A gorgeous White-winged Fairy-wren, Glossy Ibis in full colour, and a scared cat and a dingo

Sometimes you get the chance to take some close-up photos of birds that can be quite timid. This happened recently with a White-winged Fairy-wren male. I find these birds can be extremely difficult to photograph at times, but not on this occasion:

White-winged Fairy-wren

A Glossy Ibis has been present at the local ponds recently, and I managed to finally get some decent photographs of this very colourful bird.

Glossy Ibis

I was walking towards the bird hide in the middle of the main ponds area, and noticed what at first I thought might have been a Whistling Kite sitting atop the wooden post to the right of the hide. I have seen Whistling Kites on the post before, so was not really expecting the bird to turn into a cat. I was sure it would jump off well before I approached to a close distance, but to my surprise it seemed stuck in its position. Eventually when I was within about 4 metres, it jumped down, alas to the far side of the Hide. I was a bit confused and tried to see where it had jumped to, and then promptly forgot about the cat as I could see some birds to my left. As I swung around, I saw something that made me realise why the cat had stayed in atop the post for so long. A dingo was only about 10 metres away.

The cat atop the post

The dingo, seriously needing a feed.

Fairy-wrens including a dust-up, an Orange Chat and a few others

Spent some time at the Alice Springs Sewage Ponds trying to chase Fairy-wrens and Chats. Quite happy with the range I managed.

White-winged Fairy-wren

Dad came out to watch the fight between the kids

Young male checking out the insects

Mum watches on as the young male and female have a dust-up

Splendid Fairy-wren was not amused

Variegated Fairy-wren kept to himself

This Orange Chat sat nicely on top of a bush

Black-tailed Native-hen

Fairy Martin

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

Crimson Chats become a "town bird" at Alice Springs

Recently there has been an influx of birds towards Alice Springs, possibly due to the drying surrounds, or maybe they are looking for warmth as the overnight temperatures drop. One of the more unusual visitors has been the Crimson Chats. Normally these birds aren't too far away from town, but generally they do keep to the outskirts. Alice Springs residents have been reporting them all over the place, about the only area so far without a report is the Todd Mall, right in the middle of Alice Springs. They are very pretty birds, the males being much more dominated by the "crimson"that presumably gives them part of their name, but the females can look quite stunning as well. Here are a couple from one of my favourite birding spots around Alice Springs, the Poo Ponds:

Crimson Chat

Australian Spotted Crake

Black-tailed Native-hen

Little Grassbird

White-winged Fairy-wren

Photos of Little Birds around Alice Springs

Sometimes the little birds are the easiest to hear, but the hardest to find. Here is a selection of recent shots not far from Alice Springs:

Inland Thornbill

Rufous Whistler

Southern Whiteface

Weebill

Yellow-rumped Thornbill

Red-capped Robin

White-winged Fairy-wren

Crimson Chat

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