Kakadu NT
Kakadu National Park, 19,800 square kilometres in size, is an enormous wonderland with wetlands, rivers and sandstone escarpments. Home to 280 bird species plus 2,000 plants, saltwater crocodiles and other animals. Amazing prehistoric Aboriginal rock paintings can be viewed at several sites.
Photo: The Black-necked Stork (“Jabiru”) (1.3 m) is Australia’s only stork. Seen across north and north-eastern Australia, it is at home in the waterways of Kakadu. The yellow eye identifies this bird as a female.
This Azure Kingfisher was perched on a waterside tree at Yellow Water, Kakadu. Sacred, Little, and Forest Kingfishers were also seen.
A Brolga (1.3 m) grazes in the marshes. Brolgas are found across the north of Australia but migrate as far south as Victoria in summer.
The rare Red Goshawk. They feed on small birds and even large birds such as Brush-turkeys and Kookaburras.
These Grey-crowned Babblers are taking a “dust” bath in tree litter at Pine Creek to the west of Kakadu.
A Nankeen Night-Heron on the bank of Yellow Water lagoon. Nankeen Night-Herons can be seen in most parts of Australia.
The Sandstone Shrike-thrush is seen high on Kakadu’s rocky escarpments, probing the rocks for lizards, grasshoppers and spiders.
Young Comb-crested Jacanas look awkward but this one is managing very well on the lily-pads of Yellow Water Lagoon.
Australia’s smallest duck, the Green Pygmy-Goose. Photographed at the Mamukala Wetlands birdhide.
The rare Little Kingfisher, well hidden on the bank of Yellow Water, Kakadu.