Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Darwin - Day One - East Point

I am just back from a weeks birding in the Top End of Australia.  I flew into Darwin around lunchtime, and picked up my hire car before heading to East Point, a popular recreation area close to where I was staying.

When I got out of the car I immediately realised that I didn't recognise any of the bird calls that I was hearing.  This is going to be interesting!  The first bird looked like a fantail - yes, Northern Fantail - tick!!  Next a small yellow flycatcher, Lemon-bellied Flycatcher - tick!!
 

I had still only walked ten paces from the car.  White-gaped Honeyeater - tick!!  small doves on a drinking fountain - Peaceful Doves - a familiar bird from South Australia.
 


Overhead, hundreds of Black and Whistling Kites (photo shows Whistling Kite) and on the ground where Orange-footed Scrubfowl.
 

On the way to the supermarket (even birders have to eat!!) the streets were full of Frangipani blooms in whites and pinks.
 

Finally, as the afternoon drew to a close, a walk in the park opposite the motel yielded yet more birds.  Yellow Oriole, Rufous-banded Honeyeater-tick!!, and Bar-shouldered Dove amongst them.
 
 


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