Darwin Day #2

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Rick N
Rick N's picture
Darwin Day #2

Day two involved a trip down the Arnhem Highway to Fogg Dam, approx 70ks from Darwin.

Lots of birds seen on Anzac Parade (the road into Fogg Dam from the Arnhem Highway , about 6ks)

Paperbark Flycatcher, Horsefield's Bushlark, Dollarbird, all new to us.

At Fogg Dam itself we quickly saw Comb-crested Jacana, Black-necked Stork (aka Jabiru), Magpie Geese, White-bellied Sea Eagle and loads of Crimson Finch feeding on the verges. The water was low according to the locals and bird numbers down. Would love to be there when it is really firing.

Heat and humidity were a problem again so had to split the day and have a couple of cold beers at the Corroboree Park Tavern, 20ks further on from Adelaide River :-)

Slighty refreshed we went back to Fogg Dam for the Rainforest and Woodlands walks to see Satin, Broad-billed and Leaden Flycatchers and a lovely nesting Whistling Kite. A long day but very productive.

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

Comb-crested Jacana

Blue-winged Kookaburra

Black-necked Stork

Shining Flycatcher

Grey Whistler

Broad-billed Flycatcher

teganb02
teganb02's picture

I love them all, especially the Blue Winged Kookaburra, I love the pose the background and the colours, all but the Cockatoo would be ticks for me

Tegan - Melbourne Vic.

HelloBirdy
HelloBirdy's picture

Beautiful photos, sounds like you had a really great time. 

It must have been a nightmare though telling apart the Satin, Broad-billed and Leaden Flycatchers :P

Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

Great pics, Rick. Your making me jealous, new birds and cold beer :)

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

Dmenace
Dmenace's picture

Ya making me homesick Rick!

I grow up in Darwin, in the 60s and early 70s.  We could set our clocks by the flights of red-tailed blacks that would pass over late every afternoon on their way to roost.

Great shots!

Cheers
Denis.

WhistlingDuck

Thats a grerat trip. Lots of beautiful birds, thanks for sharing. The Kookaburra is a beauty.

For a black necked stock it has a very green neck!

Reflex
Reflex's picture

I had been wondering when you would get around to posting day #2. Sounds like another great day out. There would have been three new ticks for me. The Blue-winged Kookaburra is one I am really looking forward to seeing.

Samford Valley Qld.

Devster
Devster's picture

Yes great photod Rick. Am also jealous, except for the part about the humidity. All would be new for me except the Jacana. Looking forward to more pics.

Rick N
Rick N's picture

Thanks all.

John, yes was very happy to get a nice image of the Blue-winged Kookaburra, came out of nowhere really just took a side track of the highway (small rental didn't like it much :-)) and there it was panting in a gum tree.

Ryu, wasn't so bad really, Shining was easy as there was a Male nearby and the others either have distinctive features or range limitations that made IDs a little less difficult.

Cheers all.

timrp
timrp's picture

Great photos, awesome BIF shot of the Black Cockatoo. The Shining Flycatcher is also very cool.

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