Eagle View, South Australia.

Searching for Frogs and Lizards around the Farm.

Australia, Day Fifty. 

Skink Species that still needs to be named.

Today was even wetter than yesterday so again I was mostly catching-up with PC work, however Deb, Ian and I spent a while between the storms looking for Amphibians and Reptiles but we found none of the former and just a single which was not surprising really due to the weather. 

Skink Species that still needs to be named.

Under an old railway sleeper we also found several rather smart looking Red-headed Centipede (Scolopendra morsitans).

Red-headed Centipede (Scolopendra morsitans).

Eagle View, South Australia.

A wet day around the Farm.

Australia, Day Fourty Nine. 

One of many Rainbows seen today.

A quiet day at Eagle View catching up with a few jobs on the Computer as the weather was a tad rough, very strong winds and heavy rain.

Birds seen from the window included Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis) and Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

Eagle View, Port Elliot (Basham Beach) and Victor Harbour, South Australia.

Around the farm and a slightly windy aftenoon down on the coast.

Australia, Day Fourty Eight. 

 

As we did the feeding I around the farm I saw Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor) and Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

Later in the morning we went for a drive down to the coast looking for Whale's, on the way we saw Australian Magpie, Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Eurasian Blackbird, Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Little Raven (Corvus mellori) and Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca).

We reached Port Elliot where we called in at the Bakery, we got doughnut of the month before we went back to Basham Beach Road where we eat the Doughnut whilst watch several Southern Right Whale's (Eubalaena australis) but the wind was very strong so we decided to go down into Victor Harbour for a late lunch from the Fish and Chip shop.

Eagle View (Bull Creek) and Laratinga Wetland (Mount Barker) and Jupiter Creek (Echunga), South Australia.

Around the farms and latter visits to Laratinga and Jupiter Creek Gold Digging's looking for Orchids.

Australia, Day Fourty Seven.

Ebird List for Laratinga.

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) female.

We started the day at Eagle View by doing the feeding, as I walked down to the Goats I saw New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) and Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata).

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus).

Iater we went to Deb's Mom's and did the feeding there and added Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa).

Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea) male.

Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea) male.

Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea) male.

Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea) female.

Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea) female.

Deb, Ian and I later headed to Mount Barker where Deb and I dropped Ian off at the cinema before going and having a walk around the Laratinga Wetlands, we parked and walked in passed yet another very smart Picnic area.

Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).

Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa).

We walked along several different tracks and around several pools, as we went we had views of Chestnut (Anas castanea) and Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Hardhead (Aythya australis), Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus), Australian Crake (Porzana fluminea) x1, Spotless Crake (Zapornia tabuensis) x4, Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) and a very entertaining White-faced Heron. which caught a lizard and did a strange sort of dance as it hunted.

Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae).

Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae).

Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus).

Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus).

Spotless Crake (Zapornia tabuensis).

Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa).

In the surrounding trees, bushes and reeds we picked up Little Grassbird (Poodytes gramineus), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Crimson Rosella, Rainbow Lorikeet, Superb Fairywren, Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), White-plumed (Ptilotula penicillata), New Holland, Brown-headed (Melithreptus brevirostris) and White-naped Honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus), Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus), Crested Shrike-tit (Falcunculus frontatus), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) and Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis).

White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae).

White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae).

White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae).

We picked Ian up from the Cinema and we then went out to Jupiter Creek and had a walk around the woods there where we found the leaves of a couple of Orchid species, the first Mayfly Orchid (Nemacianthus caudatus) had a few with flower spikes forming but the Fire Orchids (Pyrorchis nigricans) were just in leaf as well as the insectivorous Climbing Sundew (Drosera planchonii).

Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata).

Little Grassbird (Poodytes gramineus).

Female Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus).

The BBQ.

The eating area.

As we walked around we also had White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea), White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos) and Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata).

Climbing Sundew (Drosera planchonii).

Mayfly Orchid (Nemacianthus caudatus).

Fire orchid (Pyrorchis nigricans) leaves.

Eagle View, Bull Creek, South Australia.

A day indoors with a few birds from the windows.

Australia, Day Fourty Six.

 

Well what a day, luckily it was dry whilst Deb and I got the animals fed at the farm and at Deb's Mom's, I was help (or hindering, not sure which) as whilst we were away Ian had slipped on a wet muddy slope and had broken his Ankle / Leg.

Fortunately Petra had stepped in at very short notice to help while we were away but now we were back we got it done just before the very strong winds and rain arrived.

Even though we didn't go off the farm I still managed a few species including Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) and Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor) were seen whilst feeding.

From the cottage windows during the day I saw Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) and lots of Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla).

Port Macdonnell, French Point, Pick Swamp, Piccaninnie Ponds, Robe (Fox Lake Bird Hide and Beach), Salt Creek and along the Coorong, South Australia.

Heading back to Eagle View.

Australia, Day Fourty Five.

Ebird List for Martins Wash Pool area.

 

Musk Duck (Biziura lobata).

We popped up to the Harbour at Port Mac but as the weather was a tad rough we only saw several Musk Ducks (Biziura lobata), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae), Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles).

Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla).

Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla).

Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla).

