Nyirripi and back - birds, reptiles and storms

This week I was working at Nyirripi, a small community 150 kms westish from Yuendumu. The birding wasn't spectacular, but the storms and sunrises were, not to mention the reptiles along the roads to and from.
The water treatment plant was a little disappointing (and overflowing) but I was prepared for this as there was a lot of rain around and plenty of places for the birds to get a drink.
This Grey-headed Honeyeater was very busy around the accommodation area:

Grey-headed Honeyeater

Here are a small selection of other birds seen both at Nyirripi and on the way back to Alice Springs:

The Crimson Chat Family Tree (near airstrip)

- female lower branch, male in the middle, young one on top

Fairy Martins (on fence near airstrip)

Mulga Parrot

Zebra Finch

With the rains that had been and were coming, the reptiles were out on the roads in numbers I haven't seen for a while. At one point I counted 20 sand goannas in a 5 km stretch. They generally stand on their front legs, back legs lowered, and from a distance look like another stick on the road. Then they drop their heads as the car approaches, and scurry off, their scurrying speed depended on the speed of the car.

Sand Goanna

This poor sand goanna was near the ponds at Nyirripi

Centralian Blue-tongue

This snake was in the middle of the road, probably hit by a car (not mine)

By far the most exciting part of the trip out to Nyirripi was the weather. The storms, the sunrises, the rainbows, and the clouds. Here is a selection of photos:

Sunrise

Double Rainbow

Storm Clouds

 

and I loved this signpost!

Enjoy your Bird-watching!