Around Williamstown Part 2

12 Dec

Dear Reader:

A bit of history
Rose-breasted Cockatoo or Galah

The old, rusted plough sits in a field of waving wild oats. In one of the  massive eucalypts on the edge of the field a Galah watches me as I frame my image. A lovely start to my drive around Williamstown in the Adelaide Hills.

Historic town buildings

I am exploring the backroads around Williamstown then finishing up in the main street for coffee and cake at one of two equally fine bakeries. Although my focus is on the natural features of the area there is a printed heritage trail available from some of the shops.

Australian Raven and Crested Pigeon on an old building’s roof

Driving into the main road, Queen Street, I turn right into Margaret Street which skirts the town on its northern aspect. I pass a farmer ploughing a hayfield and an old, dilapidated dwelling. Australian Ravens and Magpies are foraging alongside the road and Welcome swallows hawk for insects disturbed by the tractor.

Masked Lapwing
Vines and local dam

There are vines and a sizeable dam to my left and a pair of Masked Lapwings are strutting along the fence loudly proclaiming their territory with their Kek Kek call.

Dairy farm

The road takes a sharp bend and its name changes to Fromm Street. A dairy farm sits on the corner and curious cows move up to the fence as I stop the car to take in this charming rural image. Fromm leads back onto the Lyndoch Road and into Queens Street where there are many old, colonial era buildings………to be continued.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed, Sulphur Created Cockatoos, Brown Snake, Raptor species probably a kite.

The camera used for this post is a Nikon Coolpix P900

This is an easy drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, caffes, parking and other facilities nearby.

Please pass on this blog title and or contact information (URL) to any person or organisation with an interest in taking walks and enjoying wildlife in SA.

Click on these links and see more South Australian stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articles as well as locating similar blogs on Feedspot’s top 20 Australian wildlife blogs

https://www.weekendnotes.com/adelaide/writer/452/

https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_wildlife_blogs/

Williamstown’s Wildlife…..The Drive

11 Nov
Koala observing photographer

Dear Reader:

A Koala suddenly appears on the edge of the road then runs across both lanes. I check my mirrors and pull off into a small recess. Walking back along the edge of the road, I scan the trees until I spot the Koala high in the branches looking down on me.

Classic grazing area with remnant eucalypts
Goat herd feeding near the reservoir

Further along the road, I stop again to photograph classic open pasture dotted with sizeable eucalypts.  A nearby fenced off paddock is home to a small herd of Angora Goats. As I stop to photograph them a lone Emu pops its head up from a ditch by the side of the road.

Surprise

I am driving to Williamstown to explore this historic little town and document the wildlife around the area. However, I am more than a little surprised to have encountered so many interesting photo-subjects before I even reach my destination.

Bridge over the reservoir

Crossing the bridge over the South Para Reservoir, I notice the water level is quite high, a good sign for the approaching summer. Nearby, the extensive vines, which are a more recent feature of this landscape, contrast starkly with the adjacent scrub-draped hillsides. Clearing bushland for vines is always a contentious issue in South Australia.

Vines, pasture and bushland

I am on the outskirts of Williamstown and decide it is time for a break at the local bakery before traversing some of the backroads and exploring other features of this historic township………..to be continued.

Too much choice

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen/heard but not photographed: Western grey Kangarooos, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian Magpie, Blackbirds, House Sparrows, Rabbits

The camera used for this post is a Nikon P900

This is an easy drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, barbecues, parking and other facilities in Williamstown. It is dog friendly.

Please pass on this blog title and or contact information (URL) to any person or organisation with an interest in taking walks and enjoying wildlife in SA.

Click on these links and see more South Australian stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articles as well as locating similar blogs on Feedspot’s top 20 Australian wildlife blogs

https://www.weekendnotes.com/adelaide/writer/452/

https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_wildlife_blogs/

Monarto Conservation Park….Wildlife and Wildflowers

24 Oct

Dear Reader:

A small group of medium sized, black, birds are foraging near the track which leads deeper into the Monarto Conservation Park. I zoom in on them using the full range of the Sony lens. Bright red eyes and white flashes on the wings identify them as White-winged Choughs.

White-winged Choughs
Park entrance

As I walk further into the park, it is hard not to notice the variety of flowering shrubs and wildflowers blooming in the understory. The blossoms are supporting a wide variety of wildlife including: native bees, honeyeaters, lizards and possums.

Erect Guinea-flower
Fringe Myrtle
White-browed Babbler

The birds in this area seem to be quite wary. I find myself shooting at long range and having to use a ‘sit quietly and wait’ approach. My first reasonable result is an image of a White-browed Babbler perched on a branch; a species not often seen around the Adelaide area.

