Charlotte Plains, outback Queensland

Charlotte Plains, Outback Queensland Birdlife.  

Charlotte Plains is an approx. 283 square kms in overall area, half the size of Singapore. Charlotte Plains Station was established in in the 1860s. By 1914 there were more than 67,000 head of sheep on the property. It is still a working sheep and cattle station situated 50 kms from Cunnamulla. Due to its artesian bore water, they welcome for a fee, bird enthusiasts and tourist. The latter come and sit for lengthy periods in the hot flowing bore water bathing tubs which also run down narrow drains/streams for many kms providing water to the cattle, sheep, birdlife, wild animals etc.

It is a massive area, I drove the 20 kms advertised on rough dirt roads to reach our primitive camp site near the very old but still operative, shearing shed. (But I think it was closer to 30kms)

The property is home to over 130 species of birdlife. Sunrise and sunset provide optimal viewing times when the birdlife visit the watering holes.

I took over 10,000 images (overall) on this visit to the Queensland Outback, the following are a few chosen of the different species taken at Charlotte Plains.

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Charlotte Plains, camping

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Bowra Station, outback Queensland

Bowra Station, Outback Queensland.  

Bowra Sanctuary is a 140 square kilometre nature reserve and former cattle station about 16 kms west of Cunnamulla in the Queensland outback and is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. It is a well known and important birdlife hotspot in Australia. Well over 200 bird species have been seen in the area, a number are endemic to Australia.

Below are just a selected few of the many bird pics I took at Bowra. The first day was spent exploring the ‘Cottage Dam’ area, followed by the ‘Lagoon Walk’, I then drove to the ‘North Gumholes” area for the remainder of the day. Day 2 was spent at the ‘Saw Pits’ area including the ‘Mulga Walk’. On Day 3 a fire appeared on a neighbouring station and with wind gust reaching 90 kms/hr., everyone was removed from Bowra station as a safety precaution.

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Brolga in flight

Brolgas are one of Australia’s largest flying birds – they stand a metre tall and have a wing span up to 2.4 metres.  Saw Brolga’s every day during our 5 days in the Queensland outback compared to last year when I only saw one.

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Paddabilla Bore, Eulo entrance signage.

Paddabilla Bore Eulo, Outback Queensland.  

Our first ‘Birdlife Holiday Destination’ on this trip was Paddabilla Bore which is 16km east of Eulo on ‘Adventure Way’ and is world renowned for birdwatching. Once a droving stopover on the east-west stock route, Eulo is still a popular stopping spot for visitors with a population of about 40 people!

I was fortunate to be able to accompany birding expert, Charles Dove on this epic ‘Birdlife’ venture out into the Queensland outback.

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Brolga’s Dancing

Brolgas are one of Australia’s largest flying birds – they stand a metre tall and have a wing span up to 2.4 metres. They are best known for their intricate and ritualised dance. Partners begin by picking up grass, tossing it into the air and catching it again in their beaks. The birds then jump up to a metre in the air with their wings outstretched, before performing an elaborate display of head-bobbing, wing-beating, strutting and bowing. Occasionally they stop to trumpet loudly – a spectacular sound!

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Sunset where the Murchison River enters the ocean at Kalbarri, W.A.

Kalbarri to Yanchep National Parks and amazing wildflowers.  

The Murchison River runs 80km through Kalbarri National Park and has cut through the sandstone rocks to form dramatic gorges. This river is the second longest in WA, at just under 1,000 km long, and has a catchment area of 82,000 km². It starts in the outback gold mining town in central W.A. Meekatharra. The Murchison River travels across dry plains, hills, salt lakes, and gorges before reaching the ocean at the coastal town of Kalbarri.

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This pic was taken from the ‘Kalbarri Skywalk’, above the Murchison River.

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Exmouth, Sunrise pic from the lighthouse

Exmouth, where the outback meets the ocean.  

What an amazing week.

Why Exmouth? Chez choose to come here last year to celebrate her 50th birthday. Thanks to Chez, Louise, Pat, John and Tracy for their feedback plus Craig Dougherty, Sue Welsh, Kate Thomson and Greg Young who also provided so much information plus my friend Lee Harris out at Bathurst in regard to the wild flowers at this time of the year which we hope to see during this coming week.

WHAT AN EYE OPENER! So much recent history behind the building of Exmouth. (You will have to look up Google, too much info for me to include)

Speaking to locals, they love the place and would never consider anywhere else to live. These locals include couples who have moved here from the Sunshine Coast Qld., Melbourne and Perth. However one business man I spoke to spends March to October here running his extensive boat tour business then moves to Freemantle for the summer months. Plus the huge number of seasonal workers who arrive every March and stay till October when they then move on to their premier summer work location with plans to return to Exmouth next March. Its so different, houses built from steel frames with  corrugated iron cladding, designed to withstand the cyclones.

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Humpback Whale, Ningaloo Reef

Sunday’s excursion was a ‘Whaling experience’ at the Ningaloo Reef. It was a full day’s activity, we had hoped to swim with a ‘Whale Shark’ however the ‘Whale Shark’ season concluded in July and there were next to none being sighted during the latter part of August. June and I dived in with the rest of the group on this trip, did some snorkeling, some actually were in the water with the ‘Humpback Whales’. I was happy to get some pics.

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Yardie Creek, gorge W.A.

Yardie Creek Boat Tour.  

Yardie Creek is located in the spectacular Yardie Creek Gorge, 1-hour drive from Exmouth. The ancient gorge has deep blue water, red limestone cliff faces and a wonderful array of birds and wildlife including the rare black-footed wallaby and red kangaroos. From the top, the views into the creek and out to the Ningaloo Reef are purely spectacular.

You have the option to do the 1.5 kilometre walking trail which slowly climbs up the red rock cliffs over a flat path which then becomes harder as it narrows and requires navigation of rocks and small creek line gullies. Alternatively, you can do the boat cruise (as did we) which takes you up through the spectacular gorge.

Either way you will see a variety of birds and yellow footed rock wallabies that inhabit the rock walls, there is even a batt colony.

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Eastern Osprey

There were a number of Osprey nests along the cliff faces. The Osprey are a medium-sized fish-eating raptor (bird of prey). It has dark brown upperparts contrasting with pale underparts. The Osprey is known to use the same nest year after year. The nest is made from sticks and driftwood and is used repeatedly for many years. It is usually placed on a cliff, a dead tree or even a radio mast. Both birds (male and female) bring sticks, but the female usually places the sticks in the nest. The nest is lined with grass, seaweed or bark. The female does most of the incubation, while the male brings food to the nest.

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Rottnest Island Express

Rottnest Island, here we come.  

The view of Rottnest Island as we left the main land was something small and distant, way out on the horizon. Once in the ocean proper on our approx. 20 km journey, the chop in the water rose to about 30cm to 40cm. I thought of Laura Wallace who completed this mammoth Cottesloe to Rottnest annual Ocean swim back in 2018. How did she ever do it? I would never attempt it! Then there is Greg Young who completed this swim on numerous occasions when he lived in W.A. Amazing!

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Rottnest Island

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