Mungo sands are still on my vehicle and I’m in no hurry to wash them away. Everything about the Mungo trip was awesome: the company, the scenery, the history, the ranger, the sunsets and the weather. Slightly less pleasant were the mossies but even they were quiet little nibblers who didn’t interrupt our sleep.
Mungo is an extraordinary place that I’ve wanted to visit for years; it is captivating and I’m already looking forward to my next trip. It’s an isolated National Park in the south-west of NSW, 110km north of Mildura. 85km of the trip is on unsealed roads which can be closed during and after rain. There are no supplies of food or fuel in the park and the rangers suggested that we took our own drinking water.
Major Mitchell Cockatoo – Mungo
We saw small flocks of Major Mitchell Cockatoos flying to the dam on our first evening at Mungo; with the sun setting in the west and dark clouds in the east they were a beautiful sight.
Major Mitchell Cockatoo – Mungo
The water level in the dam was fairly low while a second dam we visited was completely dry. The landscape was exquisite, very distinct, almost lunar.
Mungo National Park
Mungo is of great significance to the Traditional Owners. Mungo Man, Mungo Woman and human footprints have been found there that date back to the last Ice Age. The winds and rain are gradually uncovering treasures that have proved Aboriginal stories about megafauna and human existence in a place that used to be a lake, 60,000 years ago.
Yellow-throated Miner – Mungo
We didn’t see many birds around our accommodation at the Shearers’ Quarters apart from Australian Ravens calling from the trees, Crested Pigeon, Welcome Swallows and resourceful Yellow-throated Miners that frequently visited the picnic tables.
Apostlebird – Mungo
A lively family of Apostlebirds were calling from a tree at the main camp, 2km south of the visitor centre but photographing them was difficult due to the bright sky behind them. Also on the trip we saw almost 100 emu, dozens of kangaroo, lizards, Willie Wagtails, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Pink-eared Duck, Australasian Grebe, Black Cormorant, Inland Dotterel, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, White-breasted Woodswallow, Brown Falcon, Black Kite, Jacky Winter and my first ever sighting of White-winged Fairy-wrens.
Happy birding, Kim
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hi kim =))
wery nice serie with well composed pictures, a good quality as usual =)
the group of Major Mitchell Cockatoo in fligth are beautifull, i suppose it s not easy to get
have a nice day, and happy birding of course ^^
Thanks Eric! The weather was actually beautiful while we were there. The dark clouds were only a backdrop for the images, we didn’t get any rain. Have a great week 🙂
So happy to read of your travels and I can’t tell you how fun it is to see the bird photos that you capture. As a long time parrot owner it makes my heart sing to see them in the wild but all of your birds are just so unusual and fun to see. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thanks for your lovely comments Sherry. They are amazing birds to see in the wild, we are lucky to have quite a few species visiting the garden, though not Major Mitchells unfortunately!
Nice photo’s! I’m glad you brought my girls back with you 🙂
With one of them calling your name in her sleep and the other calling daddo throughout the day I thought it was time to head home! We had a wonderful trip, I’m glad you like the images 🙂
It was an amazing trip with fantastic company! Xx
I totally agree! The company was absolutely perfect xo
Kim, I love these beautiful park scenes. The birds in flight with the windmill is awesome. Beautiful birds and great series. Have a great weekend and happy birding!
I’m so glad you like the park scenes and windmill birds. Have a lovely weekend Eileen 🙂
Oh white winged wrens! Any pics? Looks spectacular! I’ll come next time please!
Only distant shots of the fairy-wrens, I’ll have to go back. And yes, definitely come with me next time!
What an amazing trip. Jealous thoughts – and thank you for these stunning images.
It took me so many years to get there EC and I’m so glad I did.
Sounds like you had a great time. I’ll have to look it up and put it on my camping holiday agenda! Beautiful shots as always, I particularity liked the Apostle Birds and the moonscape!
I’ve just added some location details, which I should have done in the first place. I definitely recommend putting it on your camping agenda, and Flinders Ranges stays on mine. Thanks for letting me know which images you like most 🙂