Hi All,
Greg and I spent Easter in Alice Springs and surrounds and saw some interesting
birds.
The first morning we met Anthony Molyneux who is in charge of the raptor show
at the Desert Park [a wonderful show and not to be missed] and he took us to a
site in the Todd River where he has been monitoring BLACK FALCONS for the last
six months. We were fortunate enough to get good views of a male. Also present
were Zebra Finches, Budgies, Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, Whistling and Black
Kites, Ring-necked Parrots, Red-backed Kingfisher, Pallid Cuckoo and various
honeyeaters.
We drove south to Erldunda in the afternoon and stopped at Orange Creek, about
40kms south of Alice, where huge flocks of Zebras and Budgies were attracted to
the scarce remnant water under the bridge. Monitoring their activites were at
least half a dozen Kites. Farther south, at the Finke River crossing, there
were Red-browed Pardalotes in the eucalypts. At dawn the next day we visited
the T&T site for BANDED WHITEFACE about 20kms north of Erldunda on the Stuart
Highway . We found a small flock feeding on the stonier ground with Southern
Whiteface. The black band is certainly distinct but otherwise they seem very
similar in colouring to Chestnut-breasted Whiteface. Hopping about in the mulga
bushes were Chiming Wedgebills and White-browed Babblers..
Heading back into Alice we again stopped at Orange Creek and were surprised by
the apparent absence of finches. The reason was soon clear when a GREY FALCON
shot into view to attack a Whistling Kite which had been circling above. We
watched in awe as the Falcon zoomed around dispersing the kites and then
swooped in low on the hunt for the finches which were actually huddled into any
shelter they could find.We were lucky enough to be able to watch the Falcon
performing its aerobatics for several minutes. It was a great thrill.
We spent the afternoon in the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens in Alice where there
is a very confiding family of Grey-crowned Babblers as well as honeyeaters and
Pardalotes. It's an interesting place to learn about the plant species of the
interior and a bonus is the excellent food available at the cafe.
Next day we headed into the West MacDonnell Ranges towards Glen Helen where we
spent the night. There has been no rain since Christmas so the country is very
dry and honeyeaters are scarce but the advantage is that waterholes are very
busy with birds.We had close views at Serpentine Gorge of Painted and Zebra
Finches, Spinifex Pigeons,Western Bowerbird, Peaceful and Diamond Doves,
Grey-headed and Brown Honeyeaters, Budgies, Bee-eaters and a Perentie [a very
large lizard], all of which came in to drink. A Peregine Falcon flew in to
check out the action. Budgies take the briefest time to drink, a split second
sip and Spinifex Pigeons take a long, deep draught. I guess that's the
difference between displaying a bright green or reddish-brown back on red
granite.
On another morning we visited Kunoth Bore at dawn and watched more Budgies,
Zebras, flocks of Cockatiels, Mulga and Ring-necked Parrots and Diamond Doves
coming in to drink. Its very dry around there and we saw none of the Thornbills
we've seen on other occasions but we did see Hooded and Red-capped Robins. Also
couldn't miss the million flies.
In the evening we visited the the Alice Springs Sewage Ponds which are among
the best we've seen, very birder friendly with a hide and some natural edges
holding birds like Spotted Crake, Black-tailed Native Hen, Common and
Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, Black -fronted Dotterel etc. There was a flock of
about fifty Avocets and a patrolling Swamp Harrier.
We headed East next day into Trephina Gorge which we've found previously to be
the best place for Dusky Grasswren and again we had good views of a group of
three. The Painted Finches were there as well and of course the Zebras which
were the most numerous birds of the whole trip.
Cheers,
Alana
==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
=============================
|
