Saturday 4 January 2014

The Incredible Bowra Station

A thirsty Galah (Elophus roseicapilla) Photo: Ryan Pearson

By Ryan Pearson
Over New Years this year I had the pleasure of spending almost a week at Bowra Station (outside of Cunnamulla), a wildlife sanctuary run by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. This was my first ever trip into semi-arid Southwest QLD, and damn was I impressed. 
Sure, we had to battle a heatwave with maximum temperatures well above 40°C every day (and one day hitting >47°C), but with such beautiful sunburnt country, and a plethora of native wildlife (particularly birds) around I couldn't have found it more enjoyable.

Here's a bit of a photo diary highlighting the beautiful critters and scenery I encountered. I for one, can't wait to go back!

Fat-Tailed Gecko (Diplodactylus conspicillatus) Photo: Ryan Pearson

Black-Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Thirsty Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

The endangered Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

New Holland Frog (Cyclorana novaehollandiae). Photo: Ryan Pearson
Nighttiiimmmeee... Yellow-Billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Red-Winged Parrots (Aprosmictus erythropterus). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Another thirsty Galah (Elophus roseicapilla) Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Echidna. Photo: Ryan Pearson

Bynoe's Gecko (Heteronotia binoei). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Splendid Fairy-wren (female) (Malurus splendens). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Splendid Fairy-wren (male) (Malurus splendens). Photo: Ryan Pearson


Emu. Photo: Ryan Pearson

Bourke's Parrot (Neopsephotus bourkii) Photo: Ryan Pearson

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus). Photo: Ryan Pearson


Galah (Elophus roseicapilla) Photo: Ryan Pearson

Eastern Great Egret (Ardea modesta). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Yellow-Billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Echidna. Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Red Kangaroo. Photo: Ryan Pearson

Emerald-spotted Tree Frog (Litoria peronii). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Unknown insect (tbd). Photo: Ryan Pearson
Photo: Ryan Pearson

White-Necked Heron (Ardea pacifica). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) with a wasp for breakfast. Photo: Ryan Pearson

A real 'flying' Kangaroo. Photo: Ryan Pearson

Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Iconic Australia. A tree full of Galah's (Elophus roseicapilla), and a Roo in the background. Photo: Ryan Pearson

Photo: Ryan Pearson

Marbled Velvet Gecko (Oedura marmorata). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Green Tree Frog. Photo: Ryan Pearson
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Beaked Gecko (Rhynchoedura ornata) Photo: Ryan Pearson

Black-Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles). Photo: Ryan Pearson
Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Red-Winged Parrot (Aprosmictus erythropterus). Photo: Ryan Pearson

Variegated Fairy-wren (Malurus lambertii) Photo: Ryan Pearson

Spotted Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus maculatus). Photo: Ryan Pearson

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Ryan,
The unidentified bug is most probs a lacewing family Myrmeleontidae that has just emerged from it's larval stage and is yet to unfurl it's wings and take flight into this cruel and harsh world of ours...
:-)
As for genus and species, you're on your own (or at the least with DD, OK, you're on your own... :-P)but you may be able to key it out using head and mouthparts, or ID using it's unshaven legs.
Cheers,
Bob

Anonymous said...

Possibly Austrogymnocnemia pentagramma?
Cheers
Bob