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Bullock Hill CP….. Kangaroos, Cows and Cockies

19 Mar

Dear Reader:

The scenery on my drive between Meadows and Ashbourne varies between open pasture to Creekside scrubland with both kangaroos and cows enjoying the fertile landscape.

Rural setting with old farmhouse ruin, stock and bush background

My destinations are the town of Ashbourne and the nearby Bullock Hill Conservation Park. I have driven along several of the roads I am about to explore during the cooler months when the weather was not as conducive to photography and I promised myself a summer visit and a meal at the Green Man Hotel.

Track into the park

Green Man Hotel in Ashbourne SA

Three roads skirt the Bullock Hill Conservation Park; Signal Flat Road to the west, Wattle Flat Road to the east and Haines Road to the south. There are walking trails leading into the park off these roads. The country town of Ashbourne with its folksy Green Man Hotel lies a kilometre or two north west of the park, on the intersection of Bull Creek and Signal Flat Roads.

Wattle Flat Road on my previous trip

I enter the park off Haines Road. There are honeyeaters, Grey Fantails, rosellas, lorikeets and Galahs. The birds are wary and move quickly in the canopy. Eventually I spot a Welcome Swallow resting between aerial sorties in search of insects.

Welcome Swallow taking a break

Galah or Cockie or Rose-breasted Cockatoo

Along Wattle Flat Road, I notice a pair of roos near a fenceline and stop to take a picture. Not a successful venture as one bounds over the fence while the other scoots under it. Both animals are unhurt and I get the feeling they have done this on more than one occasion.

One under one over….Western Grey Kangaroos

On this trip I have not driven back along Signal flat Road which skirts the eastern side of the park. However, on my last drive I was quite taken by a whimsical piece of ‘Auto-art’; if such a genre exists. On the same drive I encountered significant flocks of Galahs.  

A little whimsical, rural art off Wattle Flat Road

Back in Ashbourne and alongside the Green Man Hotel, there is an enclosure with a couple of unusual sheep which seem to be shedding their fleece rather than it being shorn. I believe they are White Dorpers a variation bred specifically for this particular characteristic.

Shearing the easy way….White Dorper variety of sheep

Leaving the car in the shade, I order a seafood platter and share an outside table with a curious and food oriented Australian Magpie. It has been a worthwhile day in the field and I will certainly return during spring to further explore the park and surrounding areas.

Seafood plate with Oysters, Calamari, Scallops and fish

Australian Magpie

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

This is an easy walk and drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, barbecues, 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/profile/651267

https://blog.feedspot.com/australian_wildlife_blogs

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South Para Reservoir’s Water, Wine and Wildlife

13 Feb

Dear Reader:

There’s a small mob of Western Grey Kangaroos feeding close to the path where I am starting my walk. Leaning against a tree, I steady the camera. The roos detect either sound or scent and bound away into the thicker scrub.

Up Up and Away

I am taking a walk around the South Para Reservoir near Williamstown about an hour’s drive from Adelaide’s CBD. The road winds through the Adelaide hills and encompasses a range of environments from rural to wilderness. Unfortunately, it is a bit of a grey day. Not brilliant for photography.  

South Para Reservoir

The track leads down to the water where a kayaker is bringing the craft back to dry land. This reservoir is open for fishing, kayaking, cycling and walking unlike many of our other reservoirs.

A recreational paddle

There are numerous butterflies in the area but it is hard to spot them until they take flight. Eventually I get a reasonably clear shot and identify the species as a Common Brown.

Common Brown

On the water’s edge I can just make out some large birds. I suspect they are either Cormorants or Snake Birds (Anhingas). I approach warily, lie down in the grass and focus. There are two distinct species; a Pied Cormorant and a Great Cormorant.

Pied Cormorant

Working my way around the water’s edge I discover a dry creek bed and another track heading back towards the main road. I follow the creek bed up a gentle slope towards a rocky outcrop. A large male kangaroo watches me from the scrub as I walk. He seems relaxed and stays still enough for a long-range shot.

