A stunning sunrise at the Alice Springs airport, Long-billed Corellas, Black Kite etc

This morning one of my sons had to get up early and do some training, so my other son and I went out near the Alice Springs airport to see if there were any budgerigars around. Alas, no budgies, but we were treated to a sensational sunrise looking across the graveyard for planes at the airport, with some beautiful sun streams:

Sunrise at Alice Springs Airport

Long-billed Corella, one of two hiding amongst the Little Corellas

Black Kite above

Little Corellas

Cockatiels, Little Corella, Pied Butcherbird and an unusual threesome - bird photos

All of these photos or either around or near Alice Springs. The birding is starting to hot up as the weather cools down and the water starts to disappear except for the main waterholes and larger creek beds and reserves. The budgerigar flocks are getting larger south of town and there are lots of juvenile birds of all sorts around the area at the moment.

If you have ever wanted to visit the region, now would be a great time, get here before the bulk of the tourists arrive and enjoy the wonderful local gorges without too many others.

Hope you enjoy the photos:

Cockatiel

Little Corella

Pied Butcherbird

Nankeen Kestrel, Galah and Magpie-lark

Colourful Parrots - Mulga Parrots, Cockatiels, Australian Ringeck Little Corella, Budgerigars

As the centre of Australia dries out, the remaining waterholes become very busy with bird activity. I visited one place recently and managed a few photos of a variety of birds.

Mulga Parrot male

Mulga Parrot - female

 Cockatiels

Australian Ringneck

Little Corella

Galah (nest is inside the tree hollow)

Budgerigars

A cute Pink-eared Duckling along with mum, and others from the Alice Springs Water Treatment Plant

It has been a while since I visited our local ponds, and the birdlife seem to be enjoying the refuge as the outlying areas dry out. A surprise camein the form of a fluffy little Pink-eared Duckling. I walked up to a corner of a pond and was surprised by the slow movement of an adult Pink-eared Duck. Soon I realised why when this ball of fluff sauntered out from the protection of the bank, chasing the adult. It was curious to watch how the adult kept its distance until both were well into the middle of a rather large pond. I was glad there were no raptors hanging around during those minutes as it would have been awful to see this little one be taken.

Pink-eared Duckling

 Pink eared Duck

White-winged Fairy-wren

Fairy Martin followed by Tree Martin

nice of them to sit in the same position - makes it easy to identify and compare

Another pairing, Little Corella followed by Long-billed Corella

Yellow-rumped Thornbill