Driving South to Port Macdonnell, Pick Swamp and Port Macdonnell, South Australia.

A travelling day with some birding at the end.

Australia, Day Three.

The Waffle.

In the Garden before we set off South I picked up a few bits in the garden including Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) which were calling before dawn as usual, New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) and both Little (Anthochaera chrysoptera) and Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata).

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen).

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen).

After dropping Molly and Maddie the dogs off at Deb's Mom's we started the drive down to Port Macdonnell, down on the border with Victoria State where we were going to be going out on a Pelagic birding trip tomorrow.

Australian Pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus).

In the garden and surroundings at Deb's Moms we saw Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Western Whistler (Pachycephala fuliginosa), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Blackbird (Turdus merula) and Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans).

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).

On the way south between between Deb's and Coonalpyn we saw Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor),  Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora) and as we crossed the Murry River a flock of Australian Pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus) and several Silver Gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae).

Beautiful Firetail (Stagonopleura bella).

Beautiful Firetail (Stagonopleura bella).

Beautiful Firetail (Stagonopleura bella).

We stopped on the edge of Coonalpyn for a coffee and a waffle, we both had the very nice one covered in Lemon Curd which tasted absolutly brilliant. We finished used the loos and went on but not before adding Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula) and Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna).

Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica).

During the second part of the drive down to the Port we added to the day list and my life list with Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), at least 6 Wedge-tailed Eagles (Aquila audax), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), a couple of largish flocks of Long-billed Corellas (Cacatua tenuirostris), a pair of Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides) and Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles).

Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

We reached Port Macdonnell but Deb wanted to take me to a spot a few KM further on at Pick Swamp, on the way I got brief views of Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) and Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus) and just before we parked we saw good numbers of Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata).

Blue-winged Parrot (Neophema chrysostoma).

At the Swamp we parked and had a walk, straight away we added Black Swans (Cygnus atratus) when we saw a good number on the many pools, as we walked on new species included Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla), 3x Blue-winged Parrot (Neophema chrysostoma), a distant Musk Duck (Biziura lobata) and several of the stunning Beautiful Firetail (Stagonopleura bella).

Black Swans (Cygnus atratus) as the sun was dropping low.

We also heard but didn't see Striated Fieldwren (Calamanthus fuliginosus) and Southern Emuwren (Stipiturus malachurus) and also had good numbers of Western Grey Kangaroo's (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus) arond the whole area.

Sun set at Pick Swamp.

Later we walked back to the car hearing a Little Raven (Corvus mellori) before leaving and going to meet Sue and David at the accommodation for the night. Later we went to a place called Perriwinkles and had a very nice meal with most of the group who were going out on the boat in the morning.