Mount Compass School Swamp Part 2

11 Jun

Dear Reader:

Brown Goshawk (final ID)

A raptor flies low across the swamp, landing carefully amongst the branches of a Tea Tree. It scans the area quickly then takes off again. I capture a quick image. Review it briefly: realising that I must do a little more research to make an accurate identification.

Boardwalk merging into a nearby pine plantation

I am revisiting the Compass School Swamp and carefully moving along the boardwalks in search of more animals living in this unique environment.

New fronds emerging

The intense colour of the ferns coupled with the contrasting shades of Tea Trees and grasses create truly beautiful images as well as a fertile food source for numerous animals in this important Fleurieu swamp.    

Superb Fairy Wren
Red-browed Finches

Where branches protrude from the sea of ferns, small birds perch and call to announce territory and as a sighting point to hunt for flying insects. On this walk I spot Red-browed Finches, Superb Fairy Wrens and New Holland Honeyeaters.

European Goldfinch shot at extreme distance

Further along the boardwalk, I notice a brightly coloured bird atop a dead branch. At first, I think it is a honeyeater species,  but closer examination through the powerful telephoto of my Nikon P900, reveals a European Goldfinch. An introduced species.

Southern Grass Skink

As noted in my last article, Southern Grass Skinks often bask on the path  and there are Kangaroos and livestock in the adjacent fields as well as small groups of Sulphur Crested and Red-tailed Black cockatoos flying overhead.

John Lacey (flue season) studio
Part of gallery display

Today, my final destination is not the bakery nor a nearby hotel for lunch; however tempting that might be. Instead, I have arranged to visit the studio and gallery of a local artist, John Lacey, who lives on the outskirts of the town. Much of his work features the Fleurieu Peninsula and I know he sometimes uses photography as an initial part of his artistic process.

Silvereye

On leaving his studio, I make one final image of a Silvereye perched in the dormant branches of a tree in John’s yard. A lovely way to finish my day at Mount Compass.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed or mentioned: Cattle, sheep, Magpies, Mudlark

The camera used for this post is a Nikon Coolpix P900

This is an easy walk and drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with parking 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/

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Mount Compass’s Unique, Little Swamp…..Part 1

25 May
Scorpionfly

Dear Reader:

At first, I think it is a Dragonfly, but the wings look more slender and the legs longer. It seems that I have photographed my first Scorpionfly.

The Mount Compass School Swamp is one of several, remaining and rare, freshwater swamps on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Unlike many other wetlands they do not dry out over the summer months These swamps are a refuge for numerous threatened species of plants and animals.

Looking back along a section of the boardwalk towards the school
Numerous interpretive signs along the boardwalk explain the importance of swamps, their care and the animals and plants found in this environment.

I am strolling along a boardwalk established by the local area school. It meanders through thick growths of Coral Fern, Tea-tree and native grasses.

Silvereye

There are finches, wrens and other small birds continuously calling and flitting between the verdant layer of ferns and low shrubs. They are hard to photograph but eventually I manage to capture a few images of  Silvereyes and Superb Fairy Wrens.

Soldier Beetle species

As I scan the flowering Tea Tree bushes for smaller animals, I notice a small striped beetle crawling along a branch. Later, using ‘I Naturalist’, I discover that it is species of Soldier Beetle.

Southern Grass Skink

Insects are not the only small inhabitants of this swamp. Small lizards scamper across the boardwalk at regular intervals. Finally, one stops long enough for a quick-fire image. I think they are Water Skinks but later research shows they are Southern Grass Skinks which also like boggy ground.

Western Grey Kangaroo

The pastureland around the swamp is an ideal environment for other less fragile species and near the enclosing fenceline I spot a group of Western Grey Kangaroos, some Straw-necked Ibises and a flock of Galahs.

Time for a break

I have spent a couple of hours exploring the swamp and it is time to head back to the adjacent township of Mount Compass for coffee and a bakery delight.  

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed Dragonflies, Mosquitoes, Blackbird, Magpies

The camera used for this post is a Nikon Coolpix P900

This is an easy walk which is quite suitable for families and seniors with, 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/

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Karkoo: Cockatoos and Cocktails

28 Apr

Dear Reader

Galahs eating Plane Tree fruits

As I park car in the shade of some Plane trees, I notice a small group of Rose-breasted Cockatoos (Galahs) feeding on the fruits. They are manipulating them with their claw-like feet to get at the seeds inside.

