Heading back East across the top of South Australia.

A day making our way back across the Out Back.

Australia, Day Thirteen.

 

Desert Oaks (Allocasuarina decaisneana).

We set off quite early as we had quiet a drive (I use the royal we as Ian and Deb did all the driving), as we started we had Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) and Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).

We again went out onto one of the many tracks and made our way towards one of the larger dirt roads heading east, as we did we picked up several Brown Falcons (Falco berigora) sitting in track side bushes and trees, hoards of Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata), Black-faced Woodswallows (Artamus cinereus), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Purple-backed Fairywren (Malurus assimilis) and several Torresian Crows (Corvus orru).

Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata) female.

White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus) male.

Once we were on the main track we made good time but still picked up good birds from the car including Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), a couple of small flocks of Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Crested Bellbird (Oreoica gutturalis), lots of Budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Singing (Gavicalis virescens) and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis), a pair of Hooded Robins (Melanodryas cucullata) but only the female gave us a chance of a photo, Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) and as we cme around a corner we had a group of 7 Major Mitchell's Cockatoos (Lophochroa leadbeateri) flush up off a patch of Paddy Melons (Cucumis myriocarpus).

Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor).

Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor).

Crimson Chat (Epthianura tricolor).

Continuing on again we had Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis), a flock of Crimson Chats (Epthianura tricolor), White-fronted Honeyeater (Purnella albifrons), Diamond Doves (Geopelia cuneata), Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis), Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis) and 4x Mulga Parrots (Psephotus varius).

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri).

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri).

We pulled off the main track and checked out a leaking water pump which had formed a small pool, there were masses of Zebra Finches and Diamond Doves but not a great deal else and what was there was very nervous and we soon worked out why when a pair of Brown Goshawks (Accipiter fasciatus) swooped in having a go at the finches.

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Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata).

Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus).

In the same area we had Brown Falcon, Budgie's, Singing Honeyeater, White-winged Fairywrens (Malurus leucopterus), Brown Songlark (Cincloramphus cruralis) and a brief flyby Pied Honeyeater (Certhionyx variegatus).

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax).

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax).

We again continued on until we reached some S**T Ponds, on the way we had a Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) which was being mobbed by a group of Torresian Crows (Corvus orru), at the pools we Tree Martins (Petrochelidon nigricans),  my first White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna) which was a very smart chap, Hardhead (Aythya australis) x2, Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Australasian (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) and Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), more Zebra Finches and another Wedge-tailed Eagle.

Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).

On the last leg of the drive we had quite a few Feral Donkeys which are a big problem in the Out Back, Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius) x2, Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Australian Hobby, Mulga Parrots and then the star bird of the day.

Some of the 5 million or more Feral Donkeys which are a big problem in the Out Back.

Feral Donkeys.

Suddenly Ian hit the breaks, slowed down, turned the vehicle around and drove back to check a bird on one of the Stobie pole with out taking his eyes off it as he was sure of his Identification straight away and wanted to make sure it didn't fly, when Deb and I saw the bird we instantly realized it was out third Grey Falcon (Falco hypoleucos) of this part of the trip.

Grey Falcon (Falco hypoleucos) immature.

The immature bird sat nicely giving us the chance to get good shots of this incredibly rare bird, we were happy with this sighting as we thought it was unlikely we would get another chance to get photos.

We continued on and reached the accommodation just before dark.