Territory Wildlife Park

There is something to be said for coming at the end of the wet season...there are very few people around!  For the last few hours we were in this park we had it totally to ourselves.  It was actually a little eerie but we loved it.

The park is located in Berry Springs, a shortish drive south from Darwin.  As we drove there the local fire brigade was burning off so the sky looked amazing!  

Walked into the park and we initially thought it was closed as we couldn't see any people.  Then jumped on the little motor cart and off we went.  I won't go into detail about all the things we saw as most readers will have been to something like this before.  

But I can say it had a lovely feel to it and the girls in the Flight Deck (Raptor section) were so friendly and lovely that it made our day.  We missed the show by seconds - actually walked in as she was saying..."So thanks very much for coming"  to the 6 or 7 people sitting there.  But to our delight they procedure to bring the raptors out so we could meet them.  AMAZING!!!!

Role call from left is 'Indi' the Pacific Baza (kids loved this name "Bazzaaa...good ole Bazzzaaaa"), The Wedge Tailed beauty of an Eagle....I think it was 'Yetta', 'Ruby' the Rufous Owl and 'Gizmo' the Barking Owl.  Most brilliant opportunity for the kids...and me :)

The flora up here is so different to what we are used to down at our little scrubby coastal neck of the woods...sparse and so dry.  

Except for the lagoons and swamps of course. Mozzies loved this lagoon too....so we didn't stay for long. Bells squashed one on her neck and freaked when a litre of blood exploded on her....Toli and I just about fell over laughing.

Fauna is pretty cool too...These Pelicans were doing something rather odd with their beaks...mating calls maybe? Very groovy and musical though

Mr Pig Nosed Turtle...Bells just can't understand how he got a pig nosed...everytime she thought of the possible ways she fell into a giggle fit.

Mama and the Whipray making friends.....

 The aquarium held us for some time.  We had a private viewing of feed time.  The Pig Nosed Turtle pictured was very greedy but cute as he held the hand of the scuba diver feeder and ate his pear...then dead mouse.