Trip Reports - 2013
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Full days birding on 22nd September 2013 with Deryk Engel and Brian Baker. Guide – Mike Jarvis Starting with a 6am pick up at East Point, our first stop was sunrise at Beatrice Lagoon where Deryk had good views of his first lifer, Green Pygmy-goose. We were rewarded with good views of the Mangrove Golden Whistler and Arafura Fantail at Adelaide River Bridge.
Then we took the stop start approach down the Marrakai track, almost at every point we stopped we found new species. Black-tailed Treecreepers were in abundance and some were seen with nesting material in their bills and some interesting activity around a termite mound, presumably eating termites. Also seen were many Weebills and one Weebill nest . Brian and Deryk on Bird Billabong walk track 
Interesting sightings at Bird Billabong were two Hoary-headed Grebes and two Australian Wood Ducks, both very unusual sightings for the coastal Top End. Also present at least one Yellow-billed Spoonbill among the dozens of Royal Spoonbills. We had our first Dollarbirds for the season on the powerline on Arnhem Highway on our return between Humpty Doo and Fogg Dam. All up 103 different bird species for the day.
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SIGHTINGS
Date: Monday, 22 September, 2013
Location: Beatrice Lagoon
Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata
Green Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus
Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos
Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia
Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris
Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus
White-browed Crake Amaurornis cinerea heard
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii
Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis
Location: Adelaide River Bridge
Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus
Green-backed Gerygone Gerygone chloronota
Rufous-banded Honeyeater Conopophila albogularis
Varied Triller Lalage leucomela
Mangrove Golden Whistler Pachycephala melanura
Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus
Arafura Fantail Rhipidura dryas
Broad-billed Flycatcher Myiagra ruficollis
Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Microeca flavigaster on nest
Location: Arnhem Highway
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Brolga Grus rubicunda
Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii
Forest Kingfisher Todiramphus macleayii
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
Location: Marrakai Track
Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata
Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
Brown Falcon Falco berigora
Galah Eolophus roseicapillus
Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
Red-collared Lorikeet Trichoglossus rubritorquis
Red-winged Parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus
Northern Rosella Platycercus venustus
Eastern Koel Eudynamys orientalis
Pallid Cuckoo Cacomantis pallidus
Red-backed Kingfisher Todiramphus pyrrhopygius
Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
Black-tailed Treecreeper Climacteris melanura nesting
Great Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis
Red-backed Fairy-wren Malurus melanocephalus
Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris photo of nest
White-throated Gerygone Gerygone albogularis
Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus
Dusky Honeyeater Myzomela obscura
Banded Honeyeater Cissomela pectoralis
Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta
White-throated Honeyeater Melithreptus albogularis
Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis
Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis
Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera
White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis
White-winged Triller Lalage sueurii
Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris
Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti
Black-faced Woodswallow Artamus cinereus
Little Woodswallow Artamus minor
Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis
Northern Fantail Rhipidura rufiventris
Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
Torresian Crow Corvus orru
Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto
Paperbark Flycatcher Myiagra nana
Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca
Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans
Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum
Long-tailed Finch Poephila acuticauda
Masked Finch Poephila personata
Agile Wallaby Macropus agilus
Antilopine Wallaroo Macropus antilopinus
Location: Bird Billabong
Plumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoni
Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata
Radjah Shelduck Tadorna radjah
Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata 2
(Unusual for the Top End)
Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus
Green Pygmy-goose Nettapus pulchellus
Grey Teal Anas gracilis
Hardhead Aythya australis
Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus 2
(Unusual for the Top End)
Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae
Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos
Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica
Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta
Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia
Cattle Egret Ardea ibis
Pied Heron Egretta picata
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca
Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis
Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes
Black-necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus
Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops
Red-kneed Dotterel Erythrogonys cinctus
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
Northern Rosella Platycercus venustus
Barking Owl Ninox connivens
Great Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis
White-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus unicolor
Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii
Long-tailed Finch Poephila acuticauda
Masked Finch Poephila personata
Location: Knuckey Lagoons
Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata
Pied Heron Egretta picata
Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Silver-crowned Friarbird Philemon argenticeps
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June 25-28, 2013 – Kakadu Nature’s Way
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Notes: With Jim from Japan, Jon and Laurel from the US. After a 6am pick up we made our first stop at Beatrice Lagoon at sunrise and saw the first lot of waterbirds, many flying overhead from night roost to day feeding areas. Breakfast at gazebo at the entrance to Bird Billabong was very pleasant, especially with the sighting of a Square-tailed Kite gliding overhead. Continuing on towards Kakadu we saw a Little Eagle from Arnhem Highway, just near the Old Jim Jim Road turn off. 
