Today I made a quick visit to Pengilly Scrub on the Adelaide Plains about 20 minutes drive from home. Pengilly Scrub was devastated in the 2015 Pinery Bushfire. Whilst the understory is recovering well, the bigger trees still have a way to go.
The first bird to play was a Dusky Woodswallow, who perched about 15 metres away just above eye level.
There were plenty of Neophema parrots there, but they were very flighty, and I couldn't get very close to them. There were groups of both Blue-winged and Elegant Parrots, and some young ones. The third pic is a young Neophema, and from the amount of yellow on its face I think it is most likely a juvenile Blue-winged Parrot.
Whilst wandering I came across this very agitated Willie Wagtail, and it didn't take much fieldcraft to find his nest complete with a clutch of three eggs.
On the fence line nearby were plenty of Singing Bushlarks.
The other weekend, after hearing reports of an Australian Bustard on Hindmarsh Island, I decided to head south and see if it was still about.
As I crossed the bridge from Goolwa onto the island, it started to rain and there was a spectacular rainbow.
I criss-crossed the island and did not find the elusive bustard. There were a few flocks of Elegant Parrots, one of which was happy to perch close to a Nankeen Kestrel.
There were also good numbers of Cape Barren Geese, and a group of Straw-necked Ibis.
Heading back, I checked out the Murray Mouth, but it was high tide so no waders to speak of. As usual there was a Great Egret standing guard just south of the barrage.
On my way through the hills I called in to Laratinga Wetlands at Mount Barker. The White-faced Herons were very obliging, as were the Black-fronted Dotterels.
And, of course, a visit to Laratinga is never complete without an Australian Spotted Crake or two!!
