Agnes Creek Rest Area

Check my birding map for specific location.  

My next stopover was due to be at the NT/SA border rest area. However, it was teeming with people taking their photos next to the big signs. Way too noisy for me and it wasn't long before I decided to shuffle off to the next place. I always plan for this and I knew there was another rest area not too far south. But ... that was the opposite problem. It was exposed and lonely. So further south it was. My next planned stop was at the Agnes Creek rest area and coincidentally my friend Louise had stopped there and said it was nice and there was an Owlet-nightjar there. 

While it was very quiet during the day on this massive site, Agnes Creek came alive at night. The solitary Pied Butcherbird and numerous Yellow-throated Miners couldn't compete with the night birds. I stayed 2 nights in the end to maximise my opportunities which, as ever, were a mixed bag.

Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)

Not long after it got dark on the first night, I heard a suspicious cooing from the tree right next to my van. I dashed out expecting the Owlet-nightjar and was delighted to actually find a Barn Owl. Hopelessly unprepared for photography and with no flash, I improvised with my torch and tried to get some shots. I wished I hadn't bothered really as it took time away from looking at this beautiful bird. It was very curious about me and peered around a branch before flying closer and stared at me for around 5 minutes. What a fantastic experience.

Eastern Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Buoyed by this experience and that I heard owls calling during the night, I was determined to get better photos the next one. I could hear them hooting from several places but this time they weren't heading my way. After some time I did hear a hoot from a tree close by. I knew it was the Owlet-nightjar this time. It wasn't a big tree with a bit of foliage and I looked and looked for the bloody bird but I couldn't find it. As I turned to go back to the van it let off a loud shriek. I swear it was laughing at me! I looked again, still couldn't find it. I was tempted to shake or kick that bloody tree but I thought that would be unkind. I gave up. I'll find another, nicer bird soon. 

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