After a picnic lunch at Mamukala bird hide we continued on to Ubirr in Kakadu National Park where we looked at Aboriginal rock art and views across the Nadab floodplain. Then we walked along the Manggarre monsoon forest trail. The target was Rainbow Pitta which Laurel spotted very soon into the walk. We all had great views of this little dazzler and went from there to the Bardedjilidji Sandstone walk. Here our target was Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon and we saw three birds walking on one of the rocks before flying off to a cave type opening in the escarpment one at a time.
Then it was off to Cooinda to check in and have some dinner. After dinner we saw a Barking Owl on the communications tower near the swimming pool. The next morning we had breakfast at Nawurlandja and were entertained by the sight of a Torresian Crow being harassed by several Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. Then we went to Burrunggui, inspected the rock art and Aboriginal habitation sites, and found the endemic White-lined Honeyeater! Near the Anbangbang gallery there was a Rainbow Pitta enjoying a morning shower in seepage coming from the rock, we watched him and filmed him for ages before we moved on, it’s hard to walk away from a Rainbow Pitta! Then we had lunch at Anbangbang Billabong before heading back to Cooinda. 
After a brief stop at Mirrai, where we got our first Weebills for the trip, we went to the Warradjan Cultural Centre, then after a short rest, boarded the 4.30 sunset Yellow Waters Cruise. As always, this was a highlight for our Kakadu visit, we had local Gundjeihmi guides, Mandy Muir and Niuls and they presented an excellent exposure to the wetlands and river. They know their birds and impart a refreshing and authentic Indigenous perspective with their interpretation of the country and its wildlife. 
Next - Day 3 – time to get down to the business of finding our number one target – Gouldian Finch! We started off early and checked out a site near the South Alligator River, there were Jacky Winters, Rufous-throated Honeyeaters, Red-backed Fairy-wrens (none with red backs) but no finches… We continued on to the Pine Creek sewerage ponds and cemetery where we saw Pink-eared Ducks, Black-winged Stilts and Black-faced Woodswallows, but no finches. We had lunch at Pine Creek and then stopped at the oval where we enjoyed watching a pair of Striated Pardalotes coming and going from the nest, and then got great views of a male Hooded Parrot in a tree nearby. Still no finches. Next we went to a site near the Ferguson River and sat and watched for a while. There were plenty of Double-barred Finches coming and going, a Masked finch, Hooded Parrots and Northern Rosellas, and, eventually, one magnificent male Black-headed Gouldian and some females! We headed back to Pine Creek and met up with Jon’s friend Geoff from the Nature Conservancy, had dinner and retired for the night.   Next morning it was ‘Gouldian Finches for Breakfast’ as we set ourselves up by the river at sunrise, enjoyed breakfast, and waited… the Gouldian's came, and came, and kept coming. At least 20 altogether, coming down to drink, flying around overhead in groups of 6 to 8. Most were mature birds and some immature, and some Red-heads amongst them. Also there were about 12 to 20 Northern Rosellas, Red-winged Parrots, Hooded Parrots and Cockatiels. 
From there we headed back to Darwin via Litchfield National Park. We called in to Florence Falls and Jon spotted an Emu on the way in. We turned back and sure enough, there he was, Emus are a rarity in the Top End. We had the a look at the falls and Laurel spotted a Short-eared Rock Wallaby, feeding a half grown joey, from the steps on the way down to the falls. We continued on towards Darwin, via the unsealed road to Berry Springs, stopping briefly at the beautiful Finniss River. We used up the last bit of day light birding at Rapid Creek in Darwin, spotting still more new species for the trip. All up we saw 118 bird species.
