I awoke to ice on my windscreen this morning which was a bit unexpected. Sure, it was a cold night but I wasn't quite prepared to know that it was below freezing. Anyway, after a bit of warming up, I started birding around Kunoth Well. I arrived just as another couple from the U.S. arrived with a guide from Alice Springs. We had a nice chat and I managed to get some good photos.
There were a fair amount of parrots coming in drink at the dam including Mulgas and Ringnecks but unfortunately not any Bourke's. I was pleased to photograph this Ringneck as I hadn't photographed this particular type. The Ringneck parrots are another group of birds that are a bit controversial when it comes to taxonomy. Basically there are 4 different distinct types but there are definately transitional or hybrid zones where the different types meet. Some people classify them as 4 races of one species while others split them into two species, and others split them into more. For my purposes, the taxonomy Iam using splits them into 2 species, the Mallee Ringneck and the Port Lincoln Ringneck also sometimes called Western Ringneck. The Mallee Ringneck includes both the nominate race, Mallee Ringneck, and the Cloncurry Ringneck. The Port Lincoln Ringneck includes the Port Lincoln Ringneck as well as the Twenty Eight Parrot of the southwest corner of the country. Regardless of how you split them, Ihadn't photographed this type before so was pleased to finally have the chance.
The rest of the day I took it easy. Idid a bit of birding in the surrounding area and found a flock of Chestnut-rumped Thornbills and later a Western Gerygone. At sunset, Iwaited for Bourke's Parrots to come in to drink but eventually got too cold and abandoned my post to make some hot soup. Tomorrow I will be spending the day looking for Sltay-backed Thornbills and hopefully a Grey Honeyeater.
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