Just watching

Continuing along the cross track I suddenly freeze and hold my breath. Three adult Emus are walking towards me and have, either not registered my presence, or are not unduly phased by humans. I raise the camera slowly and wait as they approach to within thirty metres. I take a series of shots before they veer away pecking for seeds, insects and whatever else they might find in the dry scrub.

The Emus gang

Emus close by me

As I traverse move up the trail, I notice a variety of wildlife including; musk Lorikeets Sulphur Crested and Rose Breasted Cockatoos, more butterflies, a few native bees as well as ant nests and termite mounds. I turn over a couple of rocks and dead branches (replacing them carefully afterwards), uncovering a snakelike Three-toed Earless Skink and Pie-dish Beetle.

Three-toed Earless Skink

Pie-dish Beetle

With my walk at an end, I drive on towards Williamstown for lunch at the little bakery across from the creek. However, I do make one more stop on the way at Linfield Road Winery which has a charming bed and breakfast attached. An ideal place to stay when I make my next foray into the wonderful north-eastern region of the Adelaide Hills.

B&B for next time

Linfield Road Winery vines

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

This is an easy walk/drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, barbecues, 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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Hale Conservation Park

14 Aug

Adelaide Rosella

Dear Reader:

Over the years I have made several major errors as a wildlife photographer. Perhaps the most telling has been the tendency to see a shot at the beginning of a field trip and not take it as I believe there will be a better one later. Not this time! As I climb out of the SUV I notice a pair of Adelaide Rosellas flying into a gum tree about a hundred metres away. I steady my camera against the vehicle and fire off a couple of frames. And yes; they were the only Rosellas I came close to photographing for the rest of the day.

Trailhead

Typical section of the trail showing some fire damage

I am walking the loop trail in the Hale Conservation Park a few kilometres out of Williamstown on Warren Road which leads to Gumeracha. It is a lovely, compact park with a small parking area and a well-defined track with information panels at the head of the trail.

Flame Heath with Goodenia flower growing through

Cryptandra species

The path climbs gently with generous views of the surrounding rural landscape. There is evidence of fire damage in some areas and significant regrowth; especially the Blue Gums. Although it is winter there are still numerous flowering plants along the trail including Flame Heath and Prickly Cryptandra bushes with Goodenia flowers growing through them.

Clever hands

I continually scan both trees and bushes for birdlife, possums and Koalas. On a level section, which gives me an excellent view of trees growing below me on the hillside, I spot a large Koala in the forked branches of a eucalypt. Its grip on the tree provides an excellent example of the prehensile nature of the marsupial’s ‘opposable thumb grip’-a feature more common in primates.

Scarlet Robin and New Holland Honeyeater (ID images only)

Red-browed Finch (ID image only)

With rain clouds gathering, I decide to backtrack rather than continue along the loop trail. Near the parking area there is a noticeable population of smaller birds which are hard to photograph as they flit between branches and leaves. I decide to take a sit and wait approach and capture some images for identification purposes. My results are far from ideal but they do give a true sense of the difficulty inherent in acquiring good clear shots in a natural environment where animals are wary. Nevertheless, I have included my attempts in this post.

Spotted Ctenotus

When I explore a new area I try to find and photograph animals from as many groups or classifications as possible. In the cooler months, cold blooded animals such as invertebrates and reptiles are the most difficult to locate. It is always worth turning over a rocks and dead tree branches or peering under bark to find animals that might take shelter there, (always replace the item or make sure the animal can move back to a safe place). Today, I find a Spotted Ctenotus; a small, stripy, long-tailed skink, hiding under a rock on a north facing incline.

Mouse Spider (Credit Andrew Fitzner)

One of the best things about exploring our parks is encountering like-minded people and today’s walk is no exception. I meet a couple who passed me on the trail earlier and we chat about what we have seen. They show me a picture of a Mouse Spider spotted on the trail and photographed with an I Phone.

My walk completed, including a promise to myself to return in the spring, I drive back to Williamstown and the local bakery to treat myself to a chai latte and one of the best custard tarts I have eaten in ages.  

