Some Recent photos - Parrots - Bourkes, Mulga, and Budgerigars

Recently I've been travelling west of Alice Springs. There is a wonderful stretch of road called the Namatjira-Kintore Link Road. It is a dirt road that runs for about 44 kms, from the Glen Helen Road turnoff to the T intersection where you can go left to Haasts Bluff or right to Papunya. The scenery is dominated by the Haasts Bluff range, and the countryside is thick with spinifex grasses, mulga trees, as well as ghost gums, rocky hills and the occasional creek crossing (that are dry almost all of the time.

In the past I have found Bourkes Parrots fairly easy to find on this stretch of road in a particular spot. Generally I can stop the car, walk into a mulga patch, stand and listen for a few minutes and I can hear their calls. At the moment though, they have moved into an area that is a bit higher and can be easily spotted during the day feeding on the side of the road. There are many other species, but when I saw 40 of the Bourkes Parrots, I didn't seem to notice the other birds.

The Mulga Parrots are in the same vicinity and occasionally I have seen them feeding next to Bourkes and Budgerigars. Quite a colourful (and noisy) mix.

The Budgerigars are flocking more and more as each day passes. It is a real buzz to hear even a small flock of 50 birds whizz past. On one day recently I estimated about 500, it was early and they seem to get together early in the morning then spread out into smaller groups during the day, presumably to re-congregate in the evenings. The flashes of vibrant green are a fairly common occurrence at the moment as the Budgerigars burst from roadside feeding.

Even more recent rains to follow up last month's rainfall promises the Boom Time to continue for a while yet.

Bourkes Parrot

 

Mulga Parrots

 

 

Budgerigars

Red-backed Kingfisher in the morning sun

One of my most enjoyable stopping places between Haasts Bluff and Papunya is the Frederick Blakely Memorial. I have had a few enjoyable birding experiences there, including a close-up "viewing" by a Black-breasted Buzzard, watching a pair of Red-capped Robins hopping about the road chirping away to one another, and last week I enjoyed a rare close-up experience with a Red-backed Kingfisher.

As I pulled off the road into the small memorial area, the kingfisher took off (as per usual) from a tree very close to the memorial itself. I watched as it flew not far away (not normal) and perched on an exposed branch on a nearby tree. I inched the car forward, winding down the window as I progressed, trying to reach over to the camera at the same time. It was still there. I stopped the car, turned off the engine and slowly brought the camera to my eye. It is normally at about this point in time I realise I have settings on the camera for a completely different shot, ie on the TV setting, with the lens set for a long distant shot and lots of the focal points selected. I was pleased to realise the camera was on the right settings for the shot in front of me. I clicked away. The resultant photos below are a few of the ones I chose.

Red-backed Kingfisher

Red-backed Kingfisher with breakfast, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Mistletoebird and a strange couple

I took these photos this morning at Haasts Bluff of a Red-backed Kingfisher eating a large green insect.

Red-backed Kingfisher

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

Mistletoebird

Unfortunately this photo isn't very good quality as it was almost dark when I took the shot. I had seen two Common Bronzewings fly in to a large watercourse, and followed one of them to the opposite bank from where I was sitting. I put the camera up to my eye and noticed a second bird sitting above the Bronzewing. I am fairly sure it is a Spotted Harrier, but the light wasn't good enough for a decent ID

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

Major Mitchell Cockatoo at Haasts Bluff, NT

The weather has turned very grey at Haasts Bluff, but before the drizzle set in, another fracas outside the accommodation unit by the Major Mitchell Cockatoos. They seemed to be either feeding or drinking from the tops of the power poles.

Major Mitchell Cockatoo