little bird with it's squeaks and chirps. There were several of them around the circuit, obviously a good place for bugs.

Grey Fantail (rhipidura albiscapa)

Of the honeyeaters I saw at Pinnarendi, the Lewin's was the most common. It is the largest of the honeyeaters with a yellow spot and most easily separated from the others by it's distinctive call.

Lewin's Honeyeater (meliphaga lewinii)

On of my favourite sightings was a family of Red-backed Fairywren. There was a young male transitioning into adult plumage. The photo isn't great but I like it with the berry in the beak.

Male Red-backed Fairywren (malurus melanocephalus)

eBird Lists

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S112055539

https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S111996611