Athelstone … a river walk…field notes and images
Dear Reader: I hope that you enjoy the field notes and images from my day exploring the lower reaches of the Torrens Gorge near Athelstone. I will be using this style from now on as it allows me to share more observations and thoughts with you.
Spring 12/10/2015
A cool morning with a little cloud cover and patches of blue sky
Drove from city to Gorge Road intersection then to Athelstone, approx 20 minutes
Stopped in at bakery to get steak pie, apple tart and fruit juice
Photographed historic community centre, lovely roses on display
Spoke to history officer
Quite a few colonial buildings in the area worth visiting
Started walk from the mining road 2.8 Kms from Athelstone Council chambers, just past stone and fibre house on RHS of main road, parked near the causeway (ford)
Followed old, narrow bitumen road along left bank of Torrens heading up the gorge (upstream) towards historic aquaduct
Council chambers
Stone and fibre home by turn off
Trail to aquaduct only 800 meters
Not going to walk off impending lunch this way
Walked slowly, stop, look and wait
Can hear small birds twittering in scrub to the left
Several little wrens fossicking in leaf litter
They appear to be different species as one has a blue tail
All are females as fairy wren males of the most common species have patches of bright blue plumage
Female superb fairy wren
Male superb fairy wren
Koala in dense foliage of a non native tree, unusual
There are several gums nearby, perhaps this tree is shadier
Tree creeper (possibly white throated) feeding probing for insects on a eucalyptus tree, seems to be favouring old and dead branches
Note the huge feet for gripping and providing stability
Hard to get a clear shot
Switch to shutter priority to stop action 1/1600 should do
Koala
White throated treecreeper
Reach the aquaduct
Note the signage about its history
State listed heritage item in 1980
Operated continuously for 138 years carrying water from Hope Valley Reservoir
There is a deep pool below
Scan the edge of the water and several logs for fresh water turtles…nothing
A water skink is basking on one of the flat rocks
As I approach and take a couple of shots it disappears into the undergrowth
I have often photographed these little reptiles and never seen one in the water swimming
Aquaduct
Eastern water skink
Start return walk to car
Expansive views of the gorge rising on the SE side
Several cyclist ride past on the main road above the river
They use the steep road for training
Concentrate on the other side of the path on return walk
Yellow tail black cockatoos fly above
See and hear a lot of Rosellas in taller trees
Manage to get a shot of a crimson feeding on berries in tree top
Stop to look at interesting gum trunk with red sap oozing from it
Like the colours and texture
Bark patterns and gum resin
Back at car
Drive to park about 1 kilometre out of Athelstone to walking trails in parkland area, still has Torrens flowing through
Lunch on a bench watching some magpies haggling over territory
A Good morning’s work
Cheers
Baz
Naturally South Australia 