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

This is a moderately steep walk with a small parking bay. It is not 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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Warren Reservoir…drained for maintenance

14 Jul

Dear Reader:

From Tea Tree Gully, the road climbs into the foothills then snakes past Chain of Ponds Reservoir before it forks to the left towards Williamstown. Just before the town there are often mobs of Western Grey Kangaroos on the hillside to the right. Today, I spot a small group on the opposite side near a layby where I can safely pull off the road to take a few photographs.

Western Grey Kangaroos near Williamstown

I am exploring the Northern section of the Warren Reservoir which is around 10 kms past Williamstown towards Gumeracha on the Warren Road. The sky is a little overcast with a hint of rain in the air which makes photography challenging but in the winter months one takes any opportunity on offer to venture out into the bush. This is my second visit to the Warren and of particular interest because the reservoir has been emptied for dam wall maintenance and comparing it to my last visit, when it was full, is a rare opportunity.

Reservoir full

Reservoir drained and with some improvements to the public car park area

Usually there are numerous duck species as well as cormorants, Australian Pelicans and Anhingas (Snakebirds) around the edge of the reservoir. Today there is just a solitary Pacific Black Duck paddling along a narrow channel. Way off to the north, I can just make out a pair of kites catching thermals above the surrounding scrub.

Anhinga

Grey Fantail

However, all is not lost. For some reason the number of smaller birds seems to have increased around the periphery of the reservoir. Using the full extension of my Nikon P900 Camera lens, I am able to spot Silvereyes, Superb Fairy Wrens, a thornbill species, Grey Fantails and New Holland honeyeaters. Perhaps a lack of predatory species could account for this or maybe there are insects among the leaves and on the smaller branches.

Adelaide Rosella

I finish my loop walk back at the car parking area where a pair of Adelaide Rosellas are feeding on the ground. They are some distance away and as I approach all but one fly into the canopy. The lone bird perches on a wiry grass stem where it appears to be picking out seeds. I take a shot from distance just before it flies off disturbed by a couple of Little Ravens flying into a nearby eucalypt.

Australian Magpie foraging on reservoir floor

It has been a relatively productive morning’s work and I pack up my gear and head back towards Williamstown and lunch at the local bakery which, by the way, makes one of the best custard tarts I have tasted in a long time.

Snack time

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

This is an easy walk and drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, barbecues, parking and information boards 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 the links below to 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

Weekend Notes

Feedspots top 20 Wildlife Blogs

 

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Gorge Wildlife Park

20 Jun

Dear Reader:

Capturing images in the wild is one of the most exhilarating challenges a photographer faces. Each image evokes poignant memories of the location and circumstances under which it was shot. However, there is also a place for pictures taken in zoos and wildlife parks.

Wedge-tailed Eagle

At the Gorge Wildlife Park, one can get close enough to discern the fine details of animal structure and physiology such as the split grooming claws of a kangaroo or the scale patterns of a venomous snake. And of course, there are the fascinating interactions of people and animals. Each of the following images was added to my collection to emphasise these and other characteristics of our unique Australian wildlife.

Koalas are usually high in the branches of a gum tree. Being able to photograph one so close enables me to see the shading of fur as well as ear and eye structure.

The bullet shaped body, nictating eye membrane and position of the webbed feet and wings are obvious as this Little Blue or Fairy Penguin enters the water.

The tongue, beak structure and use of the feet when eating are well illustrated in this image of a Little Corella.

Getting close enough to a Dingo and her pups in the wild would be nearly impossible without specialist equipment, outback guides and a great deal of time to spend on the project.

Quinn feeds a female Red Kangaroo with a joey in its pouch. A picture which tells so many stories.

I have only encountered two Death Adders in all my years observing wild animals in the bush.

Bad hair (feathers), a wild gleam in the eye and a mouth full of greens….one of my favourite Emu images taken in a wildlife park.

I hope you have enjoyed these images from The Gorge Wildlife Park and they encourage you to visit this extraordinary facility and see what kind of images you can capture.

Cheers

BAZ    

Additional notes

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.

