Mixing Work with Play

The last couple of days I have had a few opportunities in the morning, and afternoon, to sneak down to a water bore not far from camp.

 A few days ago it looked as though we were going to get some much needed rain out here. It didn't eventuate, with only the slightest of a sprinkle occurring through the night. Though not even a millilitre was recorded, it caused an explosion of crickets and other insects.

As a result I have seen more birds in camp than ever before. Including two species of Chats feasting on the crickets - Orange and Crimson.

So with all of this in mind, I headed down to the bore to see what might come in for a drink.


A Whiskered tern has been working tirelessly over the small dam both times I have visited.
 

Pratincoles were there, they are abundant around here this time of year. These expert insect hawkers, have not had to work hard at all over the last few days.



Australian Pratincole

Not long after that I saw the little flickers of gold....  These birds in full plumage are jewels of the desert.

Nice bird, shit perch though......  Had to be said! 

These Orange Chats hopped from cow pat to cow pat, the first time I have seen this behaviour. Insects love cow dung, and the Chats did very well on the insects. Another bird that has adapted to what has been thrown at it.

In the afternoon I took up position next to the water in between two small withered shrubs. Zebra Finch's started to mass in groups making the dash to the bushes around the dam, including the bush I was under, then taking the mad dash down to the waters edge for a drink. Several times I had 30 finches less than a metre above my head.

If the wind stayed true, and didn't swirl too much, I knew it wouldn't be long before a Dingo turned up. Sure enough...

This bitch had a long drink in the furthest corner of the dam, before walking its perimeter. Eventually she became parallel to me and I was spotted.

The goods turned up again shortly after when a flock of Flock Bronzewing did hot laps around the dam. They gradually descended, eventually and luckily landing at my end of the dam. Over 30 birds in the flock landed on the bank, sprinted to the water for a drink, and the whole flock was aerial again all within no more than 10 seconds of being on the ground.


Flock Bronzewings in flight above the dam. Big robust pigeons with a fast and powerful flight.

Flock Bronzewing flock drinking.

On dusk a lone pair of birds landed behind the dam and appeared to be set in for the night, and the male kindly posed for a photo.

Male Flock Bronzewing.