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Houseboat Reflections Kings Billabong, Mildura part 1

21 Aug

Dear Reader:

With the houseboat safely secured and lunch over; it is time for a walk into the bush.

Camouflage
Australian Painted Lady
Australian Plague Locust

I scan the dry leaf litter for signs of life. A locust moves just enough for me to locate it while a colourful butterfly lands amongst the leaves. It is well camouflaged when still with wings upright, easily seen when it spreads them.

Male Red-rumped Par

Following the track across an open space I hear the call of Red-rumped Parrots up ahead. They are gathered around a depression filled with water from recent rains. As I approach, they fly into the trees.

Classic channel in Kings Billabong wetland

The track meets one of King Billabong’s many channels then branches along the waterway in both directions. I turn right scratching a marker into the soft earth. It is easy lose direction in this kind of environment.

Brown Treecreeper

A Brown Treecreeper moves quickly along the branches of a nearby tree probing the bark for insects. The little bird scurries down the trunk and peers at me for a few seconds before taking flight.

White-plumed Honeyeaters

I sit for a while and watch the grassy scrub. There is a small group of White-plumed Honeyeater flitting around between the branches and I manage to catch one feeding a juvenile while another watches from the trees.

Pied Cormorant
Darter, Anhinga, Snakbird

There is enough water in the billabong for both Anhingas (Snakebirds, Darters) and Pied Cormorants to fish for Carp, Frogs and other aquatic prey. Both species must leave the water periodically to dry out their wings as they do not have the protective oils that many seabirds possess.

Native flower along the track (Wahlenbergia species)

Along the edge of the track there are a few native flowers blooming and I stop to photograph a small purple blossom which I later identify as a Wahlenbergia species………………….to be continued

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Raven, Laughing Kookaburra, Bronzewing

The camera used for this post is a Nikon Coolpix P900

This is an easy walk 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

Around Myponga Beach Part 2

5 Aug

Dear Reader:

Galah watching me work
Adelaide Rosella

There are Adelaide Rosellas feeding on the weeds growing in the creek bed while a Galah and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo perch high in a River Gum watching me intently.

Ocean and Valley view

As I exit the creek on my drive from Myponga Beach (see my previous post) I climb up the steep unpaved road stopping at a couple sites to admire the view across the steep valleys towards the ocean.

A little local history
Sedimentary rock strata

Along the road there are several dilapidated, old buildings and other structures such as stone water tanks, all remnants the Fleurieu’s colonial history. And, for those with a geological eye, some of the truncated sedimentary layering is quite interesting. 

Fox on the run

Scanning the hillside with the powerful Nikon P900 lens, I notice the diminutive shape of a Red Fox scurrying across the steep terrain. Both sheep and cattle are also grazing on the hillsides.

Singing Honeyeater

There are wattles and bottlebrushes along the roadside and I notice Singing Honeyeaters feeding and nesting in the area.

Myponga dam and reservoir

Several kilometres further along Sampson Road, I take a branch road leading to the Myponga Reservoir. The views from the observation area and car park are fabulous.

Red Wattlebird

There are various honeyeater species including Wattlebirds in this area and I can just make out a Western Grey Kangaroo in the valley below the dam.

Laughing Samoyed microbrewery
Temptation

I drive back to Sampson Road then turn right to intersect South Road where I can head back to the city or into the little township of Myponga with its charming Smiling Samoyed Microbrewery, tempting bakery and reserve.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Nankeen Kestrel, Common Terns, Welcome Swallows

The camera used for this post is a Nikon P900

This is an easy 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

Around Myponga Beach…….Part 1

13 Jul

Dear Reader:

Welcome Swallow at rest

As I drive along the unsealed road, I notice Welcome Swallows hawking for insects in the fields. Several birds are resting on the strands of barbed wire between their sorties. I slow the car, drop the window and take a quick shot.

Driving towards Myponga beach

I am travelling along Myponga Beach Road towards the little township of the same name. Australian Magpies are sitting on fenceposts and a flight of Rosellas takes flight from the fringing scrub as I pass by them.

Myponga Creek and Beach community

From the road I notice that the tide is receding exposing a sandy beach and rock-strewn mudflats on either side of the little estuary where a small creek empties into the ocean. A mixed flock of Silver Gulls and Common Terns are camped on the beach and I can see a pair of Cormorants fishing further out to sea.

Tidal pool and surrounding hills

Today, I am just making a preliminary drive through the area but I do stop to photograph an extensive tidal pool which stretches back towards the surrounding hills.

Gully crossing Sampson Road

After exiting the town on Sampson Road, which will eventually take me back to the Main South Road, I stop at the foot of a steep climb where are gully traverses the road. River Gums mark the path of this ephemeral watercourse and as I slow the VW Tiguan and engage 4WD to splash through some muddy water.

