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Description
Katherine Showgrounds Drainline and Racecourse is the most reliable, accessible site for Yellow-rumped Mannikin, and a host of other Top End specialties. The site is most exciting as a wet season site. Finches, grassbirds, rails, ducks and Magpie Goose enjoy the rank long grass in a drainage culvert near the showgrounds. Viewing conditions are superb, and access is super easy from one of the Top End's largest towns.
The highlight bird is the Yellow-rumped Mannikin, one of the toughest Australian finches to find. This bird has a tiny range in a pretty remote area, and a small population. At this extraordinary site they are fairly reliable, from January to March. Best spots include the culvert itself, or walk around the racecourse. Look for groups of Chestnut-breasted Mannikin - they often hide in these flocks.
Also watch for Masked Finch, Long-tailed Finch, Australian Zebra Finch, Double-barred Finch and Crimson Finch, Tawny Grassbird and Buff-banded Rail.
The trees around the site are great for Black-faced Woodswallow, Masked Woodswallow and White-breasted Woodswallow, Yellow-tinted Honeyeater, Australian Yellow Oriole. Watch out for Varied Lorikeet and Northern Rosella too.
If you continue walking to the Racecourse there is a fair chance of Australian Bustard, Australian Pipit and Red-backed Buttonquail and an outside chance of Swinhoe's Snipe, Zitting Cisticola or Red-rumped Swallow.
In dry season (June to August) it's still worth a visit - you can see most of the common Top End birds like Great Bowerbird, Red-collared Lorikeet, Grey-crowned Babbler but it is a good spot for Apostlebird, Diamond Dove and Red-backed Kingfisher.
Détails
Accès
The site is at the Katherine Showgrounds on the south side of Katherine. You can walk to this site if you're staying in Katherine South or central Katherine, it's only 1.7 km from the town centre. Or very easy by car. Press P on the map for directions to a parking spot.
Start looking as soon as you turn in off Victoria Highway into Murphy Street (signposted: Showgrounds). Exciting birds can be seen right along Murphy St. The drainage channel/ culvert before the gate to the showgrounds is the main spot for finches.
You can park outside the showgrounds - the paved road swings to the right (south) to a parking area.
Walk along the drain line both sides (east and west), and you can usually walk to the north side of Murphy St along the west bank. The east bank is fenced off. If no luck, proceed into the showgrounds and racecourse.
The showgrounds are fenced, but a pedestrian gate is usually open to walkers.
Thanks to Marc Gardner for local intel.
Terrain et Habitat
Arbres et buissons disséminés , Zone humide , PrairieConditions
Plat , Marécageux , Paysage ouvertBoucle
OuiAvez-vous besoin d'une longue-vue?
NonSaison idéale pour observer
Eté , AutomneMeilleure période pour une visite
EtéItinéraire
Route non pavéeNiveau de difficulté de l'itinéraire
FacileAccessible via
A pied , VéloObservatoire/hutte d'observation
NonInformations supplémentaires
I have a personal connection to this site. I found it in January 2018 on our second trip to Katherine, while taking a morning walk from my relative's house in Katherine south. I was attracted by the wild, rank grass in the drain line, and hooked by a Buff-banded Rail.
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin were flitting in and out of the channel. I loved watching these handsome birds. I edged closer. Then realised that three of the mannikins didn't look like the others.
Since then these Yellow-rumped Mannikin have become the most famous of their kind, and magnificent photographs of them grace the title pages for the species. Every year since 2018 they have appeared at this site, sometimes fleetingly, sometimes for months. Caring local birders have arranged that council take account of the site, protecting the vegetation and mowing lightly.
There are now two hotspots: one for the Katherine Showgrounds Drainline and another for the Katherine Racecourse. Use the drainline hotspot for quick visits just to there, or the racecourse hotspot for longer walks around the whole area.