Barossa Birding

This morning I made a quick trip to the Barossa Valley to cycle part of the Barossa Trail and also take in some birdwatching at the same time.

First stop was Tanunda water treatment ponds, and as usual the ponds were full of very flighty Pink-eared Ducks.

Along the trail by St Hallets winery there were plenty of common birds, including a male Superb Fairy-wren (in eclipse plumage) and White-plumed Honeyeaters.

After cycling for a few kilometres, I headed back to the car.  Just a few metres from the car I heard an unfamiliar call, and picked out a couple of Crested Shrike-tits high up in a River Red Gum.  After a while, they fed in a lower tree, but frustratingly, never gave any unobstructed views.  

Barossa Airshow

This year's Barossa air show was held today.  The weather forecast was not brilliant, with showers forecast, but they either got it wrong or they dodged the Barossa! It was cloudy at first, but came good in the afternoon.  I went with a friend of mine, Mike Simms, and you can see his blog here.

First up was the model aircraft club, with a good mix of radio controlled gliders, training aircraft and even a Eurofighter jet.

 

There was an interesting mix of planes, both civil and military. civilian aircraft including this light sports aircraft an Aeroprakt Foxbat, the unique "push me, pull you" Cessna 337 skymaster, and an Airtractor AT802 water bomber from the CFS.

 

The local Gliding and Parachute clubs were also represented.

As always, Aerobatics was high on the list, with the RAAF Roulettes putting up a 5 ship team of Pilatus PC-9s instead of their usual 6.

Various Australian Aerobatic champions were here, including Paul Andronicou, in his Extra 300S, and Tony Blair, in his Rebel 300.  Chris Sperou also did his usual shows, though his Pitts "super stinker" is sporting a flashy new livery since I last saw it.

 

Military aircraft of yesteryear included the sedate DHC-1 Chipmunk, and DH-82 Tiger Moth.  Not so sedate was the immaculate T-28 Trojan. The Yak-52 and Nangchangs of Adelaide Warbirds  showed us some formation flying, before the Yak did a solo display.

 

 

 

Finally, a nice display by the 80% sized replica Spitfire (Which the commentator embarrassingly kept calling a model!), and a surprise visit from the CA-12 Boomerang.

Skywatch Friday

 

"Strawhenge", Barossa Valley, South Australia

Late summer in the Barossa Valley

I went for a drive around the Barossa Valley this morning.   There were plenty of birds around, but very few came within range of my camera.

This family of Dusky Woodswallows were happy enough to pose in the sun.

The Barossa is characterised by rolling hills, mainly vineyards, but also mixed arable .  Many of the farmers have left a big gum tree here and there which certainly adds some interest to the landscape.  They also have miles and miles of fences to maintain.   Talking of maintenance, the fence pic shows I need to do some maintenance on my camera!! 

Lots of the paddocks have bales in them, round ones, oblong ones, some left where they fall, and others neatly arranged.

It looks like the vineyards have had a pretty good year with the vines all heavy with fruit for this years vintage.

Barossa Air Show

We went to the Barossa Airshow today. It was held on a small private grass airstrip at Rowland Flat in the Barossa Valley, 50 Km north-east of Adelaide.

This Robinson R44 was giving joyflights, and also being used by photographers to get a birds-eye view of the crowd.

Highlight of the show was undoubtedly the Roulettes, the RAAF display team in their Pilatus PC-9/As. Once they finished their display, they were ferried in from the local RAAF base at Edinburgh on their Sikorsky S76 support helicopter to sign posters.

Next up were a variety of displays including gliders, the "Chipettes" in their DHC-1 Chipmunks, a 0.8 scale Spitfire and Yak 52.

These were followed by two impressive displays from a Eurofighter and F-16 Fighting Falcon

What was really impressive is that they were 1/15th scale radio controlled models!! WOW - real boys toys!!

Next up (or rather down) were a couple of parachutists from the local club.

As usual, former Australian aerobatic champion Chris Sperou put on an amazing display in his Pitts Super Stinker

The show closed with a display from the SAIA Marchetti S211 jet trainer and the T6 Harvard.