Barossa Airshow

This year's Barossa air show was held today.  The weather forecast was not brilliant, with showers forecast, but they either got it wrong or they dodged the Barossa! It was cloudy at first, but came good in the afternoon.  I went with a friend of mine, Mike Simms, and you can see his blog here.

First up was the model aircraft club, with a good mix of radio controlled gliders, training aircraft and even a Eurofighter jet.

 

There was an interesting mix of planes, both civil and military. civilian aircraft including this light sports aircraft an Aeroprakt Foxbat, the unique "push me, pull you" Cessna 337 skymaster, and an Airtractor AT802 water bomber from the CFS.

 

The local Gliding and Parachute clubs were also represented.

As always, Aerobatics was high on the list, with the RAAF Roulettes putting up a 5 ship team of Pilatus PC-9s instead of their usual 6.

Various Australian Aerobatic champions were here, including Paul Andronicou, in his Extra 300S, and Tony Blair, in his Rebel 300.  Chris Sperou also did his usual shows, though his Pitts "super stinker" is sporting a flashy new livery since I last saw it.

 

Military aircraft of yesteryear included the sedate DHC-1 Chipmunk, and DH-82 Tiger Moth.  Not so sedate was the immaculate T-28 Trojan. The Yak-52 and Nangchangs of Adelaide Warbirds  showed us some formation flying, before the Yak did a solo display.

 

 

 

Finally, a nice display by the 80% sized replica Spitfire (Which the commentator embarrassingly kept calling a model!), and a surprise visit from the CA-12 Boomerang.

Skywatch Friday

 

Sunset over American River, Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Kangaroo Island - final part

We headed north through the National Park towards Cape Borda, the north western tip of the island.  Cape Borda has the third oldest, and only square, lighthouse in South Australia.  Nearby is a tiny cemetery containing the graves of some of the Cape Borda light keepers and their relatives.

On the way back to Kingscote, we stopped for this Grey Shrike-thrush.

We arrived in Kingscote in time for the pelican feeding.  These are a couple of my favourite shots from this session.

Again, plenty of Pacific Gulls were keeping tabs on the fish.  This one is an immature bird.  With the improved light I managed a better shot of Black-faced cormorant as well.

Our final day started with an unwelcome visitor, a large Huntsman Spider.

We headed back to Seal Bay and took a beach tour to view the Australian Sealions.  The breeding season is about to start, and these two adolescent boys couldn't resist facing off against each other. As the guide said, "boys will be boys!"

Mothers were beginning to wean off their pups, whilst other dozed amiably in the dunes.

 

Then two big males decided to push their weight around so it was time to beat a hasty retreat, but not before we watched this mother calling for her pup. They were soon happily re-united.

As we left the beach, a large flock of Crested Terns landed. 

A last minute drive around Kingscote allowed a close shot of this Pied Cormorant, before we headed to Penneshaw for the short ferry ride home.

Kangaroo Island - Part 2

Saturday dawned dreary and wet, and only got worse as the day went on. We were heading to the south of the island with a visit to D'Estrees Bay, before heading to Seal Bay for lunch with friends. 

First stop was Pennington Bay, but with the weather already closing it, it was a very quick stop!

We spotted couple of distant Kangaroo Island Kangaroos, and an Osprey nest before lunch, but soon headed home for the day as the rain started in earnest.

 

Sunday was our long drive day, heading to the far west of KI.  Vivonne Bay is regularly voted South Australia's best beach, but today it was pretty windy and the rollers were crashing onto the beach.  It didn't seem to bother this beetle though.

On the way to Flinders Chase National Park we had to stop for this cute Tammar Wallaby. This tiny marsupial is only about the size and weight of a European Hare, and very common on the Island.

Around the car park we spotted this Koala and also lots of Grey Currawongs

Maryann wanted to re-visit the New Zealand Fur Seal colony at Admirals Arch.  This natural rock arch is at the south-western tip of KI.  There were plenty of seals about, some quite close to the boardwalk.

 

 

There were plenty of fights going on, and this Pacific Gull was happy to look on from the top of a rock stack, while others were enjoying soaring along the cliffs.