Tag Archives: birding

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

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Victor Harbor…..A Foreshore Walk

29 Jan
A lone Hooded Plover chick ventures close to the water

Dear Reader:

The small shore bird leads its chicks across the sand towards the water. They peck at the sand mimicking the parent as she forages for food. Rare and lovely birds, Hooded Plovers nest in a protected zone on the beach.

Adult Hooded Plover with quite mature chicks

I am walking from the Bert Puxley Reserve near the boat ramp back along the foreshore towards Muwerang-Kent Reserve at the mouth of the Inman River. The tide is out and a variety of waterbirds are feeding in the shallow rock pools that characterise this stretch of water.

Whalers Inn and the boat ramp with the Bluff in the background
Cormorant, Silver Gull and Australian Pelican resting on granite boulders near the boating channel
Sooty Oystercatcher (foreground) Australian White Ibis (background) foraging in rock pools for different prey which suits their beak types

Tall Norfolk Island Pines line the pathway and a group of Rose-breasted Cockatoos (Galahs) are squawking and squabbling in the topmost branches while others feed on the grassy verge.

Galahs getting ready to roost
Galahs feeding

Much to my surprise, I catch sight of an unusual bird pushing its way through the shallows, beak forward and seaweed strewn across its ornately crowned head. A Great-crested Grebe. A bird I have rarely encountered. Using the full extension of the Nikon P900 telephoto, I take a series of shots to capture this feeding behaviour.

Great-crested Grebe
Great-crested Grebe hunting

Leaving the path, I walk along the sandy beach scanning the water for other seabirds, dolphins, or fish caught in the shallow rock pools. I don’t have to walk very far before I spot a small group of waterfowl, Grey Teal and Pacific Black Ducks, in the shallows. They are birds I usually associate with fresh water.

Grey Teal and Pacific Black Ducks

I have been walking and observing for over an hour and decide to break for lunch. Approximately halfway between the two parks there is a small group of shops catering for Victor’s summer influx of visitors. Fresh sandwiches, pies, pizzas, yiros and many other Aussie lunch staples are available.

Plenty to choose from

Although my walk has primarily focussed on the birdlife, the variety of coastal vegetation is notable. As well as the wiry grasses that hold sandy areas together there are numerous flowering bushes such as Cushion Fan-flower and Coastal Wattles and Myoporum.

Cushion Fan-flower blossoms

My final destination is Muwerang-Kent Reserve where a range of information plaques provide First Nations and more recent historical and cultural information about the area.

Multi purpose reserve with: shelter, play and exercise equipment and information
First Nations information

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

Other animals seen, heard but not photographed: Caspian Tern, Silver Gulls,

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 public toilets, barbecues, parking and other facilities nearby. It is dog friendly but areas of the beach are cordoned off for the plovers meaning dogs should be on leads around these zones.

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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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/

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,