Kangaroo Island - Part 2 - Seal Bay

From Flinders Chase we headed back along the south coast road towards Seal Bay. As we were leaving Flinders Chase, we saw this Purple-gaped Honeyeater drinking from a dripping rainwater tank. The only view was through a fence so unfortunately you can't see all of this gorgeous honeyeater. Further along the road we stopped to allow this Echidna (Spiny Anteater) to cross the road. After ushering it off the road, I grabbed my camera and accidentally switched it to manual. I only noticed later so the photos are not great. This is the best of a bad lot. Seal Bay Conservation Park is home to a colony of Australian Sealions. We took a guided tour down on to the beach and were able to get really close views of the sealions. This young seal had been rolling in the sand before taking a stroll down the beach and washing itself off.

Kangaroo Island - Part 1 - Admirals Arch

When we arrived on Kangaroo Island (known locally as KI) we drove across to the far end and Flinders Chase National Park. The park was devastated by the bushfires in December 2007 when approximately 95% of the park was burned. We stopped at a viewpoint that looks over a wide area of the park. First port of call was Admirals Arch, a huge natural rock arch that is home to a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals. From here we went a few kilometres south to Remarkable Rocks, a collection of huge granite stones weather into amazing shapes by the wind and rain.

Kangaroo Island

This weekend I am off to Kangaroo Island for a few days with some good friends visiting me from Scotland. The posts may not be up until the middle of next week, so here are a few photos from previous trips to this little part of paradise to whet the appetite!!

Walking the Sandbar

Saturday was a lovely early summers day, with clear blue skies and a warm breeze. When the tide is particularly low, a sandbar shows off the main beach at Whyalla. Saturday was such a day so I took a walk out onto the sandbar for a couple of hours to see what I could find. I was hoping to see some waders (shorebirds) and maybe some Blue Swimmer Crabs. The walk out varies from dry sand to water to mid calf level, and always includes shoals of small fish darting here and there. I stood still and scanned back and forth until I finally saw one before it had seen me!! I think they may be a fish called Flathead. As i got onto the sandbar, I saw a small group of gulls and terns. Unfortunately there is nowhere to hide out there so it was impossible to get very close. This Caspian Tern kept moving away, so this cropped image is the best of a bad lot!! These courting Crested Terns were a little less timid (or maybe just more pre-occupied?) so I could get a little closer to them. There were also a few terns flying in and out all of the time. The beach is also popular with kiteboarders due to the vast expanse of shallow water. No Waders or crabs, but on the walk back to the beach, an immature Pacific Gull.

Picnic at Secret Rocks

Today I had a day off and spent it with Maryann in Whyalla. I left Adelaide a bit later than usual, and consequently got to see a sunset over the Spencer Gulf. There was either a lot of dust in the air, or perhaps a bush fire as the sunset was pretty hazy, It gave a lovely effect through the gum trees though. As it was a lovely day, we decided to have a picnic at Secret Rocks, a small conservation park about an hour from Whyalla heading west into northern Eyre Peninsular. It is along a typical long straight outback road. Almost as soon as we were on the dirt road, I spotted something on an old fencepost. It was a Bearded Dragon, and was non too happy at me disturbing his sun bathing!! He did stay put though allowing me to take a few photos. Secret Rocks is surrounded by old growth Mallee, a lovely habitat comprising stunted eucalypts, saltbush, and spinifex. We picniced under an old gum tree, and then took a short walk looking at the interesting lichen covered rocks, and plants eeking out an existence in this arid habitat. On the way back I stopped at an area full of spinifex, and found this odd looking chimney structure. I assume it was made by ants of some sort.

Wet and wild weekend

Following our record breaking heatwave, November went out with a bang. This is a very short post showing the same jetty and beach that the terns were taken on last week. You can clearly seen the storm damage on the jetty. Even the Silver Gulls were having trouble standing up!! This is a fresh cuttlefish bone. It has not been bleached white by the sun. The beach was littered with them.

Belair National Park

This evening, Maryann and I spent some time at Belair National Park. Belair is only a short 20 minute drive from Adelaide City Centre and is the former estate of the Governor General. It is a combination of native bush, open parkland and has an abundance of sporting and barbecue facilities. I had my compact camera with me, so I decided to take a few photos while we were here. Our first stop was at Playford Lake, the only standing water in the park. There were a few ducks here, and also a couple of Noisy Miners. This is a honeyeater, and not related to the mynahs of Asia. We then took a slow drive along the valley, pausing first for this striking gum tree, and then for a big old Koala slowly making his way up another eucalypt. The far end of the valley is open parkland, and usually a few parrots can be found along the way. Eastern Rosellas are very timid, and I have still to get a decent photo of one. Galahs on the other hand are happy to stay put as long as you don't get too close. You can differentiate the male and female here. (I gave a clue in an earlier post). As we headed home, I spotted this pretty big termite mound, and also saw a couple of Grey Currawongs dart accross the road. (The photo is from an earlier visit)