White-throated Honeyeater probing gum tree for insects and grubs

I hear a variety of bird calls and park the vehicle where I can easily scan the trees for birds with the telephoto. It doesn’t take too long to spot two species of parrots; a Galah and Adelaide Rosella, as well as White-throated Honeyeater.

Marbled Gecko

Birds are not the only animals in this fertile section of scrub. There are several ant species on the trees and I spot a Marbled Gecko in a hollowed out branch.

After the creek, the road starts to climb steeply…………to be continued.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Grey Kangaroo

The cameras used for this post is are Nikon P900,  

This is an easy drive which is quite suitable for families. 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_blog

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/

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/

Normanville’s Big Gorge Walk Part 2

24 Jul

Dear Reader:

(30/6/25,12.05, Clear sky and around 18, light wind)

Numerous aged River Red Gums line the watercourse. I remove a few strips of bark to investigate the different animals that shelter there. A Marbled Gecko scuttles out and freezes relying on its camouflage to escape detection.

Marbled Gecko and Pie Dish Beetles

In part 1 of this story (June 7th Post) I had just passed the ruins and was nearing the end of this short but fascinating trail. I will pick up from there and relate the walk to the end of the trail and back by referring to my field notes. Conditions were recorded on my Apple watch.

End of the walk with information about Colonel Light’s exploration of the area

(30/6/25,12.13, Clear sky and around 18, light wind)

Amongst a tangle of branches I can just make out the shape of a large dark bird. I zoom in and pick up the white fringes to its tail and prominent yellow eye…A Grey Currawong.

Grey Currawong

(30/6/25,12.14, Clear sky and around 19, light wind)

Scanning further into the trees, I pick up the distinctive red breast and blue wings of an Adelaide Rosella. The rosella is not the only parrot in the area. There are small groups of Short-beaked Corellas in the canopy and an occasional Galah flying past.

Adelaide Rosella
Short-beaked Corellas

(30/6/25,12.25 Clear sky and around 18, light wind)

I leave the trail and walk closer to the creek and try to capture essence of this beautiful Gorge with a couple of scenic images.

Yankallila River
Surrounding hillsides with sheep grazing

(30/6/25,12.42 Clear sky and around 18, light wind)

I am almost back at the trailhead when I notice a small group of Silvereyes in a bush. They are probably the same birds I photographed earlier (7th June post). To my surprise, considering the season, I notice a Monarch Butterfly perched on a small branch near the track.

Late season Monarch Butterfly

(30/6/25,12.55 Clear sky and around 20℃, light wind)

I reach the Norm Garnet Park, pack up my gear and head back to the city. I have been surprised by the lack of Western grey Kangaroos, as I know they are prolific in this area. However, the gods of wildlife photography decide to rectify the problem and I come across a dozen or so ‘roos’ grazing in a fenced paddock, just a few kilometres shy of Normanville.  

Western Grey Kangaroos grazing on farmland

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals see, heard but not photographed

The camera used for this post is a

This is an easy walk/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/

Normanville’s Big Gorge Walk…….part 1

17 Jun

Dear Reader:

Tiny birds are feeding in the canopy of a massive Red River Gum on the edge of the river bed. Scanning the area with the telephoto of my Nikon P900, I spot a diminutive Thornbill.

Thornbill species

Garnet Kelly Park on the southern side of Normanville is the start of the Great Gorge Walk. This charming track of around 3Kms return follows a path walked by explorers and traversed by later settlers.

Park entrance near the old bridge
Alongside the river

River Red Gums, Sheoaks and Acacia bushes are part of a complex and varied flora.

Sheoaks on hillside, private property bordering the walk

Information placards at the start of the walk and along its route tell the story of the bridge, pathway and the local soldier which the park is named after.

One of numerous informative signs on the walk and in the park

Small birds seem to be prolific in the first kilometre of the walk and I manage to photograph Fairy Wrens, Silvereyes and White-browed Finches. Most of the shots are taken at distance and emphasise the need for a good telephoto lens in this area.

Silvereye feeding on reed-like grasses near a pool in the river bed

I notice small groups of Sulphur-crested and Rose-breasted (Galahs) Cockatoos flying overhead. A few land to feed on the ground while others perch in nearby trees. They advertise their presence with a screeching, almost prehistoric, call.

Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

The weather is too cold for reptiles and I see only a few rather tattered looking butterflies. However, there are sheep with lambs in tow, on the hillsides. A closer look on one ridge reveals a lone Western Grey Kangaroo grazing alongside a couple of sheep.

Hilltop grazers

Glancing at the distance reading on my Apple watch, I realise I am almost at the half way (1.5 Km) point of this walk. Though the wildlife and scenery have been both interesting and varied, my writer’s mind wants a little more variation for an article. It comes in the form of an old ruin.