Red Wattlebird
Thornbill species

There are eucalyptus blossoms high in the canopy and with a little careful stalking and patience I photograph a Red Wattlebird as well as the outline and faint detail of a Thornbill; both perched amongst the leaves.

White-tipped Brown Bee Fly

I am unable to spot any reptiles so I try to diversify my day’s captures by searching for some unusual insects. Flies, mosquitoes, hoverflies and some wasps are abundant. However, it is a rather unusual White-tipped Brown Bee Fly that catches my eye as it lands on a sandy clearing amongst the matt of twigs and leaves.

Native Pine and Eucalypt trees
Emerging Everlasting Daisy flower

My walk is almost over. I stroll down a wide track of Mallee and Native Pine searching for one last image. I’m hoping for a roo or some interesting stock in the adjacent paddocks. However, it is a strange domed flower head set amongst a collar of sharp white petals that intrigues me. Later, at home, I identify it as an Everlasting Daisy, with its central yellow mass of disc flowers about to be unravelled.     

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Striated Pardalote

The camera used for this post is a Sony RX10 Mark 3

This is an easy walk and drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors.

Please pass on this blog title and or contact information (URL) to any person or organisation with an interest in taking walks and enjoying wildlife in SA.

Click on these links and see more South Australian stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articles as well as locating similar blogs on Feedspot’s top 20 Australian wildlife blogs

https://www.weekendnotes.com/adelaide/writer/452/

https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_wildlife_blogs/

One Tree Hill Road Roundabout to Kersbrook Part 1

20 Sep

Dear Reader

After leaving the One Tree Hill Road roundabout for Kersbrook Road, I expect to drive a few kilometres before making my first roadside stop. Two Western Grey Kangaroos and a small herd of cattle put pay to that plan as they appear a mere hundred metres from my starting point.

Western Grey kangaroo and joey amongst the tall grasses
Murray Grey Cattle

Leaving the roos and cattle behind I start to climb the winding road towards Kersbrook stopping at a convenient roadside layby after 2.3Kms.

Roadside scrub

After clambering over an old fence, I catch a brief glimpse of a Grey Fantail and some small parrots in the thick scrub which makes them impossible to photograph. Luckily, a decorative, Common Brown Butterfly settles on a fallen branch providing a nice image.

Common Brown Butterfly

I fossick around in the undergrowth moving fallen branches and bark and unearth a Piedish Beetle and a large Garden Centipede. It seems that invertebrates might be the flavour of the day.

Piedish Beetle
Garden Centipede species

At the 3.7 Km mark Karwin Road leads off to the left with a sign for Minya Sanctuary. I park on the corner where there’s a small patch of scrub and a panoramic view of open farmland as well as an earthen dam for sheep and cattle.

Local dam for stock

Following a small path through Sheoak sapplings, I am lucky enough to encounter Honeybees feeding on Scabia flowers as well as a native Blue-banded Bee and a Mud-dauber Wasp.

Blue-banded Bee
Common Honey Bee

Although I have only covered around 4kms of the 11Km drive to Kersbrook it has been a revealing and fascinating look at this part of the foothills and I am sure that the next 7kms will be equally enthralling.

Mud-dauber Wasp

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Mistletoe Bird

The camera used for this post is a Nikon Coolpix P900

This is an easy drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors.

Please pass on this blog title and or contact information (URL) to any person or organisation with an interest in taking walks and enjoying wildlife in SA.

Click on these links and see more South Australian stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articles as well as locating similar blogs on Feedspot’s top 20 Australian wildlife blogs

https://www.weekendnotes.com/adelaide/writer/452/

https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_wildlife_blogs/

Kenneth Stirling Conservation Park SA Wotton’s Scrub

28 Aug

Dear Reader:

For once, my first interesting sighting is not an animal but a delicate orchid known as a Parson’s Bands because the two delicate petals resemble a clergyman’s white collar.

Parson’s Bands Orchid

I am walking along Wottons Track from the gate 3 entrance to the Kenneth Stirling series of Conservation Parks near Carey Gully and Uraidla. The drive up Greenhill Road towards the park has taken me through some beautiful hill country adorned by vines, native forest and orchards.

Autumn vines near Uraidla

It is early winter and I am not expecting much wildlife and it is quite a surprise to see an ornate Common Brown Butterfly amongst the leaf litter. With wings folded it is remarkably well camouflaged.

Effective camouflage
Female Common Brown (same animals as above image)

Late blooming flowers seem to be the order of the day and far easier to photograph. Hills Daisies and Common or Pink Heaths dot the lush green undergrowth.

