Red-browed Pardalotes, Red-backed Kingfisher and Rainbow Bee-eaters

My dad and I went for a ride yesterday to try to find a pair of Black-shouldered Kites we thought were nesting near where we rode. We did see one of the Kites, but soon became far more interested in the Red-browed Pardalotes who were busily collecting material from a dirt mound for what we suspect was a nest in a different dirt mound.

Red-browed Pardalotes

There was also a beautiful Red-backed Kingfisher hanging around

And a cute little Rainbow Bee-eater which looked like a green and yellow ball of fluff in the fork of this tree.

A Black Kite kept flying overhead

And this Willie Wagtail came close

Black-shouldered Kites in Alice Springs

Near my Dad’s place I found a pair of Black-shouldered Kites. I saw them catch mice only ten metres from me and then sit up in one of many favourite perches to eat. I noticed the Black-shouldered Kites had different favourite perches at different times of the day. They did not spend much time together, however they did not get too far away from each other. Both Kites tended to perch at the top of the tree. I observed they both called to each other.  Hope you like the photos.

Wee Jasper trip - in photos

Baby Magpie

Eastern Spinebill reflections

King Parrot

Red-rumped Parrot

Superb Fairy-wren pair

Welcome Swallow

Zebra Finch

Top End Trip Bird Photos - Alice Springs to Edith Falls

My Dad and I drove to Darwin. I was supposed to be playing cricket with my brother, but I had a small fracture in my arm and had to go with dad instead of the team on the bus.

We hadn't gone more than 5 kilometres from Alice Springs when I asked Dad to stop. It was only a Black-shouldered Kite. The first day and night we drove about half way, to Longreach Waterhole near Elliott. Here are some photos, starting with a Lifer for me, the Jacky Winter.

Jacky Winter

We saw a few Apostlebirds at Daly Waters Roadhouse:

Apostlebirds

We stopped off at Bitter Springs near Mataranka and I saw another of my favourite birds, the Lemon-bellied Flycatcher

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher

We saw a few other birds between Elliott and Edith Falls, but I finally managed some nice photos of the Finches on Edith Falls Road.

Crimson Finch

 

 Double-barred Finch

Day 1 and 2 on our trip were fantastic fun, even with the broken arm. The Gouldian Finches were a bit quick for my camera to focus, but as you will read in future posts, I did finally manage to capture them too.