Remains of a once substantial building
Historical placard near the ruins

The exact nature of the ruin is a little unclear and an information plaque provides some different alternatives. Nevertheless, this old structure and its history provides yet another reason to take this truly beautiful walk on the Fleurieu Peninsular………….to be continued.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

The camera used for this post is a Nikon P900

This is an easy walk which is quite suitable for families and seniors, Dogs must be kept on a lead.

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/

The tip of the Fleurieu

28 Apr

Dear Reader:

The school of Silver Drummer and Banded Sea Sweep mill around the rocky outcrop off Cape Jervis SA.

Silver Drummer (top centre) and Banded Sweep

I am exploring the southern tip of South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsular using images that show a few of its many features and attractions.

Australian Pelicans Goolwa bird reserve

Cape Jervis is the transit port for the Kangaroo Island Ferry as well as being an interesting wildlife destination in its own right.

Kangaroo Island ferry at Cape Jervis with KI in the background

Numerous seabirds live in this area including: terns, gulls, cormorants and various birds of prey. At different times I have observed Sea Eagles and Nankeen Kestrels.

Nankeen Kestrel hovering

Just before Cape Jervis, a dirt road leads to Fishery Beach where an undersea cable crosses beneath Investigator Strait to KI. I spend a little time snorkelling close to the shore where I photograph a school of Zebra Fish.

Zebra Fish

Range Road Curls around the foot of the peninsular passing through pasture, scrub and grazing country. Near the beginning of the road there is an entrance to the old Talisker mine. Numerous small birds inhabit the dense scrub around this area and the old buildings and machinery provide some historical context.

Crusher house and boiler
Crescent Honeyeater

One of the main attractions of the southern Fleurieu is the Deep Creek Conservation Park; a wonderful place to photograph Western Grey Kangaroos and the occasional Echidna.

Lone roo Deep Creek Conservation Park
Roos in the mist Deep Creek CP

My next stop on this trip is Victor Harbor, where I watch a succession of recreational fishing boats head out to sea while I enjoy a tasty seafood lunch at Whalers Seaside Dining.

Setting out from the Victor Harbor boat ramp

Having reached Victor from the city via South Road and Range Road I decide to return to Adelaide along the B37 (Strathalbyn Route) after a 4WD run along iconic Goolwa Beach towards the mouth of the Murray River.       

Entrance to Goolwa beach

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

The cameras used for this post are Sony RX, Nikon P900 and Nikon Coolpix AW100  

This is an easy drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with the exception of the 4WD section which can be tricky depending on tides and wind.

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/

Dragons

26 Mar

The diminutive dragon lifts its body and head in a territorial display.

Painted Dragon….one of our smaller species

I am walking along Tennyson beach in the early morning in search of two of our South Australian dragon species.

Tennyson Dunes and beach

By pure chance, in a scrubby clearing I spot a Bearded Dragon poised on a dead branch waiting for prey.

Bearded Dragon

My job is done and it is time for breakfast at the Grange Caffe.

A short post

Cheers

Baz

Other animals see, heard but not photographed: (Heron, Brown Snake)

The camera used for this post is a (Nikon 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

Wirrina Foreshore Reserve

25 Mar

Dear Reader:

The Western Grey Kangaroo stops feeding and looks at me, twitches its ears then hops deeper into the bushes where it is joined by a second roo.

Western Grey Kangaroo
Then there were two

I am driving along the access road to Wirrina Cove marina, where I will walk along the Wirrina Foreshore Reserve. It is a rather overcast day which adds a few extra photographic challenges.

Beginning of the walk

Like other parts of the Fleurieu the story told by the rock formations is fascinating. The areas geoheritage includes: deep sedimentary basins, massive plate tectonic collisions, glaciation and mountain formation.

Rock formations along the shoreline

At low tide the rocky foreshore is a maze of rockpools. Within each of these ecological niches lives a wonderful variety of marine organisms such as anemones, sponges, seasnails and crustaceans; to mention just a few.

Shore crab species on the edge of a rockpool
Turban Shell

Banks of seaweed cover some parts of the shoreline and I am amazed to see an Australian Magpie probing the weed. Closer observation suggests it might be gathering nesting material.

Australian Magpie in seaweed pile

After spending some time exploring the edges of the pools, I move back to the trail to capture a few images of the typical birdlife. There are White-faced herons stalking the shallows, Pied Cormorants and Masked Lapwings resting on the rocks and a pair of grebes further out to sea.

White-faced Heron

Having captured images of molluscs, birds, crustaceans and marsupials, I turn my attention to plants, insects and other life forms. Butterflies and native bees are feeding on flowering Scabia blooms, lichens coat the rock formations and Cushion Bushes colonise niches in the rock formations.  

The weather closes in and it is time to leave the walking trail. However, I am determined to return on a warmer, sunnier day with some snorkeling gear to further explore this fascinating area.

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

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. 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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