Sally and I have been in Darwin now for 5 days. We have been chasing birds locally before heading off tomorrow for Kakadu, Pine Creek, Katherine and Timber Creek (Konunurra if we have time).
We have a campervan so are very flexible as everything goes with us wherever we go. Having said that on our second attempt we found a decent campsite just out of town – Hidden Valley. a whopping Prices are double RSA and all foodstuffs approximately 50% more expensive. Petrol about R17 a litre and alcohol a whopping 300% more expensive – cheapest wine R90 a bottle and R500 for a case of beer (330ml cans).
It has been hectically hot – usually from 8 am onwards. So up early and push on until exhaustion and bad tempers prevail. By 11:30 we are back in the campsite pool cooling off. It is a struggle to get the energy to go out again late afternoon.
On top of that unless you are around water – sea or lagoons – the birding is slow. 30 to 40 species in a very good morning. Not helped as quite a number of places only open at 08h00!! Hardly birder friendly (on occasion they do forget to close the gates).
We have ventured to the following birding spots:
Charles Darwin NP (opens at 08h00)
Knuckley Lagoons
Lee Point
Buffalo Creek
Holmes Jungle (opens at 08h00)
East Point
Howard Springs (opens at 08h00)
McMinns Lagoon
What follows is a series of pictures from each of these places – we hope you enjoy them. We have been bold enough to put names to most of the birds but if you know better then please let us know.
Charles Darwin NP:
Good place to start birding in Darwin – we saw some very nice species – Little Shrike-Thrush took a lot of chasing to get a picture (bird is darker than shown in the photo).
Varied Triller, Charles Darwin
Varied Triller, Charles Darwin
Varied Triller, Charles Darwin
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Charles Darwin
Brown Honeyeater, Charles Darwin
White-gaped Honeyeater, Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin NP
Bar-shouldered Dove, Charles Darwin
White-throated Honeyeater, Charles Darwin
White-gaped Honeyeater – juvenile, Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin NP
Double barred Finch, Charles Darwin
Figbird – male, Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin NP
Dusky Honeyeater, Charles Darwin
Figbird, – female, Charles Darwin
View over the mangroves towards town
Dusky Flycatcher, Charles Darwin
Forest Kingfisher, Charles Darwin
View over the mangroves towards town
Emerald Dove, Charles Darwin
Forest Kingfisher, Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin NP
Figbird male and female, Charles Darwin
Forest Kingfisher, Charles Darwin
Forest Kingfisher, Charles Darwin
Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, Charles Darwin
Little Friarbird, Charles Darwin
Helmeted Friarbird, Charles Darwin
Little Shrike-thrush, Charles Darwin
Leaden Flycatcher, Charles Darwin
Northern Fantail, Charles Darwin
Leaden Flycatcher, Charles Darwin
Northern Fantail, Charles Darwin
Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, Charles Darwin
Knuckley Lagoons
Good place to take a chair in the evening. Not much shade during the day. A good variety of waterbirds.
Silver-crowned Friarbird, Knuckley Lagoon
Plumed Whistling-Ducks, Knuckley Lagoon
Plumed Whistling-Ducks, Knuckley Lagoon
Magpie Goose, Knuckley Lagoon
Knuckley Lagoon
Knuckley Lagoon
Knuckley Lagoon
Knuckley Lagoon
Intermediate Egret, Knuckley Lagoon
Black-winged Stilts, Knuckley Lagoon
Black Kites, Knuckley Lagoon
Australian White Ibis, Knuckley Lagoon
Whistling Kite, Knuckley Lagoon
Whistling Kite, Knuckley Lagoon
Little Friarbird, Knuckley Lagoon
Lee Point:
We were fortunate to bird the shore at Lee Point at high tide so the birds were relatively close. They were not too friendly though and always moved on as we got close. After chasing them for an hour we eventually had to give up as the temperature was becoming unbearable.
In the car park area we did find some nesting Grey-crowned Babblers.
Red-capped Plover, Lee Point
Sea-Eagle – juvenile, Lee Point
Sea-Eagle – juvenile, Lee Point
Silver Gull, Lee Point
Spangled Drongo,Lee Point
Straw-necked Ibis, Lee Point
Yellow Oriole, Lee Point
Australian Pelican, Lee Point
Australian Pelican, Lee Point
Australian Pelican, Lee Point
Brahiminy Kite – juvenile, Lee Point
Eastern Curlew, Lee Point
Eastern Curlew, Lee Point
Figbird – female, Lee Point
Forest Kingfisher, Lee Point
Grey-crowned Babbler, Lee Point
Lee Point
Lee Point
Grey-tailed Tattler, Lee Point
Lee Point
Lee Point
Little Friarbird, Lee Point
Eastern Reef Egret, Lee Point
Rainbow Bee-eater, Lee Point
Buffalo Creek:
Got there too late in the day to be productive but were fortunate to see a pair of nesting White-bellied Woodswallows.
