Double rainbow over the River Murray looking towards Goolwa, South Australia
Friday, April 21, 2017
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Birding to the south of Adelaide
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!!
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.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Bald Hill Beach
I have been a lax with my blog posts. This one should have been done a couple of weeks back.
A birding friend of mine was at Bald Hill Beach, Near Port Wakefield, a few weeks ago, when a Little Curlew flew in. Little Curlew is a pretty rare vagrant in South Australia, and should be somewhere along the north coast of Western Australia or Northern Territory.
The following weekend I headed up to see if it was there. Bald Hill Beach is on Department of Defense land, but they allow visitors when the range is not Live.
As I drove in I passed this tank at the main gate.
It was a beautifully calm sunny autumn day and the tide was fully in.
After a while I was joined by some other birders, and we searched along the beach. No sign, but as the tide turned and we headed back, there it was. It must have flown in behind us.
After taking a few shots I decided to try digiscoping with my phone. Not a bad result.
On the way out I spotted a Bearded Dragon sunning itself on a post, and a Western Grey Kangaroo in a paddock.
The road out was full of raptors with either a Brown Falcon or a Nankeen Kestrel on every pole.
I came home the country way, along unsealed roads, stopping whenever I saw a bird. These are some of them. White-winged Fairy-wren, Welcome Swallow and Singing Bushlark.
A birding friend of mine was at Bald Hill Beach, Near Port Wakefield, a few weeks ago, when a Little Curlew flew in. Little Curlew is a pretty rare vagrant in South Australia, and should be somewhere along the north coast of Western Australia or Northern Territory.
The following weekend I headed up to see if it was there. Bald Hill Beach is on Department of Defense land, but they allow visitors when the range is not Live.
As I drove in I passed this tank at the main gate.
It was a beautifully calm sunny autumn day and the tide was fully in.
After a while I was joined by some other birders, and we searched along the beach. No sign, but as the tide turned and we headed back, there it was. It must have flown in behind us.
After taking a few shots I decided to try digiscoping with my phone. Not a bad result.
On the way out I spotted a Bearded Dragon sunning itself on a post, and a Western Grey Kangaroo in a paddock.
The road out was full of raptors with either a Brown Falcon or a Nankeen Kestrel on every pole.
I came home the country way, along unsealed roads, stopping whenever I saw a bird. These are some of them. White-winged Fairy-wren, Welcome Swallow and Singing Bushlark.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
