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.

Cleland Wildlife Park

I volunteer one day a week at Cleland Wildlife Park, and today was the volunteers AGM and Christmas Barbeque.  After business (and lunch) was over I took a stroll around the park with my camera.

This Red Kangaroo didn't seem too impressed having his photo taken, but the Koala was pretty chilled. (Aren't they always?) 

I went to the newly refurbished woodland aviary and got photos of a cute Zebra Finch, a Banded Lapwing and its week old chick, a beautiful Princess Parrot, and a Bar-shouldered Dove taking in the sunshine.

My next stop was going to be the forest aviary, and on the way I passed through the Emu and Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby enclosures, and almost tripped over a Southern Brown Bandicoot.

In the aviary I saw Australian King Parrot, Musk Lorikeet and Buff-banded Rail.

On the way back to the car, I heard, then saw a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, and got a close up of one of the Tasmanian Devils.

 

Cleland Wildlife Park early orchids

 On a Tuesday I volunteer at Cleland Wildlife Park. Today was a lovely winter's day, and this was my "office" view.

Whilst out an about in the park, we noticed that a few early orchids were starting to flower.  We saw Helmet Orchid, Shell Orchid, Red-banded Greenhood and Dwarf Greenhood. 

This little chap joined us for lunch. (Superb Fairy-wren)

Cleland Blitz and Cleland Wildlife Park

 Today I volunteered to take part in the Cleland Blitz, a working bee at Cleland Wildlife Park in the Adelaide Hills.  Recent storms had caused many trees to lose branches and there was a lot of debris around the park.  Around 80 volunteers picked up the debris and piled it up for later disposal by park staff.

My group was in the Kangaroo Island Kangaroo enclosure.  by the end of the morning we had made 4 large piles of debris, and the enclosure looked as good as new

After morning tea, this Kangaroo Island Kangaroo was sheltering by one of the piles and did not take kindly to being disturbed. When he realised we would give him his space he soon chilled out.

After lunch, the volunteers are free to wander around the park and see the animals and birds on display there.  There are other kangaroo species here including Potteroos, Red Kangaroos and Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies

As you know, i love my birds, and there are three aviaries to walk through here.  This gives you a chance to get up close to birds that are used to being close to humans, and allows for some exceptional photo opportunities.  Some of the waterbirds were White-headed Stilt, Plumed Whistling Duck, Glossy 
Ibis, Black Swan Australian Pelican and Magpie Goose

Amongst the smaller birds were White-browed Woodswallow, the endangered Regent Honeyeater, Zebra Finch and Tawny Frogmouth.  

There were also lots of pigeons, with Diamond and Bar-shouldered Doves very confiding.

As always, the Emu was having a bad hair day!

All in all a very enjoyable day!