Hills Daisy
Common Heath

There are the twittering calls of wrens in the bushes alongside the path but they are wary and hard to spot. Eventually a pair appear on the trail some fifty metres ahead of me. I steady myself and fire off a couple of frames trying to catch both male and female together. They are a perfect example of sexual dimorphism in birds.

Male and female Superb Fairy Wren
Superb Fairy Wren, Image shot at similar location by author

I have walked around three kilometres and spotted a few Grey Fantails, Adelaide Rosellas and Rainbow Lorikeets, all too far away to photograph.  

BGrey Fantail. Image shot at similar location by author

Near a fork in the trail leading to Fern Gully I can hear the rasping calls of Spotted Grass Frogs and assume there must be a creek or wetland area there. However, as this trail appears to have more steep sections my ‘not so young knees’ suggest it is time to turn back and head for home.

Spotted Marsh (or Grass) frog, Image from my collection

My drive home takes me back through Uraidla where I stop off the local caffe which incorporates a fine bakery and micro-brewery. Always a good way to round off any trip to this part of the Adelaide Hills

A bite to eat and a refreshing brew

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

The camera used for this post is a Sony RX10 M3

This is a moderate walk with some steep sections

Please pass on this blog title and or contact information (URL) to any person or organisation with an interest in taking walks and enjoying wildlife in SA.

Click on these links and see more South Australian stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articles as well as locating similar blogs on Feedspot’s top 20 Australian wildlife blogs

https://www.weekendnotes.com/adelaide/writer/452/

https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_wildlife_blogs/

Mildura’s Billabong Wildlife Part 1

11 Aug

Dear Reader:

A pair of Red-rumped Parrots perch on a dead branch at the edge of King’s Billabong near Mildura.

Male and Female Red-rumped Parrots

For several years I have travelled to Mildura, on the River Murray, for our annual houseboat trip. Mildura is and a sizeable country centre of around 60,000 people and is an hour’s drive from the SA border and four and half from Adelaide.

Parked on the river banks

As the afternoon light begins to fade, I catch sight of a black and white bird perched on a branch. I assume it is a Magpie or Mudlark but closer examination through the telephoto lens reveals a Pied Butcherbird.

Pied Butcherbird… note the hooked beak

Although there is water in the centre of the billabong, channels around the edge are dry due to a long hot summer with little rain.

The edge of the billabong channel

In a patch of scrub by one of these channels I notice a small group of Crimson Rosellas feeding on some grasses and a Whistling Kite high above in the branches.

Crimson Rosella feeding on grass seeds in the dry channel

A walking trail follows one dried out arm of the billabong and the trees along the trail are a haven for spiders and ants. Large Golden Orb spiders are strung between branches and quite large holes lead into Bulldog Ant colonies.

Female Golden Orb spider

Sunset is not far off and it is time to make my way back to the boat which is moored on the Murray. I take a final walk along the banks of the billabong and spot a beautiful Great Egret perched on a branch while it scans for prey.

Great Egret

My final encounter is quite unexpected. Stepping aboard, I can just make out the V shaped ripples indicative of an Australian Water Rat as it swims past the boat with the faint pink glow of a Murray River sunset reflected on the water.

Rakali or Australian Water Rat

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not included: Rainbow Lorikeet, Mudlark, Great Cormorant Skimmer, Little Raven, Black Ducks, Grey Kangaroo, Australian Pelican, Rosella species, Australian Magpie 

The camera used for this post is a Nikon P900

This is an easy flat walk which is quite suitable for families and seniors. However, in wet weather the roads in to the billabong can be difficult for 2WD vehicles.

Please pass on this blog title and or contact information (URL) to any person or organisation with an interest in taking walks and enjoying wildlife in SA.

Click on these links and see more South Australian stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articles as well as locating similar blogs on Feedspot’s top 20 Australian wildlife blogs

https://www.weekendnotes.com/adelaide/writer/452/

https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_wildlife_blogs/

Normanville’s Big Gorge Walk Part 2

24 Jul

Dear Reader:

(30/6/25,12.05, Clear sky and around 18, light wind)

Numerous aged River Red Gums line the watercourse. I remove a few strips of bark to investigate the different animals that shelter there. A Marbled Gecko scuttles out and freezes relying on its camouflage to escape detection.

Marbled Gecko and Pie Dish Beetles

In part 1 of this story (June 7th Post) I had just passed the ruins and was nearing the end of this short but fascinating trail. I will pick up from there and relate the walk to the end of the trail and back by referring to my field notes. Conditions were recorded on my Apple watch.

