Belair NP and a Private site near Para Wirra Conservation Park, South Australia.

Back out watching the stunning Square-tailed Kites with Deb.

Australia, Day Forty.

Just before dawn and we were off to Belair.

Deb and I were out early again and soon on site in the woodlands of Belair National Park near Adelaide, today we were going to be joined by Bevin Scholz who has been watching this nest for a good few years.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura).

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura).

We arrived and the female Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) was on site but there was no sign of the male bird, we sat down and started to record the goings on, the female was still collecting the odd branch and taking it back to the nest.

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus).

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla).

As we watched and recorded the birds actions we also saw Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla),  Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris), Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica) and a sleepy Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) which sat in a tree near to where we were sat.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) the Male.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura).

Bevin arrived and we spent some time chatting about the Kites then I mentioned that I was also interested in Orchids, so I was pleased when he said that after had been to see someone he needed to meet he would take me and show me a few species in the park, he returned and we went off to a different area and he soon found several new species for me including Eastern Mantis (Caladenia tentaculata), Narrow-lipped Spider (Caladenia leptochilla), Purple Beard (Calochilus robertsonii) and Plum Leek (Paraprasophyllum pruinosum) and possibly Bilobed Onion Orchid (Microtis biloba) ????? Thanks Bevin.

Eastern Mantis Orchid (Caladenia tentaculata).

Narrow-lipped Spider Orchid (Caladenia leptochilla).

Plum Leek Orchid (Paraprasophyllum pruinosum).

Plum Leek Orchid (Paraprasophyllum pruinosum).

Purple Beard Orchid (Calochilus robertsonii).

Bilobed Onion Orchid (Microtis biloba) ?????

We returned to deb and shortly after getting back the male also arrived for a brief visit before heading off again.

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

During the rest of the morning there we also saw Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus), Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna), Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris) and Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura).

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).

We all headed off, Deb and I made our way to the second site we were going to monitor at a Private location near the Para Wirra CP, on the way we had Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Hardhead (Aythya australis), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) and Monarch (Danaus plexippus).

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus).

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus).

Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus).

Once we were set up the chairs in the same place as last time and watched but it was quite a while before the male returned to the nest with some prey which both parent birds fed to the three chicks in the nest.

Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae).

Buff-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza reguloides).

In the same area we saw Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus), Buff-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza reguloides), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus), Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Purple-crowned (Parvipsitta porphyrocephala) and Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus), White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos), Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida), Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum) female, Small White (Pieris rapae) and a Skink species that needs a name.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) pair and the head of one chick.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) pair.

On the way back to the farm we added Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Great White Egret (Ardea alba), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Great (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris).

Skink species.

Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum) female.