All images using a Nikon P900

Click on the links below to 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/profile/651267/

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

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Megafauna… a few thoughts and examples

31 May

Dear Reader

A man hides in the scrub and watches an animal feeding near the river; it is huge and very wary, taller than the man. Despite its massive size the creature is not a threat and only eats plants. However, its size must be respected and the hunter would need help to kill or trap it. Time to move on and look for smaller prey. Such thoughts might have passed through the mind of an Aboriginal hunter thousands of years ago when far larger animals, called Megafauna, roamed the Australian continent.

Lifesize sculpture of a Diprotodon at Naracoorte Caves SA. Diprotodon was the largest of the Australian Megafauna.

Today, only traces of these animals remain. It is generally thought that they perished from a combination of hunting pressure and environmental changes. Some of their remains have been found in caves on the Nullarbor Plain and at Naracoorte in the south east of SA, as well as a few other locations.

Inside the Naracoorte Caves

The term Megafauna usually refers to animals weighing over 100 Kg but as the Australian Megafauna were smaller than those in other parts of the world it is generally accepted that Australian animals over 40 Kg can be classed as Megafauna. Hence, Kangaroo species and wombats can still be called Marsupial Megafauna. In other classifications: Emus, Cassowaries, Saltwater Crocodiles and some large pythons, also fall into this category.

Australian Saltwater Crocodile, an example of existing Reptile Megafauna.

Southern Cassowary, an example of Australian Avian Megafauna similar to the African Ostrich.

African Ostrich, an example of African Avian Megafauna and similar to the Australian Southern Cassowary.

On some continents the Megafauna are still a significant part of the biosphere. To really get a sense of the current Megafauna we must shift our focus to Africa. Here, there are many examples of large animals still surviving in the wild including: African Lions, Hippos, rhinoceros species, giraffe species, African Elephants, Cape Buffalo, Nile Crocodiles and Ostriches. The latter two species have Australian counterparts in Saltwater Crocodiles, Emus and Cassowaries. There was even a marsupial lion-like predator called Thylacoleo which roamed the Australian bush and only disappeared around 30,000 years ago.

African giraffe, an example of existing African Mammal Megafauna.

African rhinoceros, an example of existing African Mammal Megafauna.

Other continents also have their own remaining Megafauna. Bears, Horses and Bison are classic examples. It is interesting to consider that around ten thousand years ago many more large animals roamed our planet. Some of them are related to species I have just mentioned. A  good example is the Elephant’s close relative, the Woolly Mammoth.

African Elephants the largest of the world’s existing terrestrial Megafauna and a close relatives of the Woolly Mammoth.

The extinction of the Megafauna, environmental changes, human intervention and predation are themes so familiar to us at the moment and perhaps by glancing into the past we can learn lessons for the future.

I hope you have enjoyed this diversion from my usual posts. It has given me the chance to use images and experiences from my travels and other nature-based interests. Any comments about this work would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

BAZ

Additional notes

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 the links below for more information about this topic and to 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/profile/651267/

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

Article Information

 https://australian.museum/learn/australia-over-time/extinct-animals/diprotodon-optatum/

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_megafauna

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Exploring the Southern Flinders Ranges…..Kanyaka Ruins

4 May

A window view of the area around Kanyaka Ruins

Dear Reader:

There are patches of low scrub and gravelly, ochre shaded soil on either side of the dirt road leading to the ruins. We are not expecting to see much wildlife on this exposed track. A pair of adult Emus surprise us as they dash across the road and I have just enough time to grab the camera from the console and fire off a few frames.

Driving into Kanyaka Ruins

Pair of Emus

We are driving along the entrance track to Kanyaka Ruins between Quorn and Hawker in South Australia’s Southern Flinders Ranges. This area is the ancestral home to the Barngarrla people. Kanyaka (most likely meaning ‘place of stone’) was originally established as a cattle station in 1852 by Hugh Proby who tragically died in the flash flooding of the nearby Willochra Creek. At its height, under later ownership, Kanyaka housed up to 70 families and ran sheep rather than cattle.

Ringneck Parrots

We have timed our arrival for mid-afternoon in order to have lunch at the ruins, explore the area then search for wildlife in the cooler hours before sunset. Our planning is rewarded as a small flock of Ring-neck Parrots settle a few hundred metres away amongst some wild grasses. With the parrots intent on their feeding, I am able to get close enough for an acceptable shot.