End of the walk with information about Colonel Light’s exploration of the area

(30/6/25,12.13, Clear sky and around 18, light wind)

Amongst a tangle of branches I can just make out the shape of a large dark bird. I zoom in and pick up the white fringes to its tail and prominent yellow eye…A Grey Currawong.

Grey Currawong

(30/6/25,12.14, Clear sky and around 19, light wind)

Scanning further into the trees, I pick up the distinctive red breast and blue wings of an Adelaide Rosella. The rosella is not the only parrot in the area. There are small groups of Short-beaked Corellas in the canopy and an occasional Galah flying past.

Adelaide Rosella
Short-beaked Corellas

(30/6/25,12.25 Clear sky and around 18, light wind)

I leave the trail and walk closer to the creek and try to capture essence of this beautiful Gorge with a couple of scenic images.

Yankallila River
Surrounding hillsides with sheep grazing

(30/6/25,12.42 Clear sky and around 18, light wind)

I am almost back at the trailhead when I notice a small group of Silvereyes in a bush. They are probably the same birds I photographed earlier (7th June post). To my surprise, considering the season, I notice a Monarch Butterfly perched on a small branch near the track.

Late season Monarch Butterfly

(30/6/25,12.55 Clear sky and around 20℃, light wind)

I reach the Norm Garnet Park, pack up my gear and head back to the city. I have been surprised by the lack of Western grey Kangaroos, as I know they are prolific in this area. However, the gods of wildlife photography decide to rectify the problem and I come across a dozen or so ‘roos’ grazing in a fenced paddock, just a few kilometres shy of Normanville.  

Western Grey Kangaroos grazing on farmland

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals see, heard but not photographed

The camera used for this post is a

This is an easy walk/drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, barbecues, parking and other facilities nearby. It is dog friendly.

Please pass on this blog title and or contact information (URL) to any person or organisation with an interest in taking walks and enjoying wildlife in SA.

Click on these links and see more South Australian stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articles as well as locating similar blogs on Feedspot’s top 20 Australian wildlife blogs

https://www.weekendnotes.com/adelaide/writer/452/

https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_wildlife_blogs/

Just Cruising 2 King’s Billabong to Mildura

6 Jul

Dear Reader:

As we back the houseboat into the current and point it downstream a Snakebird or Anhinga perches gracefully on an overhanging branch, the perfect farewell to King’s Billabong.

Snake-bird or Anhinga

In the next hour, I photograph numerous scenes and animals from my vantage point on the upper deck. None of the images are quite as clear as the initial shot as the boat is moving, the engines vibrating, and the riverbanks are a between 50-100 metres away.

Classic red earth riverbank scenery

Because birds fly, it is a challenging task to capture images of them in flight. Dainty swallows hunt insects in the boat’s wake and Whistling Kites circle high in the air using their extraordinary vision to locate prey.

Welcome Swallows resting on the river bank
Welcome Swallows hunting in the houseboat wake
Whistling Kite hunting above the river

Because of their size, shape and slow flight pattern, Australian Pelicans are one of my favourite waterbirds to photograph. Whether hunting, flying, landing or taking off, they are both endearing and elegant.

Australian Pelican in flight
Ancient tree and Pelican composition

The river is used by numerous types of craft which tell a variety of stories. There are old barges from the time when the river was a major transport route. Paddle-teamers, both new and old, rekindle the more romantic days of river travel. Tour boats, houseboats , ski and fishing boats are the most common vessels of the modern era.  

Classic paddle-steamer still in use
Derelict barge

It is a relatively short trip back. As we bring the houseboat into the wharf at Mildura, I notice a Great Cormorant watching us from the bank as a flotilla of Maned Ducks slide past on the port side. Settled snuggly into our mooring I watch a Rakali or Australian Water Rat foraging amongst lily pads: a nice way to finish the week.

Rakali foraging amongst lily pads

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

The camera used for this post is a Nikon P900

This is an easy excursion which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, barbecues, parking and other facilities nearby. River bank areas that are not part of national park are dog friendly.

Please pass on this blog title and or contact information (URL) to any person or organisation with an interest in taking walks and enjoying wildlife in SA.

Click on these links and see more South Australian stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articles as well as locating similar blogs on Feedspot’s top 20 Australian wildlife blogs

https://www.weekendnotes.com/adelaide/writer/452/

https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_wildlife_blogs/

Normanville’s Big Gorge Walk…….part 1

17 Jun

Dear Reader:

Tiny birds are feeding in the canopy of a massive Red River Gum on the edge of the river bed. Scanning the area with the telephoto of my Nikon P900, I spot a diminutive Thornbill.