Old brewery buildings in the background

I am spending the morning at Karkoo Plant Nursery in the hills’ town of Oakbank, about a half hour drive from Adelaide’s CBD. This charming nursery has been developed around the old Johnston Brewery. It is a blend of indoor and outdoor plants, clothing and gifts as well as old buildings and artefacts complete with informative signage.    

Common Honey Bee on a Butterfly Bush
Blue-banded Bee on Salvia

Nurseries are often great places to find insects, even at this time of year. Honeybees are feeding on many different blossoms. It takes a while but eventually I discover a Blue-banded Bee, a native species, feeding on a Salvia.

Australian Magpie
Superb fairy Wren often called a Blue Wren

Near front of the nursery there is some old farm machinery. A Magpie lands on the woodwork providing a characteristically Australian image. Several Sperb Fairy Wrens are flitting around the grassy paddock behind the Magpie.

Magpie nest

As the Magpie flies into a nearby Eucalyptus Tree another bird flies out. I scan the tree carefully with the powerful lens of the Nikon P900 and quickly locate a nest. I focus tightly on the nest and wait. Eventually a head pops over the scruffy bundle of twigs.

Adelaide Rosella

In a nearby tree an Adelaide Rosella perches on a dead branch. These beautiful birds are a regional version of the Crimson Rosella.  

Lunch and a drink

It is time for a bite to eat in the rustic-styled dining area and there is a comprehensive menu ranging from light snacks to gourmet lunches complemented with a wide selection of beverages including wines, ciders, beer and cocktails.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, treecreeper species, small skink

The camera used for this post is a Nikon Coolpix P900

This is an easy drive and walk which is quite suitable for families and seniors with, restaurant, gift shop, public toilets, parking and other facilities on site. 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/

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Springton’s Wildlife Wonders part 2

12 Apr

Continued from Blog 254

Magpies grouped in a tree

Dear Reader….

……Looking further across the field I notice a long dead tree with a small flock of Australian Magpies perched along a skeletal branch. A rather picturesque and haunting image.

I use the GPS for location confirmation when writing notes and taking photographs

Climbing back into my car I scan the GPS for the next intersecting road which happens to be French’s Road. This in turn leads on to Potts Hill Road where there is a green section indicating a park, wetland or other natural feature.

Typical farm dam in the Adelaide Hills

On the way to the junction, I pass a small dam typical of those found on hills’ properties. Using the extreme range of my P900 I recognise Maned Ducks, Eurasian Coots and a single Hoary-headed Grebe on the water.

Angus variety of cattle
A roadside bouquet

For the next kilometre the road has wild roses growing on the verge while curious Angus Cattle meander towards the fence-line. I slow to a stop and enjoy their inquisitive company.

Adelaide Rosella a variety of Crimson Rosella
Unexpected change of environment

The green outline on the map marks a dip in the road where a creek cuts through the pasture creating a quite different environment characterised by dense scrub and bracken. The sound of wrens and other small birds fills the air and several Adelaide Rosellas land in one of the larger eucalypts.

Farmed Red Deer, they are also an introduced pest species

My final stop on this exploratory drive around the Springton area yields the most interesting images of the day. In a high-fenced paddock, a herd of Red Deer sit quietly in the long grass. Introduced wildlife, they are bred for venison and the velvet on the stags’ antlers.

Family grouping of Western Grey Kangaroos, the male is not necessarily the parent animal

In stark contrast, a trio of Western Grey Kangaroos; male, female and half-grown joey, huddle together as I move within camera range. Large herbivorous grazers they occupy the same Australian ecological niche that deer inhabit in Europe, Asia and North America. A nice biological footnote to end my day around Springton.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other significant animals seen, heard but not photographed: Kestrel, Brown Snake

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, barbecues, parking and other facilities in Springton. It is dog friendly unless a national or conservation park is signposted.

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/

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Mount Pleasant ….. A Natural Experience ….. Part 1

12 Apr
Grey Fantail, probably a juvenile

Dear Reader:

There is a solitary Grey Fantail hunting alongside the bridge. It perches on a branch then makes quick aerial sorties to catch insects in mid-air.

Bridge over the Torrens on Talunga Road

I am at the first bridge in Mount Pleasant, on Talunga Park Road, after entering the town on the B10 from Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills. This delightful little town sits near the source of the River Torrens and reflects colonial history as well as lovely, rural scenery. A Saturday farmers’ market is yet another attraction.

