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Visited: late dry season
Recommendation: At this time of year, the water has dried up to a small area in the centre of the wetland (see above photo). The concentration of birdlife was still incredible with several species of heron and egret, darter, stork and cranes visible. Best of all, the birds were uncharacteristically tolerant and allowed me to walk towards them to get in photography range.
Anbangbang Billabong lies in the shadow of Burrunggui (Nourlangie Rock) within Kakadu National Park and is a good place to view a wide range of wildlife. Large numbers of waterfowl and wading birds inhabit the billabong and many wallabies can be found grazing around the water's edge. There is a walking trail around the circumference of Anbangbang Billabong with many picnic areas.
Lemon-bellied Flyrobin (Microeca flavigaster)
I visited the billabong once early in the morning and another time in the mid-afternoon. It is very exposed with the only shade being a slither of trees surrounding the picnic areas and walkway that you access from the car park. The other side has more bush but actually in the paddock, there was nothing. The water was very low, the grass churned up by the buffalo and particularly in the afternoon, the sun was brutal. While I could get reasonably near to the birds, it was hard going and I couldn't stay out there very long.
Retreating to the picnic tables I was joined by several Lemon-bellied Flyrobin who were busy feeding and singing. It was a pleasant, cooler environment.
As for the birds out on the water, the photos below speak for themselves and I have added a full list of the birds I recorded on the 2 occasions I visited.
Darter (Anhinga melanogaster)
Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Green Pygmy-goose (Nettapus pulchellus)
Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)
Visiting the area very late in the dry season meant it was incredibly hot. The upside was that there were relatively few other people there. That probably wouldn't be enough reason for me to visit again at this time of year. With a distinct monsoonal climate rather than four traditional seasons, there is a dry season and a wet season, with transitional periods in between. Temperatures are generally warm to hot year-round, with variations in humidity.
Pacific Heron (Ardea pacifica)
Plumed Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)
Pied Heron (Ardea picata)
The transitional period is from Mid-October to late December and is known as the 'build-up' period, with increasing heat and humidity as thunderstorms begin to build in the afternoons.
The wet season is from December to March and is the true tropical summer, characterized by high heat, intense humidity, heavy monsoonal rains, and thunderstorms. The mean maximum temperature is around 35 degrees. However, the high humidity can (and does) make it feel hotter than the actual temperature.
Radjah Shelduck (Tadorna radjah)
Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)
The storm season in April, is known as the 'Knock 'em down' storm season. The heavy rains begin to disperse, and skies clear, but temperatures remain warm.
The dry season from May to October is considered the most comfortable time, with lower humidity and minimal to no rain. This is considered high season in the Top End and is when most people choose to visit.
Full list of birds seen here.
Torresian Crow
Shining Flycatcher
Paperbark Flycatcher
Green Oriole
White-bellied Cuckooshrike
Forest Kingfisher
Blue-winged Kookaburra
Whistling Kite
Little Pied Cormorant
Australasian Darter
Black-necked Stork
Green Pygmy-Goose
Wandering Whistling-Duck
Lemon-bellied Flyrobin
Magpie-lark
Willie-wagtail
Little Corella
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo
Rainbow Bee-eater
Plumed Egret
Great White Egret
Pacific Heron
Pied Heron
Little Egret
Royal Spoonbill
Straw-necked Ibis
Australian Ibis
Little Black Cormorant
Masked Lapwing
Bar-shouldered Dove
Peaceful Dove
Pacific Black Duck
Radjah Shelduck
Plumed Whistling-Duck
Magpie Goose
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