We dropped back South West along the coast to a spot on the roadside near to French Point where we checked the rocky shoreline for waders and found a couple of Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris), 14x Double-banded Plover (Charadrius bicinctus), 50+ Red-necked Stints (Calidris ruficollis) along with my first Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) of the trip, Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and more Silver Gulls.

Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus).

Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus).

Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus).

Our nest stop was a little further west at Pick Swamp, on the way there we saw Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata), Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) and Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena).

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae).

We parked by the gate and went onto the site, we walked along the field edge to start with where we picked up a strange Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor) which sounded like a Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina) so Deb suspected that it might be a Hybrid between the two species.

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae).

Also seen were Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides), Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), flocks of Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla) and out on the main track around the pools Musk Duck, Black Swan, Superb Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) and then the first of two Australasian Bitterns (Botaurus poiciloptilus) which was the main reason for our visit to this spot along with the elusive Striated Fieldwren (Calamanthus fuliginosus) which we got next but it did stay elusive and only gave us brief views in a bush full of dead sticks.

Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans).

Other species included Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides), White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis), Masked Lapwing, Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) and Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans).

Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans).

We returned to the car and went a little further back west along the coast to Piccaninne Ponds where we checked the first of the ponds from the walkway and then we went to have a walk along the coast and into the scrub to reach another area of water but half way there we found that the path was closed for maintance (sign at the start of the path would have been nice), However we still saw Australian and Forest Raven (Corvus tasmanicus), Black Swan, Brown Thornbill, Swamp Harrier x3, Pied Oystercatcher, Little Grassbird (Poodytes gramineus), Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis), Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus) and a fly passed Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis).

Forest Raven (Corvus tasmanicus).

We set off heading back to Eagle View, as we drove towards Robe we had a flock of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo's (Calyptorhynchus funereus), Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris), European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) and Emu's (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

Forest Raven (Corvus tasmanicus).

At Fox Lake hide we had some smart Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea), Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) and down by the beach lots more Silver Gulls and a heard but not seen Rufous Bristlebird (Dasyornis broadbenti).

Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris).

Again we carried on North to our next stop off at Salt Creek Road, on the way we had more Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo's and Emu's, as well as Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides) and Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris).

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

We didn't go into the reserve as we found the main species we had come for right by the gate, first of all we had a single female Flame Robin (Petroica phoenicea) but this was soon followed by two stunning males, as well as Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), Spotted (Spilopelia chinensis) and Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida), Common (Phaps chalcoptera) and Brush Bronzewing (Phaps elegans), Superb Fairywren, Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata) and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis).

Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae).

Again we continued on back North, on the way up the side of the Coorong and Lake Alexandrina we picked up Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae), Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) and Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).

We arrived back and after taking Renate home we collapsed in heaps, knackered but feeling good after yet another great adventure.

Ocean Road Motel, Beauchamp Falls Campground, Beauchamp Falls, Gellibarand River (Old Ocean Road) in Victoria and on the road to Port Macdonnell, South Australia.

Back up the Hill and then along the coast to Port Mac.

Australia, Day Fourty Four.

 

Bassian Thrush (Zoothera lunulata).

I was up early and had a walk around the gardens of the Accommodation where I saw a Bowerbird of some sort but I misidentified it as a Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis) but then Deb came out of their room and put me right when she correctly Ided it as a female Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), we searched the Garden and had very brief views of the male which dived for cover.

Bassian Thrush (Zoothera lunulata).

Bassian Thrush (Zoothera lunulata).

We loaded up our kit and headed back up into the hills but this time we went to Beauchamp Falls but parked at the Beauchamp Falls Campground, in the camp area we had at least three Bassian Thrushes (Zoothera lunulata) which showed extreamly well along with Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus), White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) and as we walked down to the Waterfalls White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea) and Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis).

The Falls.

Renate and Deb.

Renate leading the way back up to the car.

We didn't see much as we walked down, however there were several Brown Thornbills (Acanthiza pusilla) plus the track was nice and the falls were smart, the walk back up was a tad harder going.

Australian Shovelers (Spatula rhynchotis) and Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).

Australian Shovelers (Spatula rhynchotis) and Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).

We left the site and drove back down towards the coast so we could rejoin the Great Ocean Road heading North West, just before we got there we stumbled across the reedbeds and pools around the Gellibrand River Nature Reserve where we had my first Australian Shovelers (Spatula rhynchotis) x4 as well as Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) and Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae).

Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans).

We reached the Great Ocean Road and headed for Port Mac, on the way and during a short damp stop somewhere in the Twelve Apostles National Park we added Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae), Black-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens), Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides), Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Australian (Threskiornis molucca) and Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), Black-shouldered (Elanus axillaris) and Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica) and Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).

One of the Twelve Apostles.

and three more.

We arrived in Port Mac and went for a quick look at the Harbour but the weather was taking a turn for the worse so we were brief and only saw Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos) and Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) along wih hundreds of Great Crested Terns and lots of Silver Gulls.

My Salt and Pepper Squid.

We went straight to the Victoria Hotel / Bay Pub where we had a nice meal, I really enjoyed my Salt and Pepper Squid and a Pud before we headed to our accommodation.