Back to Alice Springs

30 August – 3 September 2017

We arrived back in Alice Springs, looking forward to a few days “in town” only to find out we had arrived in time for the Red Centre Nats. This event attracts “motoring enthusiasts” from throughout the country and it seemed that every one of them chose the road outside the caravan park to rev their engines and show off their noisy motors. Unfortunately this spoiled an otherwise pleasant stay. Must remember to check the events calendar before we return!

After ten days away from town (and then it was only Yulara) we had lots of catching up to do – including shopping and washing so we spent Thursday doing just that, and enjoying the luxury of an ensuite site at the caravan park. We stumbled across the recycling shop at the dump and stocked up on books at $1 each – great value.

On Friday morning we had booked a visit to the Ilparpa Ponds with a local birdwatcher. These sewerage ponds are very popular but access is restricted – visitors must book a visit with one of a number of local Birdlife Central Australia or Alice Springs Field Naturalist Group Members, as well as complete an online induction.

Early in the morning the ponds were like mirrors. The smell was not as bad as you might think.

Red-necked Avocet.

An Australian Pratincole.

Fairy Martin

Male Orange Chat. A new bird for me making this a worthwhile trip!

We met Pam, our guide, at 8:00 am and spent 2 ½ hours wandering around the site. Mick was able to get a few nice shots of birds, but not what he had hoped for. Pam generously offered a return visit which we readily accepted. We joined her for a lovely morning tea at the café at Olive Pink Botanic Gardens and finalised the arrangements for another trip to the ponds on Saturday in the hope that there might be some different sightings in the afternoon.

Black-shouldered Kite

Wood Sandpipers were quite common.

On Saturday we spent the morning up at the Old Telegraph Station, this time completing the Bradshaw Walk. The loop which returns to the information shelter via the Riverside Walk is 3.8km and rated Grade 3. We found it a relatively easy walk, but it was very hot so we were glad we had taken plenty of water with us. After our walk we shouted ourselves morning tea at the onsite café.

As arranged we met Pam at the ponds at 3:30pm and spent another 1 ½ hours – this time spotting the Australian Spotted crake – apparently that’s good. I had to go along on both visits as the rules state there must be a minimum of two for any visit to go ahead.

Australian Spotted Crake. Another new bird for me!

We got great views of a female Orange Chat on our second visit.

Whiskered Tern

I really enjoyed our visit to Ilparpa Ponds and our guide Pam was very enthusiastic and helpful. There were lots of great birds around. I had some reasonable photo opportunities but the rules are quite strict about where you can go and what you can do. For the most part it is impossible to get close to or level with the waterbirds. The dilapidated hide in the centre of the ponds complex is a great spot to see Orange Chats and is suited to morning light. You could get lucky and bag a rare visitor here like the Red Necked Pharlarope that I was a month too early for. Mick.

This time we left Alice Springs headed west towards Palm Valley in Finke Gorge National Park where we hoped it wouldn't be as noisy.