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SIGHTINGS Date: Tuesday, 25 June 2013 Location: Beatrice Lagoon Location: Adelaide River Bridge Location: Bird Billabong Location: Arnhem Highway Agile Wallaby Macropus agilus Location: Kakadu, Mamukala Location: Kakadu, Ubirr Black Wallaroo Macropus bernardus female Location: Kakadu, Manggarre Monsoon Forest Walk Location: Kakadu, Bardedjilidji Sandstone Walk Location: Kakadu, Cooinda Date: Wednesday, 26 June 2013 Location: Kakadu, Burrunggui Location: Kakadu, Anbangbang Location: Kakadu, Mirrai Lookout Location: Kakadu, Yellow Waters Cruise Agile Wallaby Macropus agilus Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus Date: Thursday, 27 June 2013 Location: Kakadu Highway, Sth Al River Location: Pine Creek Location: Ferguson River Date: Friday, 28 June 2013 Location: Ferguson River Location: Litchfield, Florence Falls Short-eared Rock Wallaby Petrogale brachyotis Location: Litchfield, Tabletop Swamp Location: Finiss River Location: Berry Springs Location: Knuckey Lagoons Location: Rapid Creek Yellow-spotted Monitor Varanus panoptes Compiled using 'Bird Journal Sofware' |
Darwin Birdwatching Experience 17/6/2013
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Date: June 17, 2013 Notes: With Jim and Morna, Paul and Kate, Stephie and Nicky – three generations of birders! Our morning’s birding started with a quest to see Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, at Stephie’s request. Almost straight away we saw one fly up high and land in a fairly open tree, allowing great views for all. At Rapid Creek we had nice views of Red-headed Honeyeater and a Yellow-spotted Monitor before it raced down a hole in the grass. We enjoyed a riot of bird song out on the landing at the end of the East Point Mangrove Boardwalk with great views of Collared Kingfisher and Broad-billed Flycatcher, while enjoying coffee and biscuits. |
SIGHTINGS Location: Buffalo Creek Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis Location: Rapid Creek Location: East Point Mangrove Boardwalk Location: East Point Reserve Compiled using 'Bird Journal Sofware' |
Darwin Birdwatching Experience 10/6/2013
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Date: June 10, 2013 Notes: With Vivian, Joan, Oz and Michal. After a 7.00am pick up we headed down to East Point Reserve. We had great views of Green-backed Gerygone and Brown Whistler in the monsoon forest. A Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove obliged beautifully by sitting in reasonably open view on a bare branch for enough time to get several photos and good views by all.
At the Mangrove Boardwalk we had a very brief glimpse of a Mangrove Robin, calling strongly and tantalizingly close, but tricky to see. A male Red-headed Honeyeater showed well on the edge of the mangroves on the way out.
Over at Rapid Creek we had good views of Long-tailed Finches and Striated Pardalotes were very active at nest sites on an exposed sandy hill, right next to the beach access path.
From there we dropped Oz and Michal back to their accommodation and headed out to Fogg Dam. The Magpie Geese are now there in the thousands! The highlight though was a magnificent Spotted Harrier doing a low flyby quite close to our vantage point on the Pandanus lookout. We watched as he cruised by and did the characteristic drop down into the grass. A brief stop at Knuckey Lagoon on the way back to Darwin yielded a nice sighting of a Silver-backed Butcherbird. Many thanks to Oz Horine for contributing his excellent photos! |
SIGHTINGS Location: East Point Reserve Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata Location: East Point Mangrove Boardwalk Location: Rapid Creek Location: Fogg Dam Location: Knuckey Lagoons Location: Darwin Suburbs Compiled using 'Bird Journal Sofware' |
May 7-9, 2013 – Kakadu Nature Experience
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Date: May 7-9, 2013 Notes: With Ron and Bethel from the US After an early pick up in Darwin we stopped at Beatrice Lagoons on sunrise then enjoyed breakfast at Beatrice Hill with Lemon-bellied Flyrobin, Rufous Whistler and others for company. At the Adelaide River Bridge the Mangrove Golden Whistler and Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove put in a good showing. We stoppped briefly at the entrance to Bird Billabong (still shut due to flooding) and Banded Honeyeater put in its only appearance for the trip. We also saw Varied Lorikeets. At a small reedy pool near the South Alligator River we saw several species including Yellow-billed Spoonbill. This species is rarely seen in the Top End, and was still at the same spot on our return two days later. Mamukala wetland bird hide was almost devoid of birds on the water. The heavy rain in late March had done a clean sweep the area, sightings of Whiskered Tern on the water and a glimpse of an Arafura Fantail on the pathway to the hide were the only noteable sightings. Ubirr failed to yield any endemics, but we took in the Aboriginal Rock Art, and had a great view of White-bellied Sea-eagle trying to capture a Yellow-faced Turtle as it crossed the road at Magela Creek. I've never seen a turtle move so fast. Luckily for the turtle the eagle abandoned the attempt as we drove through and it escaped to the other side of the road. The next morning we went down to Burrunggui (Nourlangie) and had breakfast with the bush birds in the carpark near Nuwurlandja. We saw a frenzy of bird activity at the turn off from Nuwurlandja on the Nourlangie Road. There were Northern Rosellas, Blue-faced Honeyeaters, Grey-crowned Babblers and others. At Malabanjbandju we saw Diamond Dove and Masked Woodswallow. At Mirrai we had great views of Black-tailed Treecreepers and Weebill. The famous Yellow Waters cruise at Cooinda was excellent, with traditional owner, Mandy Muir the guide. We had a rare sighting of a Johnstones Crocodile. They are not rare, but rarely seen in Estuarine Crocodile habitat. The highlights were Azure Kingfisher and a delightful view of a male Comb-crested Jacana tending his nest.
