Leaky tank at wayside stop

A leaking tank at a wayside stop between Mataranka and Roper Bar provided a drink for some local seed eating birds.

Some Masked Finches were the smallest species in for a drink.

Masked Finch – it had to share the site and bow out when larger and more numerous birds pushed in.

A quick drink before others barged in.

Peaceful Doves were in large numbers everywhere we went in the Top End. Here they push in for a drink and the Masked Finch had to wait.

There was only room for two birds to drink at a time.

Size matters – a larger Crested Pigeon displaced the Peaceful Doves.

If it were possible to know the number of Peaceful Doves in Australia it would be a very large number!

The subject leaking tank – not pretty, but the water was very precious in this hot dry area in the Dry Season. Boothy and Irwin have found another use for the tank!