Apostle Birds

Nearby in the shade of a eucalyptus grove, I spot a pair of medium sized grey and brown birds fossicking amongst the leaf litter. On closer examination, I recognise them as Apostle Birds; a species I have never encountered around the Adelaide area where I live.

Small mob of Western Grey Kangaroos near the highway

With the sun getting lower in the sky it is time to leave in order to reach Hawker before dusk. Driving at night or in low light conditions is a recipe for disaster around the Flinders. With so many kangaroos in the area it is easy to have a collision, which can be devastating for both wildlife and driver alike. As if to emphasise the point, we pass a small mob of Western Grey Kangaroos, some with joeys in the pouch, feeding ­close to the highway.

Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby on steep hillside

After resting overnight in Hawker we will head into the heart of the Ranges and search for Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies in the steep gorges. However, that is a story for another time.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

This is a long drive from Adelaide but easy walking and 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 the links below to 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/profile/651267/

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

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Kites and Kestrels Around Ardrossan

30 Dec

Dear Reader:

I am driving back to Adelaide from Marion Bay and the Innes National Park at the tip of the York Peninsular. The weather is overcast and I have tucked the cameras away after a successful couple of days photographing this lovely area of our state.

Grey Kangaroos in Innes National Park

Marion Bay area

After an hour’s driving I am on the York Highway (B86) near Ardrossan; a coastal town which is central to agriculture. Here, farmers unload cereal crops into silos then onto grain carriers for overseas markets.

Black-shouldered Kite

Nankeen Kestrel

The Highway is straight and I am sitting on the speed limit and it is only by chance that I catch a glimpse of a Black Shouldered Kite sitting on a fencepost. I slow and pull over at the same time noticing a Nankeen Kestrel perched a further hundred metres along the road. Looking at the wheat fields I am tempted to think that there is probably an abundance of mice this time of the year.

Hare stopped by fence

Better head back into the field

There are some animals you occasionally see but are rarely able to photograph due to their speed and wariness. Therefore, when the opportunity arises to get a shot of these speedsters I welcome it with open arms. Hence, this series of images of a hare I spotted near the main highway just past Ardrossan. A fence forced the hare to stop for a few seconds and allow me to fire off a few frames albeit at long distance on a dull day.

Loading a grain ship at Ardrossan

Just as I finish photographing the hare, rain sets in. Time to resume my trip home with an essential stop at the bakery in Port Wakefield; an historic little town at the head of the gulf and one I have researched previously.

One of many historic building in Port Wakefield

I hope you have enjoyed this little recount and follow my stories in the New Year. All the best to you and your families,

BAZ

Additional Notes

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/profile/651267/

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

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Flinders Ranges Moments

14 Aug

Grazing sheep in the Flinders Ranges

Dear Reader:

Several deep gorges cut through the Flinders Ranges from east to west. They can be comfortably traversed by conventional vehicles in dry weather but in the wet they are hazardous and 4WD is a necessity. In these images I push my vehicle through relatively shallow water after measuring the depth first then attach a tow rope to a vehicle that didn’t quite make it.

A calculated and tested crossing

Didn’t get it quite right

The Flinders Ranges are around 800 million years old and are the result of the uplifting, folding and consequent erosion of an ancient, shallow sea bed. Their sedimentary rocks contain fossils of some of the Earth’s earliest life forms known as the Ediacra fauna. The ranges are the ancestral home of the Adnyamathanha (pronounced ud-ya-mutna) people who have lived there for over 40,000 years.

Layers (strata) of sedimentary rock

Four different kinds of Macropods (kangaroos and wallabies) live in the Flinders ranges: Western Grey Kangaroos, Red Kangaroos, Euros or Common Wallaroos and Yellow-footed Rock-Wallabies. Western Greys live in low forested areas, Reds prefer dry open plains, Euros live in the foothills and the rare Yellow-footed Rock-Wallabies prefer higher rocky slopes. There is some overlap between the habitats of all these species.

