Wetland near Finniss (Private Site), South Australia.

Out with Deb on a Survey.

Australia, Day Thirty Two.

Dawn on Site.

We were back to the early starts as we had to be at the site for first light, the area was a really good bit of marshy wetland with open water, the main species we were looking for was the beautiful Southern Emuwren (Stipiturus malachurus).

Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus) in the mist.

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) into the Sun.

We arrived, parked and put on our Wellies, waterproof leggings and the set off on what turned out to be a more tiring walk than I had expected through the swampy grassland and areas of Reeds and Sedges, as well as quite a few Southern Emuwrens we saw Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), a single Stubble Quail (Coturnix pectoralis) which Deb was surprised to see in this habitat, a lifer for me.

Southern Emuwren (Stipiturus malachurus) Male.

Southern Emuwren (Stipiturus malachurus) Male.

We crossed into different areas of the swamp and kept adding new species including Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida), Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Little Black (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) and Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis), Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis), Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis), Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Australian (Threskiornis molucca) and Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis) and Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca).

Southern Emuwren (Stipiturus malachurus) Male.

Southern Emuwren (Stipiturus malachurus) Male.

We also saw a good number of Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Australian Swamp Rat (Rattus lutreolus) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)

Back at the farm I added European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), Musk (Glossopsitta concinna) and Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) and Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus).

Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).