Black-shouldered Kites in the Mallee

The Black-shouldered Kites have had a good breeding season by the looks of the fully-fledged and independently hunting juveniles as well as the mature adults around Ouyen.
Further afield they continued to appear, and providing a few photo opportunities.

Black-shouldered Kites

Wedge-tailed Eagles along the Tanami Road

I had been wondering where the Wedge-tailed Eagles were hanging out, as I hadn't seen one for quite a while heading out via Glen Helen towards Papunya. So, one week recently I decided to head up the Tanami Road, not to llok for Wedgies specifically, more for a change of scenery.

The first pair I came across were quite close to the road, one on a roadkill about 5 metres from the road and the other off the road a bit more, probably 15 metres from the road. I then noticed a third one soaring above. Generally it is the crows that make me aware of the possibility a Wedgie could be around as they are the birds that spread from the roadside first. On this occasion, there weren't any crows around, but the one by the roadside was moving on the carcass. I slowed, then stopped. The sun was still rising behind me. The golden hour. Time to try to get out of the car without disturbing the birds. Door open. Foot outside the car. Open the door wider. Camera in hand. Stand up to exit the car completely. Still the birds hadn't moved. Closed the door gently. Still there. Looking wary. Camera starts to come up ..... and there goes the close one. I looked across towards the second one on the ground, still there. I moved around behind the car and managed to get a few photos.

Wedge-tailed Eagle

I then continued driving, and saw another lone Wedgies sitting in a tree, again, the sun was still rising behind me. More photos.

I did see 5 more birds that morning, 9 in total, another couple and another threesome. All of the birds were within 15 kilometres, between the first sighting and the last. I thought this was interesting as generally I would see them further apart, but probably this was where the food was, so this is where they were. I didn't see any more roadkill after the initial threesome location, but it was lovely to see these majestic birds once more in the wild.

Australian Hobby and Budgerigars near Alice Springs

Went to a place I have seen large flocks of Budgerigars previously to see if the current conditions were the same. We had rain in Alice Springs yesterday, so the chance of standing water was high. I wasn't disappointed. With rain consistently falling, the flocks are bunching then dispersing, but at least they should be hanging around here for a while yet.

There is something both spooky and exciting being close to a Raptor. Although I have never been attacked, the threat always seems to be there. The eyes seem to look straight through you, and the talons are awesome when seeing them up close. The Australian Hobby had just been kicked off its perch by its mate, and flew to the tree nearest the road, about 12 feet off the ground. Unfortunately there were a few branches in the way, but I managed to eventually move to a clear view without it flying off. I was hoping it was doing the same thing I was, waiting for the large flocks of Budgerigars to come and feed on the other side of the road. They stayed further down the road while I was there. I started where the Budgerigars had congregated for the night, just after sun-up, and the noise was deafening between them and the Masked Woodswallows, with the occasional small flock of Cockatiels. There were also Southern Whiteface, Hooded Robins, Rufous Songlarks, Zebra Finches, Singing, Spiny-cheeked and White-plumed Honeyeaters, a lone Nankeen Kastrel and Crimson Chats, all bottled up in this one small area, enjoying the cover of the tress in the creek and the surrounding scrub. The chatter from the Budgerigars grew louder and louder until they took off in 5 separate large groups, with a few slow-coaches in threes and fours heading off after the flock. The Woodswallows were a little less grouped, by still an impressive cacophony as they took off and soared through the morning sky. A lovely start to the week.

Australian Hobby

Budgerigar Flock of about 100 birds

Through the trees

Feeding on the ground

A lovely scene from lest night looking towards the Eastern Macdonnell Ranges

Close encounter with a Wedge-tailed Eagle

I came across 3 Wedgies by the side of the road recently. Completely missed the third one with the camera, and I'm not sure if this is a common drawback with new lenses but I actually got too close for a full body shot as one of the Wedgies flew off. Scary through the view-finder let me tell you! Anyway, here are a few of the better snaps: