Around Oz Part 6 - Gouldian Finch & Hooded Parrot

Gouldian Finch

While visiting Edith Falls in Nitmiluk National Park (see last post) I checked out a site detailed in the new guide book by Tim Dolby and Rohan Clarke as being good for Gouldian Finch and Hooded Parrot - two highly sort-after northern Australian endemics. The spot is a series of rock pools in a creek bed 5.6km down road to the Edith Falls campground from its junction with the Stuart Highway.

Hooded Parrot male

I drove back from the camp ground to the site (a distance of about 14km) early on two consecutive mornings. On the first morning I quickly found a small flock of Hooded Parrots perched, and shortly afterwards, a pair of Gouldian Finches in long grass near the creek bed.

Gouldian Finch

Over the next couple of hours I repeatedly saw both species. In all, I saw about 100 Gouldian Finches in flocks of up to 30 birds, 80% of which were juveniles; about the same proportion of adults were black-faced, the rest red-faced.

Site for finches-parrots on Edith Falls road

The finches often associated with the parrots; very often they were in the same tree and often they flew together - mixed flocks of Hooded Parrots and Gouldian Finches. I saw a total of about 60 Hooded Parrots.

Hooded Parrot male

Other finches about included Double-barred, Crimson, Long-tailed and Masked, although Gouldian was easily the commonest species.

Gouldian Finch with juveniles

The finches and parrots appeared to be flying in from the west to alight in trees and grasses near the rock-holes.

Hooded Parrot

On the second morning, I found the pickings more sparse. No birds were encountered along the stretch of creek bed - quite close to the road - where so many had been the previous day. I went further upstream and eventually found a mixed flock of 15 Hooded Parrots and 20 Gouldian Finches. Some of the finches were drinking at a rock pool. Again, the parrots and finches flew off together in a mixed flock. A couple of Brown Goshawks were also about, clearly on the look-out for these birds.

Juvenile male Hooded Parrot (upper) and female

After leaving Edith Falls we went to the town of Pine Creek to overnight in the aptly named Lazy Lizard Hotel Caravan Park.

 Pine Creek is famed for its Hooded Parrots and we saw several small groups around the town, but it was more satisfying to find them earlier out in the bush.

Masked Finch

 I was very pleased to have these encounters with two much-wanted birds; I had previously seen both species but only once in both cases - too many moons ago. 

Around Oz Part 5 - Nitmiluk National Park:Katherine Gorge, Edith Falls

Katherine Gorge

After our exciting encounter with Rufous Owls at Mataranka (see previous post) we moved on to Katherine and Nitmiluk National Park. We opted to spend one night in the main camping ground at Katherine Gorge - in the southern portion of the park - and two nights in the northern portion at Edith Falls (Leliyn).

Savannah viewed from gorge lookout

The main Katherine Gorge area is extremely touristy and the camping ground extravagantly expensive, but the beauty of the gorge is spell-binding, with towering sandstone cliffs lining the Katherine River. I'm always impressed by the vista of endless tropical savannahs enjoyed from the various look-outs..

Rockhole - Katherine Gorge

We did two walking trails - Baraweit and Windolf. I've been to Katherine Gorge several times previously and while still impressive, it is unfortunate to see it so commercialised.

Katherine Gorge

At the cafeteria, ultra-tame Blue-winged Kookaburras and Great Bowerbirds were quick to snatch food from tables. Northern Rosellas came in to drink around tents. Other birds seen in the surrounding sandstone areas included Helmeted (Sandstone) Friarbird and Chesnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon, while Red-tailed Black Cockatoos and Bush Stone-Curlews were about the camp. .

Great Bowerbird

Northern Rosella

A huge colony of tens of thousands of Little Red Flying Foxes is established along the river in the vicinity of the park headquarters.

Little Red Flying-Fox

Little Red Flying-Fox

Agile Wallaby

Agile (Sandy) Wallabies were abundant around the camping area. Little Woodswallow was nice to see in numbers, both at Katherine Gorge and Edith Falls.

Little Woodswallow

Edith Falls - main rockpool

After leaving the gorge we had to hang around Katherine until 2pm to pick up alcohol supplies (NT alcohol restrictions unsuccessfully attempting to reduce imbibing by indiginous people). We moved on to Edith Falls, a spectacular series of waterfalls in a beautiful area of rugged sandstone gorges. Lovely to cool off in the heat by plunging into the huge rock pool at the base of the falls.

Edith Falls

Croc trap - Edith River

Baited traps are set along the Edith River below the falls in case a wayward saltwater crocodile wanders upstream.

Antilopine Kangaroo

A group of Antilopoine Kangaroos crossed the road on the way in. Silver-crowned Friarbird was one of the more conspicuous birds about. The camping ground was pleasantly situated a short walk from the main swimming hole.

Silver-crowned Friarbird

Around Oz Part 4 - Rufous Owl

Rufous Owl

As we prepared to depart our Mataranka Cabins and Campingsite camping ground this morning after a three-night stay, we were again alerted very early in the morning to the calls of a Rufous Owl, which we had heard during our first two evenings - always an hour or two before sunset. Previous attempts to call in the owls when they were heard  were unsuccessful but finally this morning, success.

Rufous Owl

The birds were most co-operative, flying over from the northern bank of the Little Roper River to where I was waiting. Not the most magnificent shots, but the best I could manage; playback was kept to the initial blast. The birds hung around from about 5.30am until it was getting light, when they were bombarded by Blue-faced Honeyeaters and other birds. Both the male and female afforded excellent views.

Rufous Owl

Little Roper River maleleuca woodland

I had spent quite some time during the day surveying the maleleuca-pandanus woodland on the eastern banks of the Little Roper River where I was sure the birds were roosting, but no success there. The above area is where the birds appeared to be roosting.
It was such a buzz to reconnect with Rufous Owl; I have seen the species only twice previously, both in Queensland. I am very fond of owls.

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher

Just as we were leaving Mataranka, it was nice to connect with Lemon-belled Flycatcher. 

Around Oz Part 3 - Barkly Tableland to Mataranka

Black-chinned (Golden-backed) Honeyeater

After travelling the best part of 3000km and leaving Mt Isa (see previous post) we crossed the Northern Territory border to traverse the treeless Barkly Tableland. Of interest near the border was a flock of 5 Flock Bronzewings flying over.

NT Border

Little Crow

Another long drive and we camped for the night at 41 Mile Bore, one of a series of free overnight, roadside camping spots. It was surprisingly quiet and pleasant given the large number of grey nomads with caravans and assorted mobile accommodation. A flock of Little Crows was about the area. I had seen my first Australian Raven just east of Dalby; Torresian Crows continued to be seen as well as ravens at least as far as Longreach. Then the odd small flock of Little Crows was encountered.

White-browed Woodswallow

 The desert steppe in the vicinity of our roadside camp was ablaze with wildflowers. Among the birds was a single Black-chinned (Golden-backed) Honeyeater, a male Pied Honeyeater, White-browed Woodswallow and Masked Woodswallow in good numbers, and White-winged Trillers.

Masked Woodswallow

Pied Honeyeater

Wedge-tailed Eagle

 Plenty of Wedge-tailed Eagles as we travel along - we've counted 22 in 10 days of travelling. This particular bird looks a little shaggy because it was very windy.

Roth's Tree-Frog

After another long drive we left the desert and entered the tropical savannah woodlands, arriving at the settlement of Mataranka, where we spent three nights at Mataranka Cabins and Camping, the place in recent years to see Red Goshawk, as a pair nested across the road. The birds have moved on, however; the owners of the property where the nest tree was located were so frustrated by the constant stream of birders that they evidently cut it down.

Mataranka - view from camp

At the camping ground, a Roth's Tree-Frog Litoria rothii was in the shower. We were fortunate to get a nice spot overlooking the Little Roper River at Bitter Springs. A pleasant walking trail takes you through some beautiful riverside maleleuca and pandanus forest along a line of thermal springs.

Bitter Springs - Mataranka

Birds about include plenty of Rainbow (Red-collared) Lorikeets, Great Bowerbird, White-gaped Honeyeater, Rainbow Bee-eater, Northern Fantail, Bar-breasted Honeyeater and a nice Brown Gosahwk.

Great Bowerbird

Great Bowerbird bower

Red-collared Lorikeet

Brown Goshawk

White-gaped Honeyeater

Northern Fantail

Rainbow Bee-eater

Roper River

 We took a drive through Elsey National Park along the Roper River, a little south of where we are camped. Some great river scenery. We called into Mataranka Homestead, where the celebrated pioneer author Jeannie Gunn lived. We visited the replica homestead where the film based on Gunn's book, We of the Never Never, was made.

Mataranka Homestead

Agile Wallaby

  Agile Wallabies are abundant now we are in the savannah.

Another foray into the maleleuca woodlands was productive with nice views of Blue-winged Kookaburra, Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, Rufous-throated Honeyeater, Arafura Fantail and Yellow-tinted Honeyeater. Plenty of Shining Flycatchers about.

Blue-winged Kookaburra

Rufous-throated Honeyeater