Tag Archives: mulga parrot

Monarto’s Wildlife Roads

30 Mar

Dear Reader:

David notices a pair of brightly coloured Mulga Ringneck parrots landing in a tree by the roadside. I pull the car over and power down the window to allow both of us to capture some images.

Mallee Ringneck

On this initial foray into the bushland around Frahns Farm, in the Monarto area, we are exploring the roads surrounding a fenced off region which is being revegetated. We have travelled north along Frahns Farm Road after leaving the old Princes Highway then headed west along Disher Hill Road before returning south to the highway along Wattle Road.

At the crossroads of Theile, Peach, Frahns Farm and Disher Hill Roads 1

At the crossroads of Theile, Peach, Frahns Farm and Disher Hill Roads 2

We stop several times on Disher Hill Road and walk along the roadside for a few hundred metres scanning the terrain for wildlife. There is a continual background noise from the aptly named babblers (White-browed Babblers). In addition, tiny Silvereyes, Diamond Firetail Finches and wren species flit through the bushes and canopy, adding their tweets and twitters to the avian symphony.

White-browed Babbler

Further along Disher Road we are lucky enough to spot and photograph a solitary Brown Treecreeper and a group of White-winged Choughs engaging in their entirely different feeding strategies. The treecreeper meticulously searches the branches for insects while the gang of omnivorous choughs rake their way through the leaf litter.

White-winged Choughs

Brown Treecreeper

As I turn to get back into the car, a movement in the scrub catches my eye. A pair of Western Grey Kangaroos are moving slowly through the trees on the other side of the road. I catch one in the viewfinder before they bound away.

Western Grey Kangaroo

There were a few insects in the area…..Monarch Butterfly feeding

The drive back along Wattle towards the old Princes Highway provides a mixture of scrub, pasture and crop fields. There are freshly shorn sheep in a holding paddock. Little Ravens and Australian Magpies  perch in the trees and we catch sight of a lone bunny and a few more roos in the distance.

A little chilly without our coats on

As well as the wildlife along these roads there have been some interesting ruins and the more contemporary Mannum to Adelaide pipeline; both of which help provide some additional photographic perspectives to our drive.

The Mannum to Adelaide pipelines snakes through the scrub and rural landscape

Old farmhouse

The final stop on our day exploring Monarto’s backroads is an old service station in Callington, a small township just off the Princes Highway. We top up the car and enjoy a couple locally made pies while sitting on an old couch in front of the station.

Callington service station, post office and general store

Cheers

Baz

Additional notes

This is an easy 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.

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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The Paralana Trail

29 Jun

Dear Reader 

It’s winter but you’d hardly know it. The afternoon sky is a clear endless blue and though there’s a hint of the approaching night’s cold desert chill, the temperature is still a comfortable 25 degrees. I am in the Arkaroola Wilderness reserve in the Gammon Ranges some 1000 kms north of Adelaide heading towards the Paralana hot springs. After a hearty breakfast in the resort’s dining room we have loaded our gear into Suzuki GV and locked in 4WD for the 30 km trip along one of the most interesting off road adventures in this world heritage region.

Ochre wall

Ochre wall (click to enlarge)

 We have been crawling over the rugged terrain for about 20 minutes and the stony track has opened into a dry creek bed. One section of the embankment is quite extraordinary; a wave shaped deposit of ochre that contrasts sharply with the surrounding bush. This significant deposit was of great importance to the Adnyamathanha people who used it in ceremonies and to trade with other Aboriginal groups.

Rock skink

Unknown skink species (click to enlarge)

 While the others break out a little gas stove to brew a ‘cuppa’ I walk along the creek bed camera in hand. The unseasonably warm weather has brought out a few reptiles that would normally be hibernating at this time of the year. They are wary and the only clue to their presence is an occasional rustle in the undergrowth. Finally, one little skink that is basking on a weathered tree trunk decides that remaining motionless is a better option than retreating, offering me a nice clear shot.

(click to enlarge)

Male mulga parrot (click to enlarge)

Femal mulga parrot feeding on blue bush berries

Female mulga parrot (click to enlarge)

 Just as I am about to make my way back to the vehicle a flash of colour amongst the skeletal branches of a long dead acacia tree catches my eye. I peer through the telephoto and focus on the turquoise plumage of a male mulga parrot. If it is the mating season then the female should be nearby and with a little persistence I find her on the ground feeding on some small yellow berries that are the fruit of a low growing saltbush-like plant.

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Yellow footed rock wallabies on steep cliff (click to enlarge)

 Refreshed, we resume our drive along the trail, slowly climbing into the hills which provide spectacular views across the Gammons. Following a twisting descent down a narrow track we enter the spectacular Baranarra Gorge with its sheer rock walls and boulder strewn pools of clear fresh water.   Our progress has been slower than planned and it is late afternoon when we start to pick our way along the edge of the water hole. Almost immediately I hear the rattle of small rocks skittering down a steep rock face. Almost immediately I hear the rattle of small rocks skittering down a steep rock face. Looking up I catch sight of a pair of yellow footed rock wallabies precariously perched on the sheer cliff face. Once again, I am reminded of the extraordinary adaptations of these beautiful little animals. With their furry back feet perfectly designed for gripping rock surfaces, long counterbalancing tail and subtle camouflage, they are the Aussie equivalent of mountain goats.

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Chopper based at Arkaroola Village (click to enlarge)

 Unfortunately our stay must be a short one as the light is starting to fade and we must head back to our home base at the village. Tomorrow we have decided to take a helicopter flight over the area to get an overall picture of the terrain before our next off road foray.

Cheers

Baz

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