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<\/a>From the Desert Park we got back on the road for a long drive to Wycliffe Well \u2013 pretty much the only camping stop between Alice Springs and Mataranka. It is also a convenient overnight stop for visiting Devil\u2019s Marbles in the morning. Wycliffe Well is known as Australia\u2019s prime UFO hotspot, boasting more UFO sightings than any other area in the country. The entire holiday park is decked out with the alien theme.<\/p>\n
We didn\u2019t spot any notable wildlife on this drive, with an exception of a Little buttonquail (Turnix velox) on the side of the road and a Brown snake (Pseudonaja sp) at the camp site. No aliens either this time.<\/p>\n
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Wycliffe Well \u2013 Devil\u2019s Marbles<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Devil\u2019s marbles is a spectacular formation of rounded boulders stacked precariously on top of each other. Though it lies close to the tropical north of Australia, this area still has a rather dry climate and provides a unique habitat for a wide suite of species.<\/p>\n
As we pulled in to the car park we were greeted by a Dingo that was quite happy to laze around in broad daylight.<\/p>\n
Amongst the rocks of the Devil\u2019s Marbles we were treated to a rare sight of a pair of courting Painted finches (Emblema pictum). As part of courtship the male of this species present the female with a gift of some nesting material \u2013 dry grass or small twigs. Holding the gift in his beak he then proceeds to perform a dance around the female until he sees a favourable sign.<\/p>\n
Once his efforts are approved by the female, he gets down to business.<\/p>\n
While the amorous partis a fairly quick affair, the pair stays together and continues to build the nest.<\/p>\n
The finches\u2019 antics brought in a curious visitor \u2013 one of Australia\u2019s smallest birds \u2013 a Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris).<\/p>\n
The Spinifex grass at Devil\u2019s marbles is home to the aptly named Spinifex bird (Eremiornis carteri).<\/p>\n