Dear Reader:
A pair of Red-rumped Parrots perch on a dead branch at the edge of King’s Billabong near Mildura.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Naturally South Australia 
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