Dear Reader:
There is a beautiful European Goldfinch perched in the top of a Casuarina. Though I came to look at native plants and fauna, this introduced bird is far to pretty to ignore.
European Goldfinch
A little further along the pathway, I notice a low spreading gum with pale roundish leaves and brilliant red flowers. The tag beneath the tree shows it is a Eucalyptus rhodantha or the Rose Mallee.
Eucalyptus Rhodantha
Eucalyptus Rhodantha cap coming off to reveal blossom
Eucalyptus Rhodantha blossom
I am wandering around the Pangarinda Botanic Garden in Wellington East near Murray River. This wonderful community project, started in 1993, transformed 25 HA of weedy, eroded land into a brilliant dryland botanic garden primarily featuring plants of Western and South Australia.
Garden entrance
My first native bird sighting is a Red Wattlebird picking insect larvae off the branches and leaves of a gum tree. They might be Lerps but it is difficult to tell at this range.
Red Wattlebird with larvae
Further along the trail, I notice a brilliant, yellow flowering bush (Calothamnus quadrifimus) sometimes called the One-side Bottlebrush. It appears to be a feeding station for a hoard of New Holland Honeyeaters. I set my camera to high speed mode and fire a few quick shots at the feeding birds.
New Holland Honeyeater feeding on Calothamnus sp blossoms
The nature of the trail changes throughout the park and I find myself looking across a small grove of Native or Cyprus Pine (Callitris sp). In the distance, I can just make out some blackbird sized birds hopping around a small pile of branches. Steadying myself on a the back of a conveniently placed bench, I use the full extent of my zoom. On review, I think they are Grey Shrike Thrushes.
Grove of Native Pine
Grey Shrike Thrush
The next section of the walk takes me along the eastern flank of the garden where there is a variety of eucalypts, native pine and other trees. The bird calls are both overwhelming and distinct along this part of the trail. They indicate significant numbers of Superb Fairy Wrens, White-browed Babblers, various honeyeater species as well as tiny canopy living birds such as pardalotes and Silvereyes.
Male Superb Fairy Wren
White-browed Babbler foraging
White-browed Babbler close up shot from nearby Monarto CP
Where this taller stretch of trees peters out there is a bench by a waterhole surrounded by Grass Trees and Kangaroo Paws. An excellent place to stop and rest before tackling the rest of the circuit………..to be continued
Cheers
Baz
Additional notes
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, with parking and other facilities nearby. It is dog friendly but they must be 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.
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