Birding around Kintore - story and photos

This eek I was out at Kintore, about 520 kms west of Alice Springs. Aside from the excitement of the Princess Parrot encounter the birding opportunities can be both unusual and close-up.

One of the places I visit when I am working out at Kintore is their Poo Ponds. Hardly a surprise. I have had some amazing experiences, especially with raptors, and this occasion was no different. On one day, I enjoyed watching a Spotted Harrier gliding over the distant grasses, a Black-breasted Buzzard comedown to drink from the ponds and then fly very close, and a Peregrine Falcon perched on the perimeter fence, then later in a nearby tree. All the while, hundreds of Zebra Finches lined the perimeter fence, awaiting their turn to flit down for a drink, Crimson Chats and White-winged Fairy-wrens jumping around the bushes and grasses just beyond the fence, and a pair of unusual visitors arrived for a few minutes - Painted Finches. Tree Martins by the score, and a few White-backed Swallows, not to mention the Grey Teals and a lone Australian Wood Duck accompanying the grebes on the ponds. The occasional Budgerigar small flock, and Cockatiels in pairs flew in as well. Singing Honeyeaters, and a Rufous Whistler pair didn't stray much from the bushes, and a few Diamond Doves but interestingly, no Crested Pigeons while I was there. They normally number into the 20s and more at these types of locations. Maybe next week. One variety which was there in huge numbers were Willie Wagtails. There were groups of 5, 8, 12, and I counted 15 in one group. They were everywhere. I had one or two in particular who were very inquisitive, landing on the open car door, the roof etc. while I was almost within touching distance.

Generally I park the car and stand with the sun behind me, so my location varies depending on the time of day. The pond gates are locked so I am forced to bird-watch from outside the fence, which is normally the best place in any case as I can move around the perimeter if I need to if I spot something on the other side of the ponds. It is rare for me to be at one of these remote Poo Ponds and have my bird-watching interrupted by another person. It really is almost perfect conditions, although every now and then the bugs or smell force an early end to the session.

Here are some photos from the latest foray to the Kintore Poo Ponds:

Black-breasted Buzzard

Crimson Chat

Painted Finch

Peregrine Falcon

White-winged Fairy-wren

Some (relatively) unusual birds from Kintore to Papunya and a few of the regulars

Driving back to Alice Springs from Kintore yesterday, I came across a few of the less seen (by me anyway) birds. In reality, it was the 280 km stretch between Kintore and Papunya, and even more specifically from Kintore to Mt Liebig turnoff.

The first bird I stopped for was a Chiming Wedgebill. I wasn't 100% from the photo so I waited for the call - then I knew, definitely a Chiming Wedgebill, as opposed to a Chirruping Wedgebill that looks almost identical, although THAT would be unusual as its range is much further south I think.

Chiming Wedgebill

 this isn't the best shot of one in flight, but you can see a little that may help to identify one in the future if you have very good eyesight and ID skills, in which case you probably don't need the photo!

Next was the Crested Bellbird, a little more often photographed, but heard a lot more than seen. This one was very polite and sat on the tree long enough for me to reverse to take a couple of snaps.

One of the disappointments of the day was the poor photos I managed of two Australian Bustards in flight, one about 5 minutes after the other. Here are 2 of the "better" shots

The last two less unusual birds kept a fair distance. One was the Varied Sittella

and the second was the White-fronted Honeyeater

 and a few of the more common birds:

Australasian Pipit

Brown Falcon

Brown Falcon hassled by a Masked Woodswallow

Brown Falcon going across the red dirt road

Budgerigars

Centralian Blue-tongue Lizard

Crimson Chat

Diamond Dove flashing me but the female wasn't impressed

Grey-headed Honeyeater

Lizard on the red dirt

Masked Woodswallow

Pied Butcherbird - "King of the Castle!"

Rufous Songlark