kakadu

As we were walking back along the path, Hans suddenly shot off towards the fence. There on the other side was a Water Dragon. I ended just taking his head, so the fence wires didn't get in the way of the picture.

... well they are, aren't they. Such beautiful birds these Brahminy Kites. I just can't believe I was so lucky to have so many great views of these stunning raptors. Though this one only gave me a very brief opportunity through a small gap in the trees, a couple of clicks and he was gone...

Making my way back to the footpath, I came across this cheeky Willie-Wagtail in the grass that had some baby mangroves sprouting. But guess they won't be there too long sadly.

Just come back onto the beach after a paddle was a Pied Oystercatcher, one of only two species in Australia (mind we only have one here don't we!!)

I'd now made my way down to the beach and found one of those rather pretty Silver Gulls. Don't know if you know, but there's only 3 species of gull (regularly) seen in Australia. Makes me wish I lived there LOL Gulls are a nightmare for me here. Oh and I picked this caption as I was (am) a...

I think this is the smallest of the Australian cormorants and it is the most common; found virtually throughout Australia. He was sitting on a fence post marking the end of the protected area of the beach. Probably there to ensure no-one wandered down there by mistake... what do you think?

On the far bank of that lagoon was a Striated Heron, the smallest of the herons I think (well the smallest one that I've seen!)

.... when they spend so much time in the mud! I wonder if that's one reason why they have such long legs LOL This Great Egret was at the far end of the lagoon. The birds here really just seem to ignore people walking past.

Walking along the path, on the 'sea' side of it is a long lagoon and in there I found this Ibis. This was the closest I'd been to one, before that I thought their tails were all black but they seem to be barred. Two shots after this his head was buried in the water LOL

We soon had the main object for that trip under our belts, although we'd seen them before, they're such wonderful birds. They've a couple of names, "Thick-knee" and "Stone-Curlew", everyone agrees that they're prefixed with Beach though. They've also been placed in two...

This is a fascinating bird, as well as looking fabulous! It's a cuckoo, but doesn't lay its eggs in other birds' nests. It lives mainly on the ground, and prowls around like a small mammal looking for insects, frogs, eggs, lizards etc.

One of a small party foraging in dried grass at the foot of the escarpment.

Intermediate egret (Plumed egret) dispatches White ibis. The egret flew past me grumbling querulously to itself before bad-temperedly kicking the (bigger) Ibis off the river bank. A bird with attitude.

Yellow Waters at Cooinda in Kakadu NP. Jabiru (Black-necked stork or Policemanbird) is manouvering the file snake into the right position for a quick swallow, Whistling kite tries to get in on the action. Jabiru uses display of much bigger wingspan to carry the day.

Darter (snake-bird) taking off from Yellow Waters in Kakadu National Park. Full frame.

Great Egret perched along the side of Yellow Waters in Kakadu National Park. 99% sure this is a Great Egret (and not Intermediate).

Female Black Necked Stork (Jabiru) in flight taking off from Yellow Waters in Kakadu National Park.