Little Birds South of Alice Springs

I managed to have the opportunity to head south of Alice Springs recently. I drove a "road" (really just a fairly upmarket track) for about 7 kms and was stunned by the amount and variety of birdlife available for viewing and photographing.

Pied and Black Honeyeaters as well as Crimson Chats seem to be everywhere around Central Australia at the moment, as well as the Woodswallows. I was also hoping to see a few other species though, and was delighted to find Cinnamon Quail-thrushes in numbers, as well as Southern Whiteface, both Red-capped and Hooded Robins, Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, and a highlight was catching up with Bourke's Parrots.

If you are thinking about heading to the Centre, any time in the next few months will be a wonderful time as the explosion of bird numbers is set to continue.

Cinnamon Quail-thrush

Southern Whiteface

Bourke's Parrot

Crimson Chats

Hooded Robin

Red-capped Robin

Bourke's Parrots

Over the past few months I have been lucky enough to drive past a location that has been very consistent in providing fairly close-up experiences with Bourke's Parrots. A few weeks ago I stopped at the same spot and couldn't locate them. This happened again the following week. But last week, they were back and between the 7 parrots I saw, only a couple kept clear of me, although there was a fair bit of foliage in between. The males are photos 1, 2 and 4, the female below (photo 3) has the less vibrantly coloured feathers.

Bourke's Parrot

Black Falcon, Bourke's Parrot and Crested Bellbird photos

Finally snagged a decent shot of the Black Falcon at Papunya.

Black Falcon

It is little wonder it was there, there are a gazillion Zebra Finches, a number of Cockatiels and Budgies, White-backed Swallows as well as about 20 Grey Teals and few other water birds.

Also saw the Bourke's Parrots again.

Bourke's Parrot

and had a lovely close-up encounter with a Crested Bellbird:

Crested Bellbird

Bourke’s Parrots, Mulga Parrots, Varied Sittella all together west of Alice Springs

Earlier this week I was driving out to Mt Liebig for work. I noticed a few flashes out of the corner of my eye – parrots, longish tails, was that a splash of red or pink? Princess Parrots? My mind raced as I slowed the car and grabbed the camera. I hadn’t been travelling too fast as I had just come through some rough road. I had a fair idea where the birds had flown and gave the large shrub a wide birth, trying not to disturb them, and, control my building expectations. As I neared I heard the unmistakable call of the Mulga Parrot. My Princess Parrot hopes faded quickly and I could see 7 Mulga Parrots, 4 males and 3 females/juveniles. Oh well, if I couldn’t see Princess Parrots, then Mulga Parrots were certainly a lovely second place for spectacular colour. I crept closer and closer to the bush and eventually managed to get a few photos without the sticks in the way. I started to head back toward the car and heard another distinctive parrot sound – Bourke’s Parrots, and sure enough two flew up from the ground and perched in a nearby tree. The angle for photos wasn’t great so I tried to circle them keeping the sun behind me. I could see the most magnificent blue and pink as well as that weird white blob around their eyes. I shouldn’t have been too surprised as I had seen the Bourke’s parrot in the same area 6 or 7 weeks ago, but that was much earlier in the day. As I circled, my fear of them taking flight came true, but not before another one joined them in flight. 3 of them now. They didn’t fly too far and I continued my circling, even if it was much further than I originally anticipated. Again they didn’t allow me to get too close before alighting once more, but a fourth joined them. This was getting exciting. Despite a fair bit of searching, I couldn’t see any more and again headed back towards the car. As I neared the road, I heard an oddly familiar but not often heard bird call coming from the small copse on the other side of the road. I continued across the road and crept closer, to discover a small group of about 8 Varied Sittellas jumping and hopping around the trunks. I was starting to miss my old, far superior lens, as I constantly focussed and missed the Sittellas. I kept trying for a bit longer when I heard the unmistakable sound of the Bourke’s Parrots again. First 2, then 8 more flew into the copse, and then another 20. I couldn’t believe I was seeing them at this time of day, and in such numbers. I’ve only seen 6 at the most before this experience. A few fed on the ground not far from me, and another couple perched in the morning sun on exposed branches. The others were flying at the back of the trees, fluttering down to feed on the ground beyond my vision. Finally I had my photo opportunity, one close by on the ground had continued to feed despite my presence only 10 metres away, while the two perched in the tree remained as well. I clicked off a lot of photos, determined to at least get one decent photo of a Bourke’s Parrot despite my substandard lens.  Eventually the ground dweller and the perchees disappeared towards the others at the back of the trees. I returned to the car absolutely thrilled to have enjoyed the experience, all from a mistaken identity.

Bourke's Parrots

Bourke's Parrot, Cockatiel, Budgerigar and Scenery photos Alice Springs to Haasts Bluff

Back on the road again for work, and although the camera gear is not my usual kit, still manage to get some half decent photos. Really hanging out for the new gear though.

Driving to Haasts Bluff (which is about 240 kms west of Alice Springs past Glen Helen) early morning, I was very happy to see about 6 Bourke's Parrots. Having only seen these near dusk at a dam to the north of town, I wasn't expecting them in the morning, although when I looked at the map it probably isn't too far for them to fly to and from the dam to where I was. Would have loved to have had a decent camera, but you use what you've got.

Bourke's Parrot

Further along the road towards Haasts Bluff, there is a claypan that still has water from the January rains. I parked myself at the edge of the claypan one evening and delighted in a wide variety of birds coming in for a drink. Budgies and Cockatiels were competing with the Magpie-larks and Butcherbirds for the noisiest. Not far from where I was sitting was a small dead tree, providing a nice perch for some of the birds.

Cockatiel

Budgerigar

The drive itself from Glen Helen to Haasts Bluff is about 40 kms of bitumen followed by 58 kms of dirt. Some of the scenery is stunning. Here are a few shots over the past week or so.

Mt Sonder, just north west of Glen Helen in the early morning

Mt Sonder during the day

same spot as photo above but looking toward Ormiston Gorge

hills near Haasts Bluff