Dear Reader:
A Short-billed Corella perches in the fork of a gum tree. Its raucous call resonating through the still morning air.
I am driving the largely unsealed road between Myponga and the conservation park of the same name. For a summer’s day, it is refreshingly cool but the dryness of the surrounding countryside tells a different story.
A few minutes after seeing the corella, I catch a glimpse of a group of Straw-necked Ibises strutting through the pale, yellow grass. They turn to watch me then fly off towards the coast.
Further down the road there are dozens of Rose-breasted Cockatoos (Galahs) in a stand of trees. All but one takes to the air as I leave the car to take a shot of them. The plucky little bird drops out of the gum tree and hops onto an old, circular concrete well and starts to drink.
The road takes a sweeping bend and starts to climb. I find a good vantage point and scan the broad expanse of dry pasture with my telephoto lens. What I missed from the vehicle soon becomes apparent. There are Western Grey Kangaroos scattered across the landscape in small groups of two to six animals.
The terrain changes from lightly wooded pasture to scrub with an overstory of smaller eucalypts. Several kilometres on, I reach a gated entrance to the Myponga Conservation Park alongside a local property.
Taking care to close the gate behind me I drive through a combination of rolling hills, farmland, and dense scrub. The track is about two kilometres long and ends in an open space wide enough to turn around.
Two trails; The Echidna and Wren, branch off from the end of the road into the park and alongside some farmland. As a bonus, there is a spectacular view across the hills towards the ocean.
My goal for today achieved, I drive back along the trail. At the gate I meet a local property owners and chat to him about the area. He tells me that the park is best explored in spring when the plants are in flower providing food for a range of animals.
I return to Myponga back along The James Track where I enjoy the delights of the local bakery before heading home to review my images and make a note in the diary to return in the spring.
Cheers
Baz
Additional notes
The camera used for this post is a SONY RX10 Mark 3
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
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