Darwin and the Top End

I’ve just spent ten days birding in Darwin and the Top End of Australia and learned that thist spent t simply isn’t enough time if you want to be able to give each area the going over it deserves!

Although I did find almost all of my target species it was an exhausting trip with virtually no “down time” to rest, swim, eat, sleep or catch up on writing this blog! If I had the opportunity to plan this trip again I would book for 14 days to allow for a more relaxed pace, allowing for a few afternoons off in the heat of the day.

The first few days were spent birding around the Darwin area. I was lucky to be able to catch up with Biggles the afternoon that  I arrived. During this time he was able to give me the latest info on the best places to visit during my stay and he showed me a few local areas. His knowledge and advise was extremely helpful !! Thanks Bigs!!

 

Comb-crested Jacana

 

 

 

Excellent areas in the Darwin area include the Botanic Gardens, East Point  is good for Rainbow Pitta & Knuckey’s Lagoon is a close to Darwin wetland and is stunning!

 

Beach Stone-Curlew

 

 

Pied Imperial Pigeon (PIP)

 

 

I also particularly enjoyed Lee Point and Buffalo Creek. This area is excellent and if you time the tide right and remain vigilant there is a good chance for Chestnut Rail! I dutifully made my pilgrimage to the boat ramp as the tide was going out and trudged into the mangroves alone, wondering if I was in the right spot and waited…..

 

and sank into the mud….

 

 

and waited some more….

90 minutes later I was rewarded!! The rail appeared, directly opposite to me on the other side of the river, he was feeding in the shadows. He was in view for about 30 seconds before disappearing again! AWESOME!

Chestnut Rail

 

 

Fogg Dam is definitely a must do, along with the Mary River area.  I wanted to check out the Marrakai track but only had a little jelly bean of a hire car which I was not able to take onto unsealed roads so I booked myself onto a day trip with Experience the Wild tours. Mike was very helpful and I got some great birds with him. I was particularly happy to see Buff-sided Robin, a gorgeous little robin and I think perhaps my favourite! We even had 4 dingoes!

Arafura Fantail

 

 

Rainbow Bee-eater

 

 

Red-collared Lorikeet

 

 

 

 

Black-tailed Treecreeper

 

 

 

 

Buff-sided Robin

 

 

 

Northern Rosella

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barking Owl at Fogg Dam

 

 

 

Grey Whistler

 

 

 

Pied Heron

 

 

Rainbow Pitta

 

 

 

Yellow-faced Turtle

Over 100 Brolga flew overhead at Knuckey's Lagoon!

 

 

 

 

I then headed out and spent 3 days in Kakadu. Happily found all my target species at Nourlangi Rock and Ubirr.  I booked into the Aurora Kakadu which was a lot cheaper than the other accommodation. It was clean and very comfortable, has petrol and restaurant. The location was good for birding with a small walking track and billabong on the property and another larger billabong 10 km away. The South Alligator Flood plain and river is only 1 minute away with Brolga feeding in the late afternoons. However there is no phone range (there is phone range 45 km away at Jabiru).  So each day I spent a lot of time (and petrol) driving to Jabiru to access  Nourlangi Rock and Ubirr. Both of which would have been much closer had I booked to stay at Jabiru!! 

 

 

My efforts were rewarded however with great views of Banded Fruit-dove and White-lined Honeyeater at Nourlangi Rock. Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeons and Sandstone Shrike-thrush at Ubirr. Partridge Pigeons were easy to find at the Bowali visitor Centre.

 

 

Australasian Darter

 

 

 

 

Black-necked Stork

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crimson Finch

 

 

 

Salty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wandering Whistling-Duck

Banded Fruit-Dove

 

 

 

Black Wallaroo

 

 

Glossy Ibis

 

 

 

Magpie Goose

Partridge Pigeon

 

 

 

White-gaped Honeyeater

Black-breasted Buzzard

 

 

 

Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon

 

 

 

 

 

Green Pygymy-Goose

 

 

Partridge Pigeon

 

 

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

Next stop was Mataranka where I was graced with crippling views of Red Goshawk! She even flew in to feed on a dead ibis only about 5 metres from me! Gotta be happy with that!

 

Red Goshawk

Red Goshawk

Exploring a waterhole between Katherine and Pine Creek I enjoyed a mixed flock of Masked, Long-tailed and Gouldian Finch!

