Treasures of Windjana Gorge

We arrived at Windjana Gorge one late afternoon in August. These Black kite appeared as sentinels in the setting sun - probably just hanging and keeping an eye out for scraps ... or maybe ....  guarding something perhaps?!

 Not really, but the kids did enjoy pointing out these little treasures rustling in the scrub next morning!

Brown quail, Windjana Gorge, 14 August 2012 

The quail were seen adjacent to the camping area which is outside the actual gorge. We walked the gorge for about 2 hours (out and back) but it deserves much more time. I was torn to have to turn around as each bend in the gorge seemed to promise more interesting sights and varied habitat.

Little bronze-cuckoo amongst the trees lining the gorge. Lifer!

Below are Yellow-tinted honeyeater, a White-gaped honeyeater feeding and White-winged triller.

Brown falcon looking down on me

People may be aware that Windjana Gorge is probably best known for a different form of wildlife. This Black-fronted dotterel appears to be tip-toeing past such a beast!

These Freshwater crocodile are everywhere. They are harmless to humans unless disturbed.

We've covered birds and reptiles - bats represent the mammals today. Fishing is prohibited in the Gorge and barramundi can be seen swimming! 

Views within Windjana Gorge and one from the camping area "amenity" looking back at the cliff walls of the gorge entrance.

I would expect that spending a few days here would be very productive from the birding point of view! Here's the Eremaea list from our little visit. 

Bird on!

Birds of the Bungles

Driving to and from the Bungle Bungles from our accommodation close to the highway was a big day out - not a day that lent itself to birding (how can this be true?)!

However I did enjoy a walk the following morning (12 August 2012) exploring along the Spring Creek. This is a tributary of the Ord River. Caravan park, creek and river are all a part of the Mabel Downs cattle station.

You can see pictures, stories and a short video from the family adventures at the Bungles at these posts from the family blog!

• Purnululu National Park
• Bungles video
• Tom's helicopter narrative and photos

But on to the birds ....
It was a great morning for slaking your thirst at Spring Creek!

One of the grubbiest Sulphur-crested cockatoos I have come across!

Peaceful dove

Long-tailed finch drinking and ... well .... reflecting!

Budgerigar

I remember being frustrated and elated at the same time as the small flock of budgies arrived. Elated that they had appeared in the first place and deigned it reasonable to have a drink adjacent to my "perch"! Frustrated that I knew it was not possible to get any closer or make any attempt to improve my position without seeing them off!

In these cropped views I do like the "descending angel" pose of the bird at left!

In my limited experience (about 2 weeks!) I have found that budgies can be hard to photograph! They are small fast and in numbers that bewilder - all characteristics that help them elude predators. Even in dead trees they camouflage well!

Spot the budgie - I just counted 33 in this picture!

If Long-tailed finch sit on a branch they tend to stand out!

Long-tailed finch

The rear view is included because it demonstrates the feature that gives them their common name!

This was another location that seemed to cope with a large number of honeyeater species. Black-chinned honeyeater seen below was a lifer for me. The north and western Australian race laetior is also known as Golden-backed honeyeater - these colours demonstrated in the peculiar pose at right.

Yellow-tinted honeyeater. This back-lit photo was a small spot metering triumph for this photographer - not least because as the swaying branch moved I was being blinded by a direct view of the sun!

Please also meet some other locals seen that morning including Olive-backed oriole, Grey shrike-thrush, Little friarbird and Whistling kite. You can see the complete Eremaea list here.

Bird on!

24 birding moments at Timber Creek

Policeman's Point is located on the Victoria River a couple of kilometres west of the town of Timber Creek in the Northern Territory. There is a picnic area which has become known as a pleasant overnighter. We arrived on a gorgeous sunny afternoon and left late the next morning.

So .... Here are 24 happy birding moments from less than 24 hours staying at Policeman's Point! We'll start with the finches shall we?

1. Enjoyed some nice views of Double-barred finch at sunrise (commando style on the ground for this one - I'm afraid it takes me longer to get back up these days - especially in the early morning!) 

2. I couldn't get very close but here's a few lifers just hanging around together!!! (Crimson finch and Yellow-rumped mannikin plus Brown honeyeater)

3. 'Got a few closer views of Yellow-rumped mannikin

4. On dusk this White-necked heron surprised us by landing on a dead tree at our campsite

5. All you can eat! The flowering Jigal tree does it again for this Brown honeyeater ....

6. and this White-breasted woodswallow .....

7. and this Little friarbird ......

8. and this Little corella.

9. Little corellas have such character

10.  I got very excited by the proximity, light and clarity of view when photographing this Striated pardalote.

11. I enjoyed several encounters with budgerigar 

12. Here they drink from the Victoria River (there was a crocodile just 20 metres to the right of this picture) 

13. In the short time I have known them, I have found White-bellied cuckoo-shrike to be a very photogenic bird!

14. By the look of it this Great bowerbird may have also been visiting the Jigal tree flowers! 

15. Getting used to the youth! I am getting better at recognising juvenile birds such as this young Rufous whistler 

16. The ubiquitous Black kite

17. I spent several minutes with this Mistletoebird.

18. Some flycatcher moments. This Paperbark flycatcher became like a companion during my late morning walk!

19. This one was hanging around the campsite.

20. It took me some time to work out that this bird was a female Shining flycatcher (lifer!). Despite the dull light and distance (the other side of a creek) I had a pretty good look at it for a minute or so.

21. Speaking of lifers, here is a Bar-breasted honeyeater. Unlike anything I have seen before!

22. Another honeyeater lifer was this Yellow-tinted honeyeater ... 

23. and White-throated honeyeater is pretty new to my list as well! 

24. And last but not least, this is probably the closest I've been to Olive-backed oriole!

Here's the Eremaea list of a lazy 39 birds which is more than I usually manage at most sites!

Bird on!