Kites around the backyard - bird photos

My son Moses and I had a wonderful session with Black Kites and Whistling Kites this morning, swooping low over the house and the park over the back fence.

Here are a few shots. I'll post a link to my son's video when it arrives at Youtube.
Moses' video of a Black Kite swooping in and then chased off a branch by a Little Crow

Black Kites

Whistling Kites

Bird photos from the Alice Springs Water Treatment Plant

Took the following photos recently:

Orange Chats

Black-winged Stilt

Black-tailed Native-hen

Whistling Kite

Alice Springs to Haasts Bluff stopping at Ellery Creek Big Hole

Spinifex Pigeon

This morning I drove from Alice Springs to Haasts Bluff, stopping at Ellery Creek Big Hole to break the drive. The Spinifex Pigeon above was one of a pair I spotted on the other side of the road from the turnoff. I'd pulled up there not for the Spinnies, but for some other smaller birds, Weebills, that had flown across the road as I pulled back onto the highway. It was unusual to see so many (about 10) so I followed them just off the road and stopped. I then heard a low "Ooomm" from the other side of the car and turned around to see something scurry in between the spinifex grasses. I love these birding moments where you see something totally unexpected.

Below are some more photos of the carpark and waterhole at Ellery Creek Big Hole and more of the Spinifex Pigeons. Hope you enjoy.

Australian Ringneck

Dingo in the carpark at Ellery Creek Big Hole

Pacific Black Ducks "ducking". The Eurasian Coot is not amused

Pied Butcherbird

more Spinifex Pigeon photos

Orange Chats, Black-tailed Native Hens, Pink-eared Ducks and Sandpipers photos from ASWTP

A quick venture out at lunch today was a battle against the wind and time. The poo ponds levels were up from my last visit and the shorebirds were having trouble finding wading areas. The lack of Black Swans is a concern. But the Pink-eared and Wood Ducks made up for the Swans in sheer numbers, probably 200 + or each.

The star of the day was the Orange Chat brigade, probably 40 or so individuals, and they had found a pond that was drying out almost completed. At the first sign of danger from one of the other species around, normally the Magpie Larks, all the Chats would peep into the air and settle wither in the surrounding foliage or the mounds of dirt beside the pond.

Enough waffle, here are the photos, as always, hope you enjoy.

Orange Chats

Black-tailed Native Hens

Pink-eared Ducks

Red-kneed Dotterel

 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Red-capped Plover

 Wood Sandpiper