Adelaide Rosella

Climbing down a path next to the bridge, I reach a long pool. I sit on the bank and scan several large River Gums. An Adelaide Rosella lands in one and calls to its mate somewhere further down the river. After a few minutes the parrot flies down to a fenced riverside property to feed in some bushes. Close enough for a hurried, shady shot.

Strange little shed

I drive a little further along the road and stop by the entrance to a park and follow a dirt pathway. There are tennis courts, a bowling green, club houses and a strange little shed which advertises the Men’s Shed project.

Cockatoos in flight

Walking along the track, I spot a small group of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos feeding by a fenceline. They are nervous and I set the camera to Sports Mode, to use my preset shutter speed of 1/1250th of a second. Birds in flight are always an interesting and challenging target.

Mosaic styled couch for reflection

The path skirts the facilities then turns right, past a children’s playground, reflection couch ending at another bridge leading to a small park. The cockatoos have flown off and squawked loudly enough to alert all other birds in the area to my presence.

Painted Lady butterfly

I decide to focus on smaller animals and search the leaf litter and fallen branches for insects, skinks and spiders. I am not disappointed as I photograph three butterflies belonging to different families: a Cabbage White, small blue grey of unknown species and a Painted Lady.

Blue/grey butterfly of unknown species

I decide to cross the little footbridge and continue to investigate the town and river from the other side…to be continued in my next post…….

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Superb Fairy Wren, Silvereyes, dragonflies

The camera used for this post is a Nikon Coolpix P900

This is an easy walk and 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/

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Springton’s Wildlife Wonders

10 Mar

Dear Reader:

Bearded Dragon taking a look around, probably sussing out his territory (Credit Sandra Gray)
Springton Hotel one of the state’s earliest pubs

As I drive into Springton my passenger shouts, “Stop and back up.” To my surprise, she points out a lovely Bearded Dragon perched on an old fence post. We pull into the old pub for a refreshing drink before motoring on.

Classic hills backroad
Local dam with Eurasian Coots and Maned Ducks around the edges

In the northern region of the Mount Lofty Ranges, the area around  Springton is a spider’s web of unsealed roads. They pass by small properties and cut through open pasture, forest and scrub. A wonderful place to explore by car with frequent stops to take in the rural scenery and search for wildlife.

One curious sheep
Rose-breasted Cockatoo or Galah near vines
Moving stock

Driving along the well graded unsealed road I stop to photograph a flock of sheep sheltering in the shade of massive Red Gum while a flatbed truck passes with sheep in the back and a dog in the passengers seat. To my left a pair of Galahs are feeding next to a vineyard. The scene is quintessential rural SA ……to be continued.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other significant animals seen, heard but not photographed Kestrel, Brown Snake, Adelaide Rosellas

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, barbecues, parking and other facilities in Springton. It is dog friendly unless a national or conservation park is signposted.

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/

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Williamstown to Springton SA……. a Nature Drive

18 Feb
I’m in the right lane. What’s your problem

Dear Reader:

A lttle more to the left please.

Coming off a bend at around 100 KPH, in a predominantly rural area, the last thing I expect to see is a Koala casually strolling down the road. Brakes on. I leave the vehicle and usher it off the road.

Vine, pine and bush

I am driving between Williamstown and Springton in the northern part of the Mount Lofty Ranges. This lovely stretch of road passes through open pasture for grazing, vineyards, native scrub as well as olive and pine plantations.

Curious cows
Galahs taking off

A little further along the road I sop to watch a herd of beef cattle in a paddock where Rose Breasted Cockatoos are pulling up roots and tubers from the well irrigated pasture.

Portuguese Bridge
View from the bridge of River Gums
Early cottage near Williamstown turnoff

Early farmers and rural pioneers have left their mark in many ways. The Portuguese Bridge spans the South Para River and an old, abandoned cottage marks the passing of families and dreams long gone.

Heath Teatree
Matted Bush Pea

There are significant patches of native scrub alongside the road and I briefly stop to explore them. Grasstrees, Teatree bushes, stunted eucalypts (possibly Mallee) and a variety of flowering groundcovers make for a diverse short walk.

Australian Monarch

There are numerous birds and insects in the scrub alongside the road. The birds are small and hard to photograph as they flit around in the dense bushes and trees. At a glance, there are Silvereyes, Grey Fantails and an unknown honeyeater species.

A reminder of days gone by

After numerous stops, I reach Springton and stop at the old-fashioned General store where I grab a bite to eat, a drink and fill up the car with petrol. Suitably refreshed and with the rest of the day ahead I decide to head back to the city by way of the many unsealed roads indicated on my navigation system……..to be continued.

