Red Centre

Red Centre

Kath and Dave were just down visiting on their bi-annual trip and once again we decided to spend a week of their holiday over in the Red Centre. We had a couple of days in Alice Springs and then two nights at Kings Canyon and two more at the Ayers Rock resort.

Ormiston Gorge - West McDonnell Ranges

Salt Lake - Lasseter Highway

After recent heavy rains in the centre, the desert was looking much greener than in previous trips. On a couple of days the temperature didn't even get above 20C and so it didn't really feel like you were in the desert at all. Walking was therefore easy and I had a couple of very pleasant strolls round the Kings Canyon rim walk and the Valley of the Winds at Kata Tjuta but once again I was denied the chance of climbing Uluru. This time the excuse was that it was too windy. Yes, I'll admit there was a bit of a breeze blowing but seriously, it's all a bit silly.

Kings Canyon

Valley of the Winds - Kata Tjuta

Too windy

Driving around was also easier than usual as we got a free upgrade at the car hire place and we found ourselves with plenty of room in a Nissan X-trail. The cruise control was a very useful feature for outback driving.

Upgrade

Green desert

As usual, I managed to get out for a few early morning bird-watching trips and I have to say that being out on your own in the cool silence of the desert morning is one of the real joys in life!

Dawn - Uluru

Outback critters

Little Woodswallow - Kings Canyon

There wasn't much in the way of wildlife happening this time which surprised me a bit considering the recent good rains. You can always rely on the Black-flanked Rock Wallabies at the Heavitree Gap motel in Alice Springs though. With your bag of food from reception in hand, they emerge from the hillside at dusk to feed.

Black-flanked Rock Wallaby - Alice Springs

There were also loads of Dingoes about for a change. The first turned up in the main street in Alice Springs when we came out of the pub on the first evening. There were more out near Ormiston Gorge and several hanging out in the resort at Kings Canyon.

Galah - Kings Canyon resort

Lizard hiding in a hole - Kings Canyon resort

Reptile watch was restricted to a few dragons sunning themselves on the road and a tremendous Perentie which we chased into the scrub for pictures until I was taken out by a particularly spiky bush.

Perentie - Kings Canyon road

The birds were especially disappointing despite a number of dawn starts while everyone else was in bed. There were hardly any raptors and except for the millions of Zebra Finches, not much else. I don't mind though as it's always nice just to see a few of the desert specialties. We found a small flock of Budgies in the West McDonnell Ranges and I saw a single Mulga Parrot and a lovely flock of Crimson Chats at Uluru. And I did manage one new tick - my new favourite bird - the Spinifex Pigeon #416. These comical chaps were all over Kings Canyon and tend to waddle about at high speed instead of just flying. Very silly indeed.

Spinifex Pigeon - Kings Canyon

Common Bronzewing - Kata Tjuta

The cooler temperatures also seemed to result in a lack of flies which was good news all round and the reported mouse plague from earlier in the year seemed to have moved on as well. Except, that is, for one little chap who had made his home in the model desert in the cocktail bar of the Sails in the Desert hotel at Ayers Rock resort.

Fat spider - Uluru