Kunoth Bore

Visited: dry season

Recommendation: This is a well known local birding spot and is worth checking out but I would contact local birders first for advice as it is on private land. 

Kunoth Bore is an open secret bird watching location in Alice Springs. It is a waterhole on private property but which you can park outside and walk down to. Depending on the time of year that you visit, will dictate how full the hole is and subsequently, how many birds and animals are present. The volunteers at the sewage farm are a great source of information about local spots like this. 

Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) 

I found it quite tricky to locate the bore. I had instructions from a local birder and the GPS co-ordinates from eBird but the gate is set back from the road and the waterhole itself is a little way in. I wasn't very comfortable wandering around private property looking for it. 

It appears that the property belongs to a local scout group. After several vehicles passed me heading out with friendly, waving occupants I felt more at ease and head left towards the windmill.

And there is was.

A small puddle of dirty water.

Sigh.

Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) 

It was midday by now and very hot. I sat by a bush that gave me some shade and watched as the budgies and finches gathered on a tree and then dipped down to drink. It was not unpleasant! Honeyeaters and doves also hung around and there were kingfishers, woodswallows and songlarks calling in the surrounds. The area is a spot for the very rare Grey Honeyeater but I could not pretend that the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater was anything but. I look forward to coming back after the rainy season.

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)