Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens at Geikie Gorge – 10,000 Birds

We attempt to make a visit to Geikie Gorge annually to go bush-walking and birdwatching, however the space is just open for a couple of months annually. Usually the realm is open from round April to October, however this may differ quite a bit as a consequence of flooding rains or bushfires. Final 12 months we had been in a position to go to in Might, however this 12 months we had not been capable of go to till this final weekend. The park had been closed to a bushfire the earlier week, so we had been fortunate that we might go to earlier than it closed. Final Sunday was a sometimes scorching day for late September with temperatures over 30c as quickly because the solar got here up and quickly growing to over 40c within the shade. It was a scorching and dry warmth, so it was like strolling into an oven albeit a fan-forced oven should you discovered a breeze!

We have now encountered Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens within the space in two areas up to now. Final 12 months they had been very near the car-park and on the lengthy stroll beside the river. The species is just within the north of Australia and they’re usually present in areas which might be arduous to get to 12 months spherical. We have now been capable of observe Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens in a couple of areas throughout the north of Australia they usually had been fairly straightforward to see within the car-park at Large Horse Creek in 2017.

Our encounter with Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens final weekend within the scorching warmth was temporary. It was partly as a result of warmth, however largely as a consequence of the truth that we didn’t wish to disturb them any greater than vital. Initially we heard them after which moved barely nearer to watch them and take some photographs. The Purple-crowned Fairy-wren is a really small fowl, so might not be clearly seen within the header photograph. I’ll present you under the place it’s!

Feminine Purple-crowned Fairy-wren

We watched the feminine Purple-crowned Fairy-wren preen after which the male Purple-crowned Fairy-wren joined her. We had been solely within the space for 3 minutes to minimise disturbance, however by holding our distance I used to be capable of seize them behaving as if we weren’t current. We did try to reap the benefits of the little little bit of shade that there was and so I received’t apologise for the dearth of brilliant daylight within the photographs! Each the Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens and ourselves had been making an attempt to maintain out of the direct warmth of the solar the place we might.

Feminine Purple-crowned Fairy-wren

Male Purple-crowned Fairy-wren

It was a memorable expertise to watch the pair of Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens meet up on the department and preen collectively.

Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens

I might have omitted the photographs that had vegetation in them, nevertheless it helps you perceive how simply they will disappear from view. Minimising disturbance is much more vital than getting the “finest” shot of such a tiny weak fowl. Over coming months there received’t be any entry to the park and the Fitzroy River will likely be in flood as soon as our moist season rains begin. The entire inhabitants of the realm might want to transfer to increased floor and hopefully we’ll return subsequent 12 months to watch them once more.