Howard Springs Nature Park is the perfect way to begin your birding adventure in Australia’s Northern Territory.  It’s only half an hour from Darwin and easy to find.  Best of all, the birding is easy and amazing!

We opened the windows and drove slowly down the access road.  In less than 5 minutes, I saw a flash of colour on the left.  I drove closer as quietly as possible and found a beautiful Rainbow Pitta foraging in the bush!  This was going to be good  – one of my target species right off the bat!  I walked slowly and quietly closer until the bird disappeared into the bush.

Moving on, a Rainbow Bee-eater was doing his job!

A pair of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos were frolicking in the trees.

Broad-billed Flycatcher

Closer to the picnic area was this lovely Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, another of my targeted species!

We drove down to the end of the road, didn’t find anything so turned around.

An Australasian Figbird was watching us.

Peaceful Doves peacefully foraging near the picnic ground.

Pied Cormorant stretching his wings.

The visitors info place was closed but they had some good information posted.

Orange-footed Scrubfowl right near the sign!

Bar-shouldered Dove watching from above.

Up to now we had been braving the mosquitoes.  We only had a small bottle in our carry-on because we planned to buy more when we got here.  By the time we reached the pond and the hiking trails we were being eaten alive and forced to turn back.

I wasn’t worried as I knew we would be passing by here after the road trip around the Top End so decided to save our skin.  We had already seen many of the target birds anyway so a very auspicious start to this adventure!