One of the highlights of a birding
expedition last Saturday across Fogg Dam causeway, just south
of Darwin, NT, was seeing an Australian Hobby on the ground in
one of the dirt parking areas. As I was driving between stops
rather than walking the length of the causeway (because of the
crocodile warnings), I managed to get within a couple of
metres of the bird, even with the car window open. The hobby
was carefully inspecting, then selecting and swallowing small
pieces of red gravel from the parking area – it must have
swallowed 6-8 pieces while I was watching.
Full bird list at https://ebird.org/australia/view/checklist/S57388884.
One of those locations where a spotting scope would have been
useful. Water level was low and many birds were at some
distance.
Steve
