Gluepot - Part 3

On the final morning, I was up again as the sun was rising. The clouds made for a stunning sunrise. I was heading back to the same area of Mallee for another try at the Red-lored Whistler. As I crossed the burnt area, I could hear the Whistler calling from just inside the pristine habitat. I slowly stalked the bird, but it always kept a bush or two ahead of me. Then another joined in. One calling left and the other from the right. I had great views of both birds, but only mediocre results with the camera. After packing up my tent, I slowly headed out of the reserve, stopping where I saw or heard birds. At one spot I stopped as a Chestnut Quail-thrush crossed in front of me, only to then hear a Pied Honeyeater calling. There were two feeding high up in a gum tree. This highly cropped shot is the best I could get of this irruptive species. My last stop was at another of the hides. Yesterday I waited here for 20 minutes and saw nothing. Today was just as different. There were a few birds in the trees, and one by one they came forward for water. First, a couple of Southern Whitefaces, and a few Weebills - our smallest thornbill. Then, a flash of blue, a male Splendid Fairywren with a female in close company. Then there was a lull, and just as I was going to leave, a Red-capped Robin stopped in the top of the tree. Soon followed by a group of Inland Thornbills foraging for insects. A great end to a great trip.

Mallee Birds

In my last post I mentioned some of the other birds I heard and saw while photographing the Mallee Emu-wren at Hattah-Kulkyne National Park. The habitat there is Mallee which is characterised by smallish multi-trunked eucalypts usually growing to less than 6m (20ft) with an understory of scrub and/or spinifex. This habitat is prone to bush fires, and indeed many plant species require a bush fire to promote regeneration. I have birded fairly regularly in mallee in both Victoria and South Australia. My favourite areas are Brookfield Conservation Park and the Birds Australia Reserve at Gluepot both in the Riverland in South Australia. And so to the birds: Firstly a male and female Chestnut Quail-thrush.

Southern Scrub-robin and Striped Honeyeater

Mallee Ringneck and a female Mulga Parrot

And finally, a couple of real special birds. Malleefowl and the endangered Red-lored Whistler

One of these photos is a "cheat", taken in captivity at Cleland Wildlife Park in the Adelaide Hills........any idea which?