 

 

 

 

 

Gouldian Finch cooling off at a waterhole

 

 

 

 

 

A walked through the Water Gardens at 6.30am in Pine Creek provided some lovely birds feeding in the cooler temperatures. I noticed a few Hooded Parrots under a tree. They then flew onto a lower branch to pose for me. A few minutes later the tree erupted as about 30 Hooded Parrots flew out and filled the morning sky! An awesome sight!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arriving back into Darwin in the early afternoon I allowed myself a couple of hours off to rest by the hotel pool. I did manage 13 species on my “pool list” which is pretty good J It is always nice to watch Black Kites while swimming!

 

Roughing it on my last afternoon after cleaning up!!

 

 

Green Pygmy-Goose

 

 

 

 

Thank you to Mike from Experience the Wild and Biggles for going out of your way to assist me on the day of my arrival and point me in the right direction. I really appreciate your kindness.

 Black Wallaroo

 

 

 

 

Rainbow Bee-eater

 

 

 

Darwin sunset

 

 

 

Life list now sits on 645, so maybe my aim to reach 650 by the end of 2012 is realistic after all!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spangled Drongo

 

 

Winter birding at Gluepot

At 5am this morning I rugged up warm and headed out into the freezing dark night. After stopping to buy a coffee I drove north to collect my mate Chris. We had planned a few hrs birding in the mallee at Brookfied Conservation Park. However, as we got further north we both realised that Gluepot's call was simply too strong to ignore so we kept driving.... 90 minutes later we were at Gluepot.

The aim of today was not to find the usual Gluepot nicities but rather to experiment with our cameras. We did see some nice birds though including Striated Grasswren and a gorgeous pair of Gilbert's Whistler.

Hiking in the remarkably healthy Triodia we flushed a Button-quail, saw a few Miners and enjoyed Red-capped and Hooded Robins.  Striated Pardalotes, Weebill and Jacky Winter were also in good numbers.

Here are a few photos from today!

Alice Springs part 2

Today I was able to spend the day with my friend Chris Watson. It was so good to see him and we had so much fun exploring areas North, South East and West of Alice.  After a huge breakfast in Todd Mall we spent the day birding, drinking coffee and generally having fun! What better way to spend a day?


Highlights of the day would have to include birding at Trephina Gorge in the East MacDonnell Ranges, a beautful cliffy area. This area produced some great birds including Dusky Grasswrens but for me the most exciting bird was definately the prolonged crippling views of Spinifexbird. This bird looks a bit like a cross between a Grassbird and Grasswren! It certainly flies like a Grasswren, with its long heavy drooping tail. Wow! What a wonderful bird.

Spinifex Pigeon was also a real treat. So much smaller than its cousin, the Crested Pigeon. We explored numerous cliffs before locating them. Such a beautiful, dainty little pigeon. The prettiest I've ever seen.

Today I was able to get a much better view of the Grey-headed Honeyeater, we also enjoyed Splendid Fairywren, Budgies, Yellow-throated Miner, Crested Bellbird, Hooded robins along with numerous Thornbill species.

Immature Pied Butcherbird who was very interested in the Spinifex Pigeons!

This afternoon we headed out to Hamilton Downs on the northern boundary of the West MacDonnell Ranges. White-winged Fairywrens, Zebra Finch, Pipits, Spiny-cheeked and Singing Honeyeaters, Mulga Parrots put on a show before we were graced with lovely views of a flock of Banded Lapwing.

Alice Springs is a wonderful place and a great birding location!

Banded Lapwing

Immature Pied Butcherbird

Cattle Yard

Nice views while searching for Spinifex Pigeons!

                                                               Black-footed Rock Wallaby

 

The Red Centre - Alice Springs Birding

Well, once was definately not enough. I simply had to return to the Alice and do some more birding here.

On arrival I immediately walked to Olive Pink Botanical Gardens. It didnt take long to find a Western Bowerbird's bower but the birds were not there. I waited for a while before deciding I simply had to get a coffee at their cafe. After my "fix" I returned to the bower to discover the Bowerbird busily decorating his home before having to defend it from another male who seemed interested in inspecting it.

Zebra Finch, White-plumed, Brown and Singing Honeyeaters were abundant. There were plenty of birds to keep me entertained but a family of Grey-crowned Babbler collecting nesting materials won my heart when one of them hopped right up to my shoe! Obviously attracted to the Kathmandu brand....

Bowerbirds and Babblers have wonderful little personalities.

 

Stay tuned for the next NT installment!!