Aldgate Valley Reserve
The road from Aldgate to the reserve winds through rural and bush country with charming homes and patches of scrub on either side. I pull off the road near an old bridge that crosses Aldgate Creek and walk along the well marked trail listening to the sounds of birds high in the gum trees. Eventually I catch sight of a pair of eastern rosellas as they fly between the topmost branches.
Eastern rosella
Aldgate is one of the principal towns in the Adelaide Hills. It has a village atmosphere with fine eateries and small, locally owned shops. A fascinating 6 km nature walk runs between Aldgate and its neighbour Mylor. The route passes through the Aldgate Valley where southern brown bandicoots have been reintroduced to their native habitat (little marsupials that superficially resemble rats).
Aldgate Creek
From the road bridge I take the path alongside the creek where I find a small footbridge. Several eastern water skinks have taken up residence amongst the wooden slats and one little fellow, who seems to have regrown the end of his tail, poses nicely for a portrait. Most of these smaller skinks drop their tail if grabbed by a predator. This serves a dual purpose as the tail continues to wiggle after being detached, acting as a decoy.
Eastern water skink
Today I have decided to simply explore the area around the reserve and search out some of the animals that inhabit it. A bandicoot would be nice but as they are timid and mainly nocturnal and I am not holding out much hope. On the right hand side of the bridge there is a small orchard and some benches. Several large magpies are strutting around the area and one sits on the bench and glares at me as I walk through the trees.
Magpie with attitude
I spend a little more time sitting by the creek watching finches and wrens darting between bushes but the day is getting chilly and the clouds are rolling in. As I step into the car for the drive back home a solitary kookaburra chortles in the trees nearby. Something seems to have disturbed the bird and I take a closer look and find a koala feeding in an adjacent tree.
Laughing kookaburra
Does my bum look big up this?
I make one last stop back in Aldgate to drop in at ‘FRED’ for a late lunch. So much to choose from; but the Sicilian ciabatta with wilted greens, haloumi, home-made chutney and caramelised onion cannot be resisted.
One of many choices
Cheers
Baz
PS
I will be travelling for the next month and will not post any articles until mid-late May
Take a look over some of the earlier work and find somewhere to take a walk and enjoy our wonderful wildlife.
Naturally South Australia 
That walk from Aldgate sounds just perfect for me thanks for posting. Happy travelling.
Glad you liked it
Great place for a picnic
Baz
Hi Baz, good to meet you briefly on the 265 bus at Putney Bridge yesterday. Have had a look at some of your blogs and am mightily impressed. I’ll certainly be following you. Hope you manage to get to the WWT this year before you return home!
Best regards to you and your better half.
Ron
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ron. I’ll be sure to pass it on to Barry when he gets back; one of us has to stay home and clean the cat trays!!
Cheers,
Deb
Likewise
Did not get to the wetlands
Will have to do it next time
Posted a piece on Putney though in Weekend Notes London
Keep in touch
Baz
Good article. The top photo is an Adelaide rosella (Platycercus elegans adelaidaen) which scientists think is either a distinct species, or the result of interbreeding of the crimson and yellow rosellas, or even a viral mutation of the crimson. You only find these predominantly orange/purple rosellas near Adelaide! 🙂
Thank you for the extra info
B