Recent Photos from the Alice Springs Poo Ponds

Australian Spotted Crake

Hoary-headed Grebe

Red-necked Avocets

Spotted Harrier

Tree Martin

Red-browed Pardalote, Southern Whiteface, Fairy and Tree Martins

Red-browed Pardalotes are around Central Australia most of the time, but recently I have been hearing and seeing a lot more than usual. Generally, these cute little birds are elusively in the tree-tops, and I have struggled to get good photos showing their unique characteristics. Recently, this changed. I could hear two birds piping away to one another and eventually located them in a nearby shrub. Camera in hand I warily approached the bush, but unlike previous experiences, the birds didn't fly off, maybe they were too interested in one another to worry about me. Alas they were behind the spindly leaves of the tree for a really good shot, but even so, being this close demanded the photos to be taken. One of them was more in the open than the other so I concentrated on that one. I clicked off a few photos and then realised the shots would be about the same so unless the bird moved, I was to hold my fire. Eventually it did, and to my delight, it flew onto a nearby wire fence. It wasn't too far away from where I was but I didn't want to get too close, and instead hoped the lens would reach far enough. The bird did fly off and I was delighted with some of the photos taken of the bird inside the diamond shapes of the fence.

Red-browed Pardalote

 

The Southern Whiteface is another bird I seem to encounter a lot once I leave the main town area of Alice Springs. They can be quite noisy and their twittering to one another can be frustrating as being so small they can be very close but still unseen. This one was far more obliging.

Southern Whiteface

The Fairy Martins and Tree Martins can be hard to distinguish when they are flying, but much easier once they are perched. Zooming around collecting insects above water and then sitting on nearby fences to preen themselves, seems to be their main daily activities. Here are some who have become tired of the insect catching :-)

Fairy Martin

Tree Martin

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

Grey Wagtail and others at the Alice Springs Water Treatment Plant

Alice Springs has certainly had a number of exciting sightings this year in the birding community. The latest is a Grey Wagtail that has been seen at the Alice Springs Water Treatment Plant aka Poo Ponds. I was lucky enough to be spotted by Will Cormack and he showed me where the bird was. Thanks Will.

I was reading the entry for Grey Wagtail in Pizzey and Knight and wasn't surprised to find out these birds are actually in the Pipit family. This is also true for the Forest Wagtail seen earlier in the year in Alice Springs (see the Post for the Forest Wagtail here - Forest Wagtail post. These two wagtails- Grey and Forest, certainly fly and look much more like a Pipit than the Willie Wagtail. anyway, apparently the Grey Wagtails are quite common in PNG, and an occasional visitor to the Top End. Maybe we are only noticing these visitors because there are more people bird-watching due in part to the accessibility of good, inexpensive photography equipment.

Anyway, enough rambling, here are some photos or our latest visitor.

Grey Wagtail

There were also a gizzillion Fairy Martins and a few Tree Martins around the gate area at the Poo Ponds.

Fairy Martin

 

Not 100% sure if this is a Tree Martin rather than a Fairy Martin but I think it is. Let me know if I'm incorrect.

and a young Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater came out to say hello just and I was leaving.