Mangrove entanglement, Buffalo Creek
Helmeted Friarbird, Buffalo Creek
Orange-footed Scrub-fowl, Buffalo Creek
Whistling Kite, Buffalo Creek
White-breasted Woodswallow, Buffalo Creek
White-breasted Woodswallow on nest, Buffalo Creek
Buffalo Creek
Buffalo Creek
Buffalo Creek
Holmes Jungle:
Interesting woodland paths (Jungle?) however saw very little – too hot – mid day.
Crimson Finch, Holmes Jungle
Holmes Jungle NR
Holmes Jungle NR
Holmes Jungle NR
Wedge-tailed Eagle, Holmes Jungle
East Point:
The walk through the forest yielded 2 birds – Large-billed Gerygone and Rainbow Pitta. Followed the call till we located the Pitta – much to our joy and not seriously expected.
The rocks on the waterfront had an abundance of interesting species – Eastern Reef Egret including white morph, Little Curlew, Collared Kingfisher and Striated Heron amongst numerous terns, Pacific Golden Plover etc..
There is one wader which really through us – see mystery bird in photos. Its body was no bigger than a Sanderling but it stood on 2 long fragile yellow legs giving it an appearance of a very delicate bird.
Selection of Terns, East Point
Striated Heron, East Point
Striated Heron, East Point
Whistling Kite, East Point
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, East Point
White-lipped Dragon, East Point
White-throated Gerygone, East Point
Collared Kingfisher – contentious, East Point
Crimson Finch, East Point
East Point
East Point
East Point
East Point
Eastern Reef Egret – white morph, East Point
Eastern Reef Egret, East Point
Striated Heron, East Point
Gull billed Tern- coming out of breeding plumage, East Point
Gull billed Tern, East Point
Gull billed Tern, East Point
Whimbrel, East Point
Mistletoebird, East Point
Mistletoebird, East Point
Mystery small Wader, East Point
Mystery small Wader, East Point
Mystery small Wader, East Point
Northern Fantail, East Point
Pacific Golden Plover, East Point
Rainbow Bee-eater, East Point
Rainbow Pitta, East Point
Rainbow Pitta, East Point
Rainbow Pitta, East Poin
Sally and Mary – BirdingPal
Howard Springs:
First place to be really attacked by mossies and our SAS Avon Skin so Soft anti mossy and sunscreen failed. Now trying a 50:50 mix of dettol and baby oil.
But we did find another Rainbow Pitta!
Howard Springs
Howard Springs
Barramundi, Howard Springs
Howard Springs
Howard Springs
Howard Springs
Howard Springs
Howard Springs
Wasp Nest, Howard Springs
Varied Triller, Howard Springs
Paperbark Flycatcher, Howard Springs
Paperbark Flycatcher, Howard Springs
Little Corella, Howard Springs
Little Corella, Howard Springs
Rainbow Pitta, Howard Springs
Rainbow Pitta Howard Springs
Rainbow Pitta Howard Springs
McMinns Lagoon:
Definitely the most comfortable place we have visited so far. Walk through woodlands to the Lagoon, Picnic Tables and glorious shade on a mound with a commanding view of the Lagoon. Waterbirds were excellent and had us nose to books on numerous occasions.
Wandering Whistling-Ducks, McMinns Lagoon
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, McMinns Lagoon
White-gaped Honeyeater, McMinns Lagoon
White-necked Heron, McMinns Lagoon
White-throated Honeyeater, McMinns Lagoon
White-winged Triller, McMinns Lagoon
Rufous Whistler – female, McMinns Lagoon
Rufous Whistler – female, McMinns Lagoon
Black-necked Stork (Jabiru), McMinns Lagoon
Black-necked Stork, McMinn’s Lagoon
Brush Cuckoo, McMinns Lagoon
Comb Jacana, McMinns Lagoon
Green Pygmy-Gooses, McMinns Lagoon
Grey Teal, McMinns Lagoon
Grey Teal, McMinns Lagoon
Hardhead, McMinns Lagoon
Little Pied Cormorant, McMinns Lagoon
McMinn’s Lagoon
McMinn’s Lagoon
McMinn’s Lagoon
McMinn’s Lagoon
Mixed bag of Waterbirds, McMinns Lagoon
Royal Spoonbill, McMinns Lagoon
Royal Spoonbill, McMinns Lagoon
Storks, Herons, Cormorants, Spoonbills, White Ibis, McMinns Lagoon