Leliyn - Edith Falls Road

Northern Territory > Australia

The spot for Gouldian Finch, and other great Top End birds, especially finches.

Geplaatst* door Janine Duffy
Meest recente update 26 april 2026

Beschrijving

Mostly a Dry Season and Build-up site (May to November).

This is a watering site, so you'll be sitting and waiting for birds to come in from feeding grounds. Be aware that the highlight species are not always there. They come and go throughout the day, some days more, some less. Multiple visits, and/or long periods of sitting and waiting, may be needed. Early morning is usually good.

During dry season and build-up these birds are very likely: Crimson Finch, Masked Finch , Long-tailed Finch, Double-barred Finch , Paperbark Flycatcher - still called Restless Flycatcher by some but now a full species, and Rainbow Bee-eater. Likely birds are Gouldian Finch, Hooded Parrot, Azure Kingfisher , Brown Goshawk (beware misidentification - the northern ssp didimus is small and gracile), Leaden Flycatcher , Red-backed Fairywren , Rufous Whistler and Rufous-throated Honeyeater. Possibles include Black Bittern , Diamond Dove , Varied Lorikeet , White-winged Triller , White-throated Gerygone and Northern Rosella .

Later in the season - July/August to Nov - you are very likely to see flocks of Cockatiel flying over and the beautiful Banded Honeyeater.

All year expect to see Peaceful Dove , Bar-shouldered Dove , White-gaped Honeyeater , White-throated Honeyeater , Torresian Crow , Red-collared Lorikeet , Whistling Kite , Galah and Little Friarbird. Black-faced Cuckooshrike , White-bellied Cuckooshrike , Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo , Brown Honeyeater , Weebill , Blue-winged Kookaburra , Striated Pardalote , Silver-crowned Friarbird, Golden-headed Cisticola , Great Bowerbird, Black-faced Woodswallow are likely, and Little Woodswallow is possible.

Details

Toegang

Edith Falls Rd is 280 km drive southeast of Darwin and 50 km northwest of Katherine. Access is by car, from the Stuart highway.

The site is not signposted, so you'll have to mark the pin location and watch carefully. Take the turnoff to the northeast to Leilyn-Edith Falls Rd. The spot is about 5 km from the turnoff. Press P on the map for directions.

After the highway turnoff, there's the Edith Falls Rd Free Camp just over the railway line, with a nice waterhole that is worth checking for birds. (chance of Partridge Pigeon! See hotspot below). The road bends around a bit, with a few gully crossings and side tracks. Finally you'll cross a causeway over a creek (called Ferguson River on Google maps, but I don't think it is), and immediately after that look for the dirt track to the left (north). The causeway is not super-noticeable until you're right there, and there's no sign for the river and no barriers, but the river often has water in it.

If you come to the Edith River (bridge with a sign, and barriers) you've gone too far.

Drive in, the dirt track 'carpark' starts right there - it's a big loop, most park at the north end in any shade they can find. Walk to the waterhole, which is all of 20metres. There's not really a walking track, but its all pretty open. There are no facilities at all.

Terrein en leefgebied

Bos , Rivier , Grasland/weide , Verspreide bomen en struiken

Omstandigheden

Rotsachtig , Droog , Nat

Rondlopende wandeling mogelijk?

Nee

Telescoop meenemen?

Nee

Wanneer hier vogels kijken?

Winter , Lente

Toptijd voor dit gebied

Lente , Winter

Route

Smal pad

Zwaarte wandeling

Gemakkelijk

Toegankelijk via

Auto , Te voet

Vogelkijkhut aanwezig?

Nee

Extra info

This is private land on Jawoyn Country. We are lucky to be able to access it. Please respect the site and leave it as clean, or cleaner than you found it. If you must urinate or defecate, do not leave toilet paper - it gets dug up and ends up making the site look disgusting. Take a bag and take it with you.

Please be respectful of the birds and other birders. There's a high bank overlooking the waterhole - if you just stay there birds will come and go quite happily. Don't go to the water's edge, and don't walk around constantly, you'll keep disturbing birds and making it hard for you, and others to enjoy them.

One time we were sitting with an organised survey group as part of the Katherine Bird Festival. We had placed ourselves carefully to allow the birds to drink without disturbance, and hadn't moved for half an hour. A group of bird photographers came in, walked right past us and sat really close to the waterhole. They disturbed everything, and then had to wait ages for the birds to relax again. They got their shots and left, disturbing all the birds again. It was frustrating.

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