The Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt) is a small megapode of the family Megapodiidae.
They have quite a large range across Northern Australia and most of Indonesia and New Guinea. We saw lots of them, mostly in Mary River, Howard Springs and Darwin.
Active bird calling and foraging.
This one is building a nest.
It was just a short drive from Fogg Dam to Howard Springs, less than an hour (trying to remember). On our first visit, the birds were out in force but hungry mosquitoes chased us off prematurely. This time we had liberally doused ourselves in Deet and were ready for action!
More than just a dorky hairdo!
This time we were able to do the walking trail undisturbed by mozzies. It’s a nice flat trail, anyone can do it and we were even wearing thongs/flip-flops!
Orange-footed Scrubfowl
Watch for Rainbow Pittas! 
Streams attract kingfishers
Suddenly a flash of green! Could it be?
Yes! A beautiful Rainbow Pitta!
He was towards the end of the trail as we emerged back to the picnic area. What a great way to end an awesome day of birding! Rainbow Pittas were actually the first bird we saw on this trip and almost the last. We still had one last stop…………….Darwin’s coast.
The Rose-crowned Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus regina) is also known as Pink-capped Fruit Dove or Swainson’s Fruit Dove. Their delicate beauty and bright pink caps make them a real treat to see!
They have quite a large range in northern and eastern Australia and also Indonesia. I spotted this beauty at Howard Springs Nature Park in the Northern Territory.
When you know you’re gorgeous!
Bonded pair
The Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) also known as Banksian- or Banks’ Black Cockatoo, is a large black cockatoo native to Australia.
C. b. banksii is found in Queensland and, rarely, in far northern New South Wales
C. b. graptogyne, (Endangered) known as the south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo, is found in southwestern Victoria and southeastern South Australia in an area bordered by Mount Gambier to the west, Portland to the south, Horsham to the northeast and Bordertown to the north
C. b. macrorhynchus, given the name great-billed cockatoo by Mathews; is found across northern Australia.
C. b. naso (Near Threatened) is known as the forest red-tailed black cockatoo and is found in the southwest corner of Western Australia between Perth and Albany.
C. b. samueli exists in four scattered populations: in central coastal Western Australia from the Pilbara south to the northern Wheatbelt in the vicinity of Northam, and inland river courses in Central Australia, southwestern Queensland and the upper Darling River system in Western New South Wales. Birds of this subspecies are generally smaller with smaller bills than the nominate banksii.
Good places to spot this gregarious and cheeky cockatoo are: Along the coast of Western Australia, the Northern Territory south of Darwin, most parks in South-east Queensland.
Beautiful close-ups of cockatoos foraging and pair bonding.
Filmed at Paradise Park, this slo-mo clip shows the bird in flight.
Flock roosting near Cairns
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!
The Rainbow Pitta (Pitta iris) is a colourful bird with a velvet black head with brown stripes above the eye, dark green upper parts, pale blue shoulders, black underparts and an olive green tail. It feeds on insects, crustaceans and other small animals and builds an untidy, spherical nest. It is a shy forest bird and a real treat to see!
They are endemic to Australia’s Northern Territory and are easily seen at Howard Springs and sometimes near Fogg Dam. I spotted the one above barely 3 minutes after entering the park!
This is the call to listen for. They tend to be spread out but close enough to contact each other.
A birding group spots one.
This is pretty cool, I didn’t know you could attract them by tapping on the ground!