A busy Easter

This Easter I spent some time on the Fleurieu Peninsula and at the Kite Festival at Semaphore.

First point of call on the Fleurieu was one of my favourite stops, the Nangawooka Flora Reserve.  This is a lovely little spot just outside Victor Harbor.  Lots of trees and shrubs here, all labelled by the volunteers, and a small hide with a bird table and a small pool of water.  From the hide I saw New Holland Honeyeater, Little Wattlebird and White-naped Honeyeater as well as a Monarch butterfly.

Next was a 20km cycle ride along the Encounter Bay Cycleway.  There were lots of families out and about watching the surfers.

Final stop of the day was at Goolwa, where I went past the River Murray barrage to see what birds I could find.  The tide was in so they were pretty few and far between.   I did see some Welcome Swallows, Australian Pelican, Little Pied Cormorant and Purple Swamphen.

On Sunday it was trip to Semaphore for the Kite Festival.  Unfortunately, the wind was very light and the flyers struggled to get many kites up.   There were a few though.  While I was there the shark patrol and Westpac helicopter flew past.

Happy Easter everyone!

Victor Harbor and Goolwa

Today I went to Victor Harbor and Goolwa. After seeing some great video of the birds at Nangawooka Flora Reserve, it was high on my list of places to visit.

There was quite a bit of activity there, particularly amongst the parrots, with plenty of squabbling, and some nest hole prospecting going on.  Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Adelaide Rosella, Rainbow Lorikeet and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo were all snapped in quick succession.

The small birds were a bit less cooperative, but I did grab some shots of Brush Wattlebird and House Sparrow.

I then headed top Basham Beach to see if there were any whales there.  On the way, at a small roadside pool I saw White-faced Heron and some White-headed Stilts.  No whales at Basham, but I did catch up with some at the surfing beach at Middleton.

Next stop was Goolwa, but the tide was in so there were no waders to be seen. The usual Purple Swamphens, Dusky Moorhens and Willie Wagtails were around the picnic areas.

On the way out to the boat ramp, there was a family of Black-shouldered Kites in the Pines. and at the ramp were Little Pied Cormorants and a confiding Great Egret.

Heading back, I stopped of at the barrage, and tried my hand with some flight shots.  Firstly with a Caspian Tern and then with the Great Crested Terns.  I am so glad I am not shooting film! These are the best from around 200 frames.

Last shots of the day were of a much more sedate Australian Pelican...