Quick Trip to Tennant Creek

I headed up the road for a short drive with a friend to Tennant Creek. Only 1200 or so kms in a day and a half. It was nice to feel a bit warmer!

Our targets were the species in the spinifex-laden hills around TC, and I learned a lot from my friend about habitats.

By far the most numerous were the Grey-fronted Honeyeaters. They were very curious. Weebills also would come close to check out the weirdos on the ground below. The Spinifex Pigeons were also there in numbers and if we sat quietly, they only seemed to notice us at the last second before they stumbled into us. Birds of prey were constantly circling, and Painted Finches could often be heard in small groups flying overhead. We saw a Ground Cuckoo-shrike on the way up the highway, and a few small flocks of Budgerigars and Zebra Finches. A very enjoyable day and a half.

Wedge-tailed Eagles soaring

Nankeen Kestrel flyby

Ground Cuckoo-shrike on the way up the highway

Grey-fronted Honeyeater by a soak

Spinifex Pigeons

A curious Weebill

Spinifex Pigeons

During my travels this week, I stopped off at a small creek crossing just north of Renner Springs. I had just passed a bloke riding his bike southwards on the Stuart Highway, have to be keen to do something like that. Just before the creek, a small flock of reddy-brown pigeon like birds flew from the creek side across to the rather dry looking other side. "Probably Spinnies" I thought to myself. As I passed the creek, I noticed a pair of Brolgas standing on the waters edge. I could also hear a Painted Finch or two nearby, so I decided to stop. I was fairly sure my chances for good photos of the Brolgas were slim. In the spot they were standing I would have to go across the "bridge", and with the cyclist approaching ... well, one crappy shot through trees was all I managed. To his credit, the cyclist apologised as he rode past. "No worries mate" I said, as I knew there would be other opportunities at some stage.

I was wondering whether or not to get back in the car when I heard the Painted Finch again. There it was, just sitting on top of a rock not far from me. I tried to bring the camera up slowly, but it flew off, in under cover. Oh well. I figured it would probably come back soon for another drink, hopefully with some mates, and decided to sit in the shade for a little while, watching the waters edge.

After 10 minutes of watching a Willie Wagtail dance above the small creek pool of water, I had pretty much decided to return to the car. Then some movement caught my eye. The Spinifex Pigeons had returned, probably 15 or so in total. They waddled across the sand, rocks and then finally down to the water for a drink. They really are a very colourful but unusual looking bird.

Spinifex Pigeon

Some of the birds, animals and scenery walking the Larapinta Hills

I am very lucky to have a beautiful place to walk the dog in the mornings and evenings - the hills behind Larapinta in Alice Springs. Over the past 6 months I have seen a wide variety of colours, animals, reptiles and birds. I haven't quite made it as far as the Larapinta Trail, but I'm sure if I kept walking I would eventually run into it. Some times I take the camera with me, other times it is really nice to be able to just experience everything the area has to offer without concentrating on trying to get a great photo. I have been amazed at the variety on my door step. Here are some of the photos. I hope you enjoy.

Black-shouldered Kite

Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo

Rufous Whistler

Splendid Fairy-wren

Western MacDonnell Ranges

Spinifex Pigeon

Dingo

My companion on the walks - Elsey with Heavitree Gap hills in the background

Grey-crowned Babbler

Some photos from the past week or so of birds around the Centre

I have been a bit lax in posting so I thought I'd put a collection from the past week or so around Central Australia. There are so many birds nesting and feeding as well as lots of juveniles around the place, sometimes making it hard to identify species, or which way to look. This is not confined to smaller or larger birds, they all seem to be enjoying the abundant food, both non-bird food like grass seeds, and prey for the larger birds. The sun is baking the middle of Australia, and the reptiles are out as well, so the larger birds have a pretty good menu at the moment.

The following birds are in no particular order, but the raptors are big favourites in my family so I'll start with a few of them:

Australian Hobby

Young Black-shouldered Kite

Australasian Grebes giving me the rear view

Major Mitchell Cockatoo letting me know it was thinking what I was thinking

Young Mistletoebird demanding some food, even if it was greens!

Spinifex Pigeon pretending to be a rock

Alice Springs to Haasts Bluff stopping at Ellery Creek Big Hole

Spinifex Pigeon

This morning I drove from Alice Springs to Haasts Bluff, stopping at Ellery Creek Big Hole to break the drive. The Spinifex Pigeon above was one of a pair I spotted on the other side of the road from the turnoff. I'd pulled up there not for the Spinnies, but for some other smaller birds, Weebills, that had flown across the road as I pulled back onto the highway. It was unusual to see so many (about 10) so I followed them just off the road and stopped. I then heard a low "Ooomm" from the other side of the car and turned around to see something scurry in between the spinifex grasses. I love these birding moments where you see something totally unexpected.

Below are some more photos of the carpark and waterhole at Ellery Creek Big Hole and more of the Spinifex Pigeons. Hope you enjoy.

Australian Ringneck

Dingo in the carpark at Ellery Creek Big Hole

Pacific Black Ducks "ducking". The Eurasian Coot is not amused

Pied Butcherbird

more Spinifex Pigeon photos