Darwin and Kakadu Holiday

[outbackstorm]

Recently I went for a trip to Darwin and managed to squeeze in a whirlwind tour of Kakadu while I was there. Didn't get to take my camera everywhere and didn't get to do any serious herping however still turned up some cool critters in my opinion. The scenery is just something else up there as well.

First up some croc jumping on the Adelaide River. I am not 100% sure I agree with this practice, they say that they don't feed each animal enough to alter its natural hunting patterns, they also say that it only takes a chicken a week to sustain a croc. After feeding one particular animal another tourist asked how many pieces of meat that animal had got today? The answer was that that was the second piece. Hmm sounds like it would be enough to alter natural hunting to me!



Out at the croc jumping they also have a White-bellied Sea Eagle that has learnt to take advantage of the free feed


Some Magpie Geese getting down and dirty in a swamp near the Adelaide River


Love the Territories use of humour to get a serious message across


Entering Kakadu


Some birds from South Alligator River: Magpie Geese, Little Corellas and Masked Lapwing race miles


Mamukala Wetland: Crimson Finch (blurry but i was so excited to see them in the wild) and Agile Wallaby


Climbing to Nawurlandja Lookout: Pandanus, Spinnifex, view of Nourlangie


Yellow Waters around the camp grounds: Pied Heron, Bar-shouldered Dove and Amphibolurus sp?? I am going to need some help with this one (two pics)


I am going to sign it off there for the moment in case it has taken me too long to upload the pics and it times out, fingers crossed it all works cause it has taken me ages!
More to come!

 

[PieBald]

liked the frilled not grilled one haha

 

[outbackstorm]

Looks like it worked! Ripper!
On with the show!

Yellow Waters Sunset Cruise:
Birds: Pied Stilt, Brolgas, Green Pygmy Geese (horrible to photograph), Jabiru and White-bellied Sea Eagle


More Birds:Little Kingfisher, Comb-crested Jacana, Male Australian Darter, Female Australian Darter, Pied Stilt


More Birds: Azure Kingfisher (x2)


Crocodiles:


More Crocs:


Vegetation: Pandanus, Pandanus to the left with Arnhem Bamboo to the right, Lotus, Pandanus to the right, Paperbarks (Melaluca)


Sunsets:


And last but not least, this little critter was hanging out in the male amenities block at Yellow Water, awesome little Childrens Python:


Hope you enjoy!

 

[moloch05]

Lovely shots! Wow, photos of both Little and Azure Kingfishers. They are both such beautiful birds. Kakadu is a great place and I would love to get back again. I imagine that your Amphibolurus would be gilberti but temporalis would be there as well.

Have you see Stewart's site on Aussie reptiles? I use it often since he also keeps up with the name changes that happen so often now. Here is the link to the Amphibolurus page:
AROD > Reptiles / Squamata / Agamidae / Amphibolurus | AROD.com.au

Regards,
David

 

[Wild~Touch]

Love your pics and Thank you for sharing
Cheers
Sandee

 

[outbackstorm]

Thanks David, I was very excited to see those two kingfishers, I was disappointed I didn't get a clear shot of the little though the light was fading and they were in over hanging growth making the lighting difficult.
I had narrowed it down to those two as well, was having trouble splitting them. Thanks I will check out Stewart's site.

Thanks Sandee, I had an amazing time and I am glad you enjoyed looking at my pictures.