Steve Potter has correctly reminded me that I should have labelled the birds photographed at the Manngarre Walk in Kakadu NP as Rainbow Pittas rather than Hooded Pittas. I must have been thinking of the Hooded Pittas I saw around Sepilok in Borneo when I mislabelled them in my post. I have placed a photo of the tamest one on ABID [currently located at http://kobble.aviceda.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=71 ]
Regards, Laurie.
On 23/08/2010, at 6:32 PM, Laurie Knight wrote:
> I spent a couple of weeks on the Wallaby Track travelling from > Brisbane to Darwin in early August. The original intention was to > go via the Plenty Highway, but a rain event led to a re-route via > the Gulf of Carpentaria. > > In summary > * Good road conditions through Windorah [lots of water beside the > road from Charleville to 40 km east of Windorah]. Not a lot of flow > in Cooper Ck near Windorah, but a lot of immature Night Herons > roosting in the trees near the bridge. > * As mentioned previously, large flocks of Flock Bronzewings around > the Birdsville – Diamantina Dev Rd junction, and large flocks of > budgies. > * Diamantina Dev Rd to Boulia generally in good condition [minor > damage due to a 10 road-train convoy moving stock after rain]. One > Letter-Wing Kite photographed 100 km north of Bedourie. > * A fair amount of bitumen on the road from the Barkly Highway to > Doomadgee. Dirt sections generally in good condition. Good birding > around the Gregory Downs roadhouse. Heaps of grey nomads camped > beside the river. > * Savannah Way heavily corrugated between Hells Gate and the NT > border. Driving discomfort offset by widespread flowing [lots of > trees and shrubs in flower]. > * Calvert River crossing knee-deep and “smoother” on downstream side. > * Calvert Rd in relatively good condition and is little used [only > saw farm vehicles]. Pleasant scenery north of the extensively > cleared plains. > * Good camping at the Lookout west of Cape Crawford. Many finches > and honeyeaters come into drink from the rainwater tank. > * Made extensive use of McCrie & Watson’s “Finding Birds in Darwin > Kakadu & the Top End”. > * Gouldian Finches and a handy campsite on the Edith Falls Rd [5 km > from Hwy]. > * Hooded Parrots around Pine Ck [nice lunch spot at the water garden]. > * Road into Gumlom Falls in variable condition [frequently graded, > but quickly corrugated by heavy traffic]. Not too many mossies > around the campsite. Kiosk operator keeps records of grasswren > sightings. > * Gunlom Falls still flowing in August due to extended wet season. > Climb to top of the falls best done around dawn [took about 8 mins, > sign to sign]. Most tourists stop at the pools at the top. Quiet > swimming conditions at the long pool further along. > * Good birding on the ridge tops above the falls [tortured landforms > complicate traverses and the search for grasswrens – fascinating to > see long conglomerate seams (an indication of extensive folding) – > but excellent rock scrambling if you pick the right route]. > Conditions reasonably pleasant up till 10 am. Sandstone Shrike- > thrushes, Chestnut-Quilled Rockpigeons, White-lined Honeyeaters and > Banded Fruit-Doves all present [plenty of fruiting and flowering > trees]. Not a squeak from the grasswrens [just Variagated > Fairywrens]. Dingoes and Goshawks both present in grasswren zone. > * Pleasant birding in the monsoon forest at the base of the Falls. > * Well laid out campsites and good birding at the Mardugal and Merl > campgrounds. However, mossies noisily present in thick clouds after > dark – my mossie net was covered by the blighters. Having bats > swooping a few cm above my nose was some compensation. Just about > every tree at Mardugal had green tree ants nesting in it – a > challenge for hanging up the mossie net. Partridge Pigeons at Merl. > * Ubirr Rock definitely has the best easily accessible scenery and > it is definitely a good sunset spot. > * Very tame Hooded Pittas in the monsoon forest opposite the Border > Store. > * Good birding around the Mamukala bird hide – worth doing the loop > walk to appreciate the extent of the wetland. > * Dipped on the Black Bittern at the Mary River Park, but plenty of > Barking Owls down from the cabins. > * Good birding behind the Darwin Hospital [plenty of finches but no > Yellow-rumped Mannikins] > * Chestnut Rail present at Buffalo Ck – had to go well downstream to > find it in the middle of the day. Boat ramp very busy after dawn. > * Rufous Owl in favourite tree at the Botanical Gardens > [photographed with prey]. > * Very enjoyable listening to the Bush Thickknees and Orange-footed > Scrubfowl calling before dawn. > * Overall, conditions rather hot in the Top End [temps of 35C on > some days]. Possibly an early Build-up this year. > > Regards, Laurie.
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