We stopped at Fogg Dam on the way back to Darwin, and birded the Rapid Creek area. At Rapid Creek we had good views of Red-headed Honeyeater, Long-tailed Finch and Mistletoebird. |
SIGHTINGS Location: Beatrice Lagoon Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata Location: Adelaide River Bridge Location: Arnhem Highway (day 1 and 3) Location: Bird Billabong Location: Kakadu, South Alligator River Location: Kakadu, Mamukala Location: Kakadu, Ubirr Location: Kakadu, Burrunggui Location: Kakadu, Malabanjbanjdju Location: Kakadu, Mirrai Lookout Location: Kakadu, Yellow Waters Cruise Reptiles Location: Kakadu, Bowali Visitor Centre Location: Kakadu, Gungarre Walk Butterflies Location: Fogg Dam Location: Rapid Creek Compiled using 'Bird Journal Sofware' |
April 25, 2013 - Darwin Birdwatching Experience
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Date: Thursday, 25 April 2013 Notes: With Roger and Margaret from Brisbane. After a 6.30am pick up we headed down to the Leanyer Sewerage Treatment Plant. (Roger and Margaret had obtained their induction certificates.) Highlights were two immature White-bellied Sea-eagles, one with a dead duck, among dozens of Whistling Kites, and three Australian Pratincoles. Also, impressive number of Pink-eared Ducks in one of the middle ponds. From there we went around to Buffalo Creek to scope out the Chestnut Rail. Tide was ideal, but being a public holiday, there was a lot of human activity and no Chestnut Rail. We did get a great look at a splendid male Red-headed Honeyeater. We walked around the parklands at Lee Point and had good views of Red-winged Parrots and then to Rapid Creek. By this time it was passed 12pm and birds had sensibly quietened down for the mid-day heat.
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SIGHTINGS Leanyer STP 7.00am-9.00am Buffalo Creek 9:30am-10.30am Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae Lee Point 10.30am-11.30am Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra Rapid Creek 11.30am-12.30pm Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata Compiled using 'Bird Journal Sofware' |
April 15, 2013 - Darwin Birdwatching Experience
The view from Charles Darwin National Park across the mangroves to Darwin city and harbour
Date: Monday, 15 April 2013 Notes: With John from Sydney. After a 7.00am pick up we headed down to the Leanyer Sewerage Treatment Plant. (John had obtained his induction certificate.) Huge numbers of birds were at the ponds with White-winged Black Terns looking spectacular in full breeding plumage. A Keelback snake was crossing the road just in front of the vehicle as we headed out towards the gate. From there we went around to Lee Point and had great views of Grey-crowned Babblers at their nest. Then at Buffalo Creek we saw a good variety of shorebirds and terns. Also at Buffalo Creek we were treated to brief but excellent views of a pair of Grey Goshawks circling overhead in the beach monsoon forest area. No Chestnut Rail were seen or heard. At Sandy Creek we had a constant escort of magnificent Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, then at Knuckey Lagoons we had a great view of a Collared Sparrowhawk on the ground close to the road. Also a Bar-breasted Honeyeater, which have been few and far between so far this year. We headed out to Channel Island in the hopes of finding Great-billed Heron, the tide was right for it but no GBH in sight. Highlight was six Great Bowerbirds interacting in the shade of a small tree at the aquaculture property. Then we headed back to Darwin, with a stop at the Charles Darwin National Park and had good views of Silver-crowned Friarbird. All up eighty bird species were seen.