Red Kangaroos

Euro, Hill Kangaroo or Wallaroo

Yellow-footed Rock-Wallaby feeding in Brachina Gorge

Birdlife is prolific throughout the ranges and include a wide variety of species ranging from tiny finches and Budgerigars to Wedge-tailed Eagles and Emus. While taking friends from the USA around Wilpena Pound and Brachina Gorge, in the heart of the Flinders, we stopped to photograph birds on numerous occasions.

Getting up close

Nice result

This wild and beautiful region has much to offer in terms of fauna both ancient and modern. However, the plants of this rugged landscape are just as fascinating: Sugar Gums, Cypress-pine, Flinders Wattle, Flax Lilies and the SA state emblem the Sturt’s Desert Pea are just a few examples.

Sturt’s Desert Pea

Although the Flinders Ranges is a truly wild destination it also has a significant human perspective. There are ancient First Nations art sites, a world-renowned hotel featuring local cuisine, working stations (farms) and a significant arts and crafts community. From my own perspective as a photographer, there are the remnants of old settlements such as stockyards, settler ruins, old mine shafts and other relics of the Flinder’s early settlement, all backed by stunning landscapes.

Lunch at the Prairie Hotel

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

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 this link and see more South Australian stories and pictures in my Weekend Notes articleshttps://www.weekendnotes.com/profile/651267/

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Port Victoria’s Coastal Drive…..Part 1

6 Jul

Rocky outcrop near Second Beach

 

Dear Reader:

A few years ago I spent several days with a close friend at Port Victoria fishing in the rich waters off Wardang Island.  Geoff and I caught whiting, snook and squid and even managed to locate a few abalone which made for quite a feast on the barbecue. Today, we are exploring Port Vic from the shoreline and discovering some of the amazing scenery and coastal wildlife the area has to offer.

 

Patient Pelicans

What’s for lunch???

 

The boat ramp where we set off on our fishing trips is now the haunt of a small group of Australian Pelicans. They also enjoy the fruits of these waters, congregating around returning boats to feed on discarded fish and bait.

 

Pacific Gull in flight

The local golf course sits alongside the ramp and extends south along the coast to our first destination, known locally as Rifle Butts Beach. There are rocky outcrops at each end of the beach and I watch Pacific Gulls and a lone Great Cormorant flying just above the waves. The dunes and beach are pristine and there is an information plaque explaining their ecology and importance.

 

Beach fishing

From Rifle Butts it is only a short distance along Conservation Drive to Second Beach where we stop at a sandy parking bay and watch a couple of fishers casting for Mullet and Salmon Trout. A small sign cautions us to look out for rare Hooded Plovers which nest on the beach; though I believe breeding season is now over. The beach is accessible to 4WD but today is just a first look and we have more distance to cover.

 

Startled Western Grey Kangaroo

We continue slowly along Conservation Drive with the windows open ready to stop and record any special wildlife encounters. There is low coastal scrub to the right and open paddocks with sheep and cattle to the left. Large flocks of Crested Pigeons are feeding in the fields. I brake suddenly and turn the wheel to get a good angle on a pair of Grey Kangaroos half hidden in the scrub. They immediately bound away and I manage a hurried shot of one roo as it disappears into the scrub.

 

Water behind the dunes

Path to the ocean

 

Our final stop is Wauraltee Beach. The parking area lies at the end of a sandy track near a windmill which taps freshwater from behind the dune system. A short trail leads up and over the primary dunes and ends with a spectacular panoramic view north and south along this magnificent yet secluded beach.

View south along Wauraltee Beach

 

From the top of the dunes, I can scan the bush for birdlife, kangaroos and even wombats which live in the area.  Today, I spot several Singing Honeyeaters, a kestrel hovering in the distance and what appears to be a pod of dolphins about 500 metres offshore. There are some small waders near the seaweed fringe but it is hard to identify them at this range.

 

Singing Honeyeater

It has been a wonderful reintroduction to Port Victoria and has left me with a strong desire to return and spend more time exploring today’s destinations in greater detail. And, to add even more incentive, there is an equally interesting track and walking trail heading north from the jetty towards Point Pearce.

Cheers

BAZ

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