Driving along ArnhemHighway that connects Kakadu to Darwin is a great way to see more of Northern Territory’s wildlife, particularly at night. And there are plenty of eco lodges along the way that offer various wildlife watching opportunities.
Mary River is a great place to see Fresh water crocodiles and Azure kingfishers, as well as Great-billed heron. The lodge at Mary River operates boat cruises and it is also possible to hire a smaller boat for a few hours and explore the river at your own pace. Other birds we spotted from the boat were: Lemon-bellied flycatcher, Varied triller, Rainbow bee-eater and Yellow oriole.
In the afternoon, just before the boat cruise I watched a group of Agile wallabies grazing on the lawn in front of our tent. And as I watched them, two young males decided to practice their boxing skills giving me a few good photo opportunities.
The walk around the camp site in the morning turned up a beautiful Green tree snake.
Driving along Arnhem Highway the following day we came across a small wetland on the side of the road that was absolutely teaming with birdlife. I could not believe my eyes when I saw a few Jabirus there. We spent days searching for them in Kakadu and there they were – scraping in the mud on the side of the road!
Apart from the magnificent Jabirus there were Pied herons, Great and Intermediate egrets, Gull-billed terns, and a few Magpie geese ona nearby tree.
Magpie geese
Margarita Steinhardt
I am a wildlife ecologist by training but more of a naturalist by inclination. I have been photographing wildlife for a number of years, throughout my travels in Thailand, India, Africa, and Russia, as well as my life in Australia. What drives me is the excitement of a new destination and the new species to be discovered and photographed.
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