Cleland Wildlife Park

Yesterday I took some friends from the UK to Cleland Wildlife Park.   Cleland is always a big hit with visitors as you can get up close with some of our native animals and birds.

In the paddocks Alayne fed both Eastern Grey and Red Kangaroos, and walking around the lake we found some Coot chicks and Magpie Goslings

Alayne also did the cockatoo experience, getting realy up close to some of our beautiful cockatoos, including both Red-tailed and Yello-tailed Black Cockatoos, Sulphur Crested and Pink Cockatoo and a very naughty Galah, who loves to nip at your toes. (Some photos from a previous experience I did)

There are also three walk-through aviaries at the park and we saw a variety of birds including Sacred Kingfisher, Tawny Frogmouth, Princess Parrot, Golden Whistler, Bush Stone-Curlew, Rainbow Lorikeet, Regent Honeyeater and Buff-banded Rail.

Of course, we couldn't miss out on the Koalas or the extremely cute Yellow-tailed Rock-Wallabies.

Thanks for a lovely day Alayne and Rob.

Afternoon walk at Apex Park

This afternoon I walked at Apex Park, West Beach.   Last time I was here (10+ years ago) it was just a few ponds.  It has been developed and has shaded seating areas, a playground, BMX track, tennis courts and stairs and a ramp to connect to the River Torrens Linear Park.

At the top of the stairs are the Winaityinaityi Story Poles, a sculpture by Allan Sumner.   It shows birds that are important to the Kaurna people including Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Wedge-tailed Eagle (hidden), Australian Magpie, Pelican and Laughing Kookaburra.

In the ponds by the playground are some more sculptures depicting birds.  I think they are meant to show Purple Swamphen, Buff-banded Rail and Black-fronted Dotterel, but i could be way out!!

There were some "real" birds here as well, Pacific Black Ducks, Purple Swamphen, and two Royal Spoonbills, that took flight as I took one pace to close to them.

Finally, i love the bark on some of our eucalypts.  I think this one is Spotted Gum.

(All photos taken with my phone).  

A beautiful spring morning

This morning dawned a beautiful spring day.    The plan was to go to the Patawalonga to do some plane spotting.    The Patawalonga is a small river that formerly drained the swamp that was reclaimed to build Adelaide Airport in the 1950s.  It is now used recreationally by joggers, cyclists and dog walkers amongst others.

My main target was to get some photos of The Malaysian Airlines Airbus A330 in the Manchester United livery.  

Shortly after it landed, I heard  a Caspian Tern calling.  This is the largest tern in the world, with a wingspan of up to 1 1/2 metres, and can be seen in Europe, Asia, North America, Africa and Australasia.   In the end I saw at least five flying up and down the Patawalonga.

I was interupted by the arrival of the Qatar Boeing 777 arriving from Melbourne.

Futher up the river I saw some Pelicans, so wandered up to take some photots.   As I approached them, a Great Egret flew in, followed by a Little Egret.

What a lovely morning, spent with my two favourite photo subjects, planes and birds.

Bay to Birdwood Vintage Car Run 2025

Today i went out to watch the Bay to Birdwood vintage car run.    It is held every year, and a variety of vehicles travel from Glenelg to the National Motor Museum at Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills.

Today there were trucks and buses, fire trucks and ambulances.

There were also some vintage motor cycles

And some unusual vehicles too.   A De Dion-Bouton and a 1909 Gregoire both built in France, and an Amphicar, built in Germany in the mid 1960's

There was a good mix of Model T Ford's in a variety of body styles and colours! (Not a black one to be seen)

Here are some more photos, too many to tag individually, but all interesting.  Cars from Australia, UK, USA and Europe. Cars from the 1900's through to the 1980's and beyond.

It was a great spectacle, and got me thinking I must make a return visit to the National Motor Museum sometime soon.