Thornbill species

Garnet Kelly Park on the southern side of Normanville is the start of the Great Gorge Walk. This charming track of around 3Kms return follows a path walked by explorers and traversed by later settlers.

Park entrance near the old bridge
Alongside the river

River Red Gums, Sheoaks and Acacia bushes are part of a complex and varied flora.

Sheoaks on hillside, private property bordering the walk

Information placards at the start of the walk and along its route tell the story of the bridge, pathway and the local soldier which the park is named after.

One of numerous informative signs on the walk and in the park

Small birds seem to be prolific in the first kilometre of the walk and I manage to photograph Fairy Wrens, Silvereyes and White-browed Finches. Most of the shots are taken at distance and emphasise the need for a good telephoto lens in this area.

Silvereye feeding on reed-like grasses near a pool in the river bed

I notice small groups of Sulphur-crested and Rose-breasted (Galahs) Cockatoos flying overhead. A few land to feed on the ground while others perch in nearby trees. They advertise their presence with a screeching, almost prehistoric, call.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

The weather is too cold for reptiles and I see only a few rather tattered looking butterflies. However, there are sheep with lambs in tow, on the hillsides. A closer look on one ridge reveals a lone Western Grey Kangaroo grazing alongside a couple of sheep.

Hilltop grazers

Glancing at the distance reading on my Apple watch, I realise I am almost at the half way (1.5 Km) point of this walk. Though the wildlife and scenery have been both interesting and varied, my writer’s mind wants a little more variation for an article. It comes in the form of an old ruin.

Remains of a once substantial building
Historical placard near the ruins

The exact nature of the ruin is a little unclear and an information plaque provides some different alternatives. Nevertheless, this old structure and its history provides yet another reason to take this truly beautiful walk on the Fleurieu Peninsular………….to be continued.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

The camera used for this post is a Nikon P900

This is an easy walk which is quite suitable for families and seniors, Dogs must be kept on a lead.

Please pass on this blog title and or contact information (URL) to any person or organisation with an interest in taking walks and enjoying wildlife in SA.

Click on these links and see more South Australian stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articles as well as locating similar blogs on Feedspot’s top 20 Australian wildlife blogs

https://www.weekendnotes.com/adelaide/writer/452/

https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_wildlife_blogs/

Murray River Cruising part 1

28 May

Dear Reader:

As we release the mooring ropes and pull away from the dock, I notice an Australasian Darter or Anhinga, stretching its neck out to mimic the branch it is perched on.

Anhinga or Australian Darter or Snake Bird

I am taking my annual houseboat trip on the Murray River from Mildura which is just over the South Australian border in Victoria. The trip from Adelaide takes around four hours and on this occasion I was lucky enough to sight emus on several occasions.

A wheat field of Emus

While we are cruising at a leisurely 6 kph I am scanning the banks for interesting images that capture different aspects the river.

Entrance to a billabong

A wide variety of boats use the river, ranging from rebuilt paddle steamers to ski-boats, fishing craft, canoes and houseboats. Most of the ‘boaties’ give a casual wave as we pass them.

Reproduction of a classic Murray Paddlesteamer design
Fisher working the snags near the bank

Numerous bird species inhabit the Murray’s banks, billabongs, reed beds and open water. I spot a Pied Cormorant perched in a long dead tree and quickly focus before the moment is lost.

Pied Cormorant

We search for a place to tie up and carefully manoeuvre the boat into the shallows then secure the ropes to large trees on the bank. There is little current near the bank and I watch dragonflies and damselflies trace their erratic flight paths over the water.

Red and Blue Damsel (Xanthagrion erythroneurm)

After disembarking, I walk quietly through the scrub then sit on a fallen log to search the leaf litter and fallen branches for the small creatures inhabiting this understory environment.

Fence or Snake-eyed Skink found under bark and in leaf litter and fallen branches

As evening approaches I make my way back to the boat photographing a pair of Black Swans under the mooring ropes as I climb aboard. They are probably looking for scraps from houseboaters. However attractive, feeding native birds is not a good idea as many processed foods can be damaging to their health.

Black Swans by the houseboat

My day cruising the river is done and I am rewarded with the most appropriate of endings; a spectacular sunset over the river.  

Murray River sunset

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

The camera used for this post is a Nikon Coolpix P900

This is challenging but wonderful experience which is quite suitable for families.

Please pass on this blog title and or contact information (URL) to any person or organisation with an interest in taking walks and enjoying wildlife in SA.

Click on these links and see more South Australian stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articles as well as locating similar blogs on Feedspot’s top 20 Australian wildlife blogs

https://www.weekendnotes.com/adelaide/writer/452/

https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_wildlife_blogs/