Cheers

BAZ

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Ravens, Grey Kangaroos, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos

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/

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Victor Harbor…..A Foreshore Walk

29 Jan
A lone Hooded Plover chick ventures close to the water

Dear Reader:

The small shore bird leads its chicks across the sand towards the water. They peck at the sand mimicking the parent as she forages for food. Rare and lovely birds, Hooded Plovers nest in a protected zone on the beach.

Adult Hooded Plover with quite mature chicks

I am walking from the Bert Puxley Reserve near the boat ramp back along the foreshore towards Muwerang-Kent Reserve at the mouth of the Inman River. The tide is out and a variety of waterbirds are feeding in the shallow rock pools that characterise this stretch of water.

Whalers Inn and the boat ramp with the Bluff in the background
Cormorant, Silver Gull and Australian Pelican resting on granite boulders near the boating channel
Sooty Oystercatcher (foreground) Australian White Ibis (background) foraging in rock pools for different prey which suits their beak types

Tall Norfolk Island Pines line the pathway and a group of Rose-breasted Cockatoos (Galahs) are squawking and squabbling in the topmost branches while others feed on the grassy verge.

Galahs getting ready to roost
Galahs feeding

Much to my surprise, I catch sight of an unusual bird pushing its way through the shallows, beak forward and seaweed strewn across its ornately crowned head. A Great-crested Grebe. A bird I have rarely encountered. Using the full extension of the Nikon P900 telephoto, I take a series of shots to capture this feeding behaviour.

Great-crested Grebe
Great-crested Grebe hunting

Leaving the path, I walk along the sandy beach scanning the water for other seabirds, dolphins, or fish caught in the shallow rock pools. I don’t have to walk very far before I spot a small group of waterfowl, Grey Teal and Pacific Black Ducks, in the shallows. They are birds I usually associate with fresh water.

Grey Teal and Pacific Black Ducks

I have been walking and observing for over an hour and decide to break for lunch. Approximately halfway between the two parks there is a small group of shops catering for Victor’s summer influx of visitors. Fresh sandwiches, pies, pizzas, yiros and many other Aussie lunch staples are available.

Plenty to choose from

Although my walk has primarily focussed on the birdlife, the variety of coastal vegetation is notable. As well as the wiry grasses that hold sandy areas together there are numerous flowering bushes such as Cushion Fan-flower and Coastal Wattles and Myoporum.

Cushion Fan-flower blossoms

My final destination is Muwerang-Kent Reserve where a range of information plaques provide First Nations and more recent historical and cultural information about the area.

Multi purpose reserve with: shelter, play and exercise equipment and information
First Nations information

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Caspian Tern, Silver Gulls,

The camera used for this post is a Nikon Coolpix P900

This is an easy walk and drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, barbecues, parking and other facilities nearby. It is dog friendly but areas of the beach are cordoned off for the plovers meaning dogs should be on leads around these zones.

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/

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Around Williamstown 2

7 Jan
A mob of Western Grey Kangaroos near Williamstown

Having explored the backroads around the Williamstown in my previous post ; I am now driving along the main street where I am enchanted by the many colonial buildings that have been repurposed to suit a modern township.

Williamstown Hotel was established just 18 years after the settlement of South Australia
View from the bridge
Maned Ducks

A bridge crosses the Victoria Creek at the T junction where the road from Adelaide intersects the B31/B34. From the bridge, I can see a small lake created by a weir. There are Eurasian Coots and a pair of Maned Ducks paddling near the bank.

New Holland Honeyeater

New Holland Honeyeaters and Silvereyes are feeding in the foliage of several large gums adjacent to the river.

Part of the mural
The weir looking back towards the bridge

The wall alongside the path by the lake is decorated with a mural depicting Williamstown’s unique features such as: buildings, landscape and historical events.

Australian Reed Warbler

As I walk along the path, the characteristic call of an Australian Reed Warbler rings out from the plants bordering the lake. Unusually, the call is coming from the wall of the weir not the reeds. And, as luck would have it, I spot the little bird foraging on the dam wall.

Too much choice at the local bakery

Williamstown has proved to be an interesting place from both an historical and natural perspective. All that remains is to enjoy a croissant and vanilla slice for lunch.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Adelaide Rosellas, Pottybonk Frogs, Masked Lapwings, corellas and Galahs

The camera used for this post is a Nikon Coolpix P900

This is an easy walk and drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, playgroun, 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/

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Around Williamstown Part 1

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/

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