Cleland Wildlife Park - working bee part 2

From the woodland aviary I headed across to the lake. the lake holds a mix of wild and captive birds. On the grass by the lake were a couple of Cape Barren Geese, and as usual the log in the lake held its usual Pelican. Moving around the lake towards the swamp aviary, a passed a pair of Magpie Geese. Not the most attractive goose in the world!! In the swamp aviary, the only birds out in the rain were White-headed Stint's and Yellow-billed Spoonbills. The spoonbills are on eggs and if successful it will be the first time they have bred here. Walking back to the visitor centre I spotted a pair of Superb Fairy-wrens. He soon hopped out onto the path, investigating crumbs, but she was far more circumspect, and waited until I had moved off before joining him. I passed the Lace Monitor enclosure, and even though it was cold, wet and windy, he was happily snoozing in the top of a dead tree. Checking the open areas next to the car-park, and the verges on the way out I spotted a few flowers, and managed to identify all of the ones I photographed. The first is called Candles Next was a Waxlip Orchid Red Parrot Pea Native Primrose (which is not a primrose, but a goodenia) Finally I found a group of about a dozen King Spider Orchids (the same species as I saw last week in Berlair)

Cleland Wildlife Park - working bee part 1

This morning I was on a working bee at Cleland Wildlife Park. Around 100 volunteers turned up to weed and mulch various areas in the park. The weather forecast was not good, and proved to be accurate as showers turned to drizzle, then to rain. My group was working on the edge of the lake, and as we walked round to start we saw a pair of Chestnut Teal, and Rajah Shelduck. We were also close to the Koala display, and this chap looked most disgruntled. He was cold, wet, AND we were disturbing him! I noticed a lovely Grevillea by the path and took a couple of shots. The first showing the flower almost open, and the second fully open. After we finished working, we were treated to a sausage sizzle and a talk by the education officer. He showed us a Squirrel Glider, (a tiny possum), a couple of sleepy reptiles and a lovely Black-breasted Buzzard. We were then free to wander around the park, so I headed off on my usual route through the open areas and the aviaries. One of the first wild birds I noticed was a Common Bronzewing dipping into the Emu food, whilst nearby were some New-holland Honeyeaters. A rustle in the bushes gave away this Bettong, a rat-like marsupial. The park is in great shape with flowers everywhere. I don't know what these are, but the contrasting colours caught my attention. In the woodland aviary, this Dusky Woodswallow was the only co-operative bird. There are a number of Tree Ferns the aviary, and this one was just throwing out a new stem. Outside is a small feeding station where you regularly get to see Red-browed Finches. Part 2 to follow......

Skywatch Friday

Waiting for my bus, I noticed the moon creeping out from behind a gum tree.

(Taken with my point and shoot)

Belair NP - more orchids

I was off work today, so Maryann and I took a picnic up to Belair National Park in the Adelaide Hills. The first thing we saw was a family of Maned Ducks also on a family outing.

Next stop was the same area of the park I visited earlier in the month for orchids. The area was completely different with hardly any of the flowers we saw last time still in bloom. I was hoping to see some Spider Orchids, and after searching for a while I found one. I also saw Hand Flower Milk Maids Euphorbia and Rabbit Ears And, of course, some other flowers I have not been able to identify.

Mary MacKillop and St Francis Xavier Church

Tomorrow, Australia's first saint will be canonised in the Vatican City. Mary MacKillop spent a lot of her time in Adelaide, and has close connections with the Catholic Cathedral church of St. Francis Xavier. Tomorrow there will be many celebrations in Adelaide, and the church and Victoria Square will be packed with over a thousand pilgrims, so today, Maryann and I decided to go and take a look at the church. Outside is a lovely statue of Mary and a two children On the grass outside the cathedral was a pair of Red-rumped Parrots, this is the first time I have seen them in the city.