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SIGHTINGS Leanyer STP 7:20am-9:00am Plumed Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna eytoni Reptiles Lee Point 9:00am-10:00am Buffalo Creek 11:00am-11.30am Sandy Creek 11:30am-1:00am Butterflies Knuckey Lagoons 2:00pm-2:30pm Channel Island 3:00pm-5:00pm Palmerston Suburbs 4:00pm-5:00pm Charles Darwin National Park 5:00pm-6:30pm Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus |
April 12, 2013 - Darwin Birdwatching Experience
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Notes: With John from Sydney, Tegas and Ian from Singapore. After a 7.00am pick up we headed to East Point, dipped on the Rainbow Pitta but had a good range of sightings in the monsoon forest. The friendly Northern Fantail at the rocks didn’t disappoint and there were still a few shorebirds to be seen. At the Mangrove Boardwalk we enjoyed coffee at the landing at the end of the boardwalk and had good views of Green-backed Gerygone and Little Bronze-cuckoo on the way back. Around at Rapid Creek we saw the lovely little Long-tailed Finches and had brief but stunning views of Red-headed Honeyeater. It was a very pleasant morning with plenty bird sightings and good company.
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SIGHTINGS East Point Reserve 7:10am-10.00am Mammals East Point Mangrove Boardwalk 10-11am Rapid Creek Birds Butterflies |
For an extended list of locations and sightings click here.
The Territory Discoveries eight day Top End Birdweek Tour was completed 10-17 September 2012. We toured Darwin, Mary River National Park, Kakadu National Park, down to Katherine and Mataranka and back to Darwn, with a night at Pine Creek.
http://www.experiencethewild.com.au/Uploads/Bird Watching Top End 2012 Trip Report.pdf
http://www.experiencethewild.com.au/Reports/Full Day Encounter 11-5-12.pdf
Gouldian Surprise! A full acount of a recent Full Day Encounter tour out to Fogg Dam, Bird Billabong and Marrakai Track
What do a middle-aged Darwin couple do to celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary? Go birding of course.
On Saturday Jenny started early to get out to Marrakai Road to see what was about. There was not an exceptional amount of birdlife. Highlights were a Spotted Harrier quartering an area of sky parallel to the road and a Buff-sided Robin that sat quietly on a branch about 30 metres away as we ate lunch at Margaret River. After Marrakai Road we went to Fogg Dam. Highlight was seeing an Australian Hobby fly low in front of us and across a little dam, which put Pied Heron, Plumed Whistling Ducks and a Glossy Ibis up in the air. They nervously dropped back to the water while the Hobby sat and watched from a nearby tree. This took place on Anzac Parade, the road in to Fogg Dam from Arnhem Highway. I can't imagine the Hobby was serious about tackling a duck, their usual prey is small birds and insects. From the Pandanus Lookout the usual water birds were scattered about. They were not in big numbers, no doubt dispersed due to ample water being everywhere. Groups of White-browed Crake were often heard agueing in the reeds and occasionally one or two would emerge and be visible for a while on the edges of the grass.
Marrakai Track 18-02-12
Fogg Dam region 18-02-12
Arnhem Highway 14-1-12
Adelaide River Bridge 14-1-12
Beatrice Lagoons 14-1-12
Day 6 Darwin-Kakadu 13-10-11
Day 5 Darwin-Kakadu 13-10-11
Day 4 Darwin-Kakadu 13-10-11
Day 3 Darwin-Kakadu 13-10-11
Day 2 Darwin-Kakadu 13-10-11
Day 1 Darwin-Kakadu 13-10-11
Cooinda Wetlands 20-8-11
Cooinda Wetlands 19-8-11
Bardedlildji Sandstone Walk 17-8-11
THE place for Chestnut-quilled Rock-pigeon. Rainbow Pitta, Sacred Kingfisher as well as a variety of raptors are often seen on this walk too.
Corroboree Billabong 5-5-11
