Our third day in Alice Springs and we spent the morning at the Alice Springs Desert Park. The others had other plans for the morning so Mark and I went on our own.

There was alot to see in the way of birds and reptiles.

Black-winged stilt and chick.

Perentie lizard.

A white winged fairy wren discovers another wren next door.

A bronzed lapwing and an orange chat.

On the left is an Australian Bustard and on the right is a sacred kingfisher.

A white breasted wood swallow, a? and a red tailed black cockatoo.

Termite mounds.

We went to watch the wild birds flight display. The owl unexpectedly poked his head through the hole in the tree before flying over us.

A tawny frogmouth and a barn owl.

Stone curlew.

Whistling Kite, I think.

At the bottom right is an earless dragon; above it and to the right is a thorny devil. The one at the top is a central netted dragon.

On the left we have a cane grass dragon and on the top right is a military dragon. Hiding in the hole is a desert skink.

The highlight of the morning was getting up close to this magnificent wedge-tail eagle.

We returned to the caravan park to meet up with the others and have a quick lunch, after which we went out to explore the West MacDonnell Ranges. By this time Chris had managed to hire a car until his was repaired. First stop was Flynn's Grave just out of town. What I didn't know at the time was that his wife's ashes are contained within the monument.

These designs were etched into the backs of the benches.

Next stop was Simpson's Gap. This is home to one of the most prominent waterholes in the region.

The waters of Simpson's Gap.

Standley Chasm was next on the list. To really appreciate this place you need to be there at midday when the sun shines down the centre of the Chasm lighting up the brilliant reds of the rocks. Unfortunately we were too late.

 Before we started to walk I had to photograph the butterfly and the murals on the side of the toilet block.

Stunning with the white ghost gum against the red rocks. This is what I came to see.

Someone had had some fun with the road sign adding the hat.

Homeward bound at the end of an enjoyable day and the promise of more sights to come tomorrow.