Thursday, 25 June 2015

NT Road Trip 2015: Part 16

Day 15 -- south to Kalkarindji

Diesel in Katherine $1.23 per litre. Less than most of Victoria.

After collecting several hundred dollars worth of meat from Jason the butcher in Katherine [big recommendation, vacuum packs excellent meat, good for travellers, opposite the camping store at the north end of the main street, not receiving spotting fee!!], we headed south-ish along the Victoria Highway for a way then turned left, truly south, onto the Buntine Highway for Top Springs and Kalkarindji ~ 500 kms or so. The description of "highway" for the Buntine is optimistic. It is a single lane of bitumen for all the way. When you see a road train coming, you pull well off the road.

Our convoy had grown from two vehicles to five with two trays and a Paj with van. I travelled last and took that opportunity to stop and take photos of birds. I also spent an hour or so looking, in vain, for Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens at Camfield River. But I did find a Collared Sparrowhawk, a White-Gaped Honeyeater, some very friendly Yellow-tinted Honeyeaters plus brolga and Australian Pratincole [life tick!!] on the way. A great day.

Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus
Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella
Brolga Grus rubicunda
White-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus unicolour

No comments:

Post a Comment