Dear Reader:
A male and female Red Kangroo watch me intently as I drive along the sealed road from Wilpena towards Brachina Gorge; (Derived from the Adnyamathanha word Vachina meaning grumpy) At the entrance to the gorge a signpost denotes the beginning of a significant geological experience.
About three kilometres along the track I notice a Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby sitting on a sloping sedimentary cliff face. Its subtle colouring blends perfectly with the surrounding dry grass and rocks.
I am driving deeper into Brachina, one of the most fascinating gorges in Australia. A place where one encounters rocks, fossils and landscapes that date back millions of years and is home to the Adnyamathanha people who have inhabited this region for over 50000 years.
Information signs mark significant geological formations and careful observation reveals the wealth of animal and plant life along this South Australian trail.
The winter has been wet and there are extensive patches of greenery which attracts a variety of birds. Galahs and Ringneck Parrots feed in the trees and grassy areas. High in the sky, I can also see Wedge Tailed Eagles and Kites spiralling on thermals in search of prey or carrion.
In an area where another watercourse enters the gorge a mob of Emus is foraging. I move a little closer to them and use the telephoto to get a closer look. The group consists of an adult male and subadult chicks. Females mate and lay eggs but do not rear the chicks.
As I near the end of the gorge I notice a small mob of roos deep in the scrub. Winding down the windows and leaving the car idling, I focus on an adult with a joey at heel. Just as I am about to take my shot something alerts them and they bound away through the bush.
I exit the gorge on the main road to Leigh Creek and head north to the iconic Prairie Hotel around 25 Kms north to indulge in a uniquely Australian cuisine. From there, I can return to my chalet in Wilpena Pound back through Brachina, through the nearby Parachilna Gorge or the Moralana track…..all fascinating drives steeped in natural history both biological, geological and cultural.
Cheers
Baz
Additional notes
Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Wedgetailed Eagle, Galahs, Feral Goats, Spiny-tailed Skink,
This is challenging drive only suitable for 4WD vehicles in wet weather. Dogs not permitted in the national Park.
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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
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