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

Princess Parrots on Kintore Road

This morning I finally managed to see some Princess Parrots in the wild. After travelling through their known range quite a lot over the past few years, I was absolutely stoked to finally hear them, and see them. The group, of about 19, was heading west, probably towards the clouds/rain/food that have been around the area for a few days. The photographs aren't great as they had basically gone past me and were a fair distance from me, but I managed some distant group shots.

Princess Parrot

Black Kites at Kintore

One of the more common birds of prey around Kintore at the moment are the Black Kites. There aren't hordes of them, probably around a dozen or so. Most of the photos below have been taken early morning or late afternoon, but the time of the day makes these photos a little different for me, and hopefully for you too.

Black Kite

 

Another Brown Falcon with prey experience feet, tail and all

Yesterday as I was driving out to Kintore, an aboriginal community about 540 kms west of Alice Springs, I was struck for the most part of the journey by the birdlife - or rather, the lack of it. Last week there were birds everywhere, whereas yesterday there were very few birds. That was until I saw a Brown Falcon fly up off the road and circle back behind me. I stopped the car as it hadn't flown off like most Brown Falcons I see, and I had guessed it had settled somewhere close by. I jumped out of the car with the camera and walked back along the road. It didn't take long to find it as it was being harrassed by a White-winged Triller and a Masked Woodswallow.

t the time I thought it had just landed and was perched looking for food. What I didn't realise was that it had probably just caught a small Bearded Dragon and was having its afternoon meal. The first shots I took were by the road, and slowly but surely I moved closer until I eventually stopped about 10 metres away. I was sure it was going to fly off, so ensured the push-pull zoom was able to move freely. I was captivated by the falcon, and it didn't seem to mind me being so close, more concerned by the swooping smaller birds. It ate its meal on one group of branches from a fallen tree and then a shot flight to another group of branches from the same tree to preen itself and let the meal settle. I was really happy with lots and lots of the photos. It is not very often you are this close to a bird of prey, see it consume its prey, and then get the close-up shots in the late afternoon sun. I've selected a dozen photos, I hope you enjoy them.

Brown Falcon

a sneeze to get rid of the bits it didn't like

being harrassed by a Masked Woodswallow

being harrassed by a White-winged Triller

Thorny Devil, Bearded Dragon, Budgerigars and Wildflowers on the Kintore Road

I have been looking for the Thorny Devil on the roads for a while now as the weather heats up in Central Australia. Just recently I have noticed a few more reptiles on the road but until yesterday, this delightful creature has eluded me and the camera lens. After a few encounters with birds of prey and reptiles, it is interesting to note when the reptiles begin to emerge, and how that impacts on the number of birds of prey scanning the ground from above the roads. I don't actually like seeing the birds get the reptiles, especially when they are as pretty as this Thorny Devil. The detail in their outer presentation to the world is truly amazing, as intricate as you could find on almost any animal.
This particular one was on the road about half way between Papunya and Kintore. I was keeping an eye out for them but still managed to drive past and had to reverse. I was so happy to see it was still in the same place. I read recently that they are great photographic subjects because they don't move too much. The article was correct in this instance.

Thorny Devil

Not much further down the road was this little Bearded Dragon. They are very funny to watch when they move across the road, it is almost as though they "swim" through the red dirt.

Before I came across these two beautiful reptiles, the birds and the wildflowers were more than a little captivating. The Budgerigars are certainly growing in numbers now, with a flock of about 200 in one instance, many other flocks ranging in size from 4-5 to about 70. The ones in the photos below were in a group of about 50 feeding on the grass seeds at the side of the road, mostly behind the raised edges, but occasionally a few would flutter into the grasses where I could see and photograph.

Budgerigars

and the Wildflower. I know I have put a lot of these up recently on a birding blog, but part of the reason for birds coming to this area is because of the feed around, including the wildflower seeds.

 and this is the road late afternoon without wind to blow away the dust