Loja Wildlife, Granada Province, Spain.: Googs Lake Campground, Yumbarra Conservation Park, Ceduna coastal area and Lake Gilles Conservation Park, South Australia.

Tuesday 7 November 2023

Googs Lake Campground, Yumbarra Conservation Park, Ceduna coastal area and Lake Gilles Conservation Park, South Australia.

Another 3 lifer day out West.

Australia, Day Sixty One.

Sun rise from my Swag.

During a more restless night than usual (usually out for the count when swagging)I heard a Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) calling from very near to the spot where we were camping as well as a noisy Australian Owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus).

The reserve sign.

Black-eared Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx osculans).

As we had breakfast we heard the first Black-eared Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx osculans) which flew into a nearby tree and allowed us to approach and get some photo's.

Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri).

After we had packed up Deb and I had a short walk around the camp site after hearing a couple of noisy Major Mitchell's Cockatoo's (Lophochroa leadbeateri), we found one f the birds down on the ground and then the second bird flew passed us from another tree and then they both flew off to be replaced by some well behaved Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius ssp zonarius) of the Port Lincoln type.

Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius ssp zonarius).

Other species seen before we moved off included mobs of Yellow-throated Miners (Manorina flavigula), Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris) and White-fronted Honeyeater (Purnella albifrons).

Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis).

Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus).

On the way to Ceduna we picked up Copperback Quail-thrush (Cinclosoma clarum), Jacky-winter (Microeca fascinans), Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis), Redthroat (Pyrrholaemus brunneus), Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus), Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis) and lots of Quandong Trees (Santalum acuminatum) by the time we reached the Dog fence.

Jacky-winter (Microeca fascinans).

Once we were passed the Dog fence and in the more agricultural areas we added Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

Quandong Fruit (Santalum acuminatum).

The Dog Fence at the entrance to Yumbarra.

We arrived in Ceduna and had some food in the Blue Dolphin before checking the shore at several spots around the town but it was generally very quiet and we only found Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus), Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) and Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).

Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius).

Our final area of the day was going to be in Lake Guilles CP where we were going to be looking for the three main species of the day, on the way we passed a pool next to a farm where we saw good numbers of Grey Teal x 300+ and at least a 100 or so Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) and also added Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Blue-breasted Fairywren (Malurus pulcherrimus).

Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta).

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens).

Our first stop in the Lake Guilles area was along a track just off the main Eyre Highway were almost straight away we picked up a family party of the beautiful Blue-breasted Fairywren (Malurus pulcherrimus) which were the first of the lifers, also seen in this area were Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens), Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris) and Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis).

Rufous Treecreeper (Climacteris rufus).

A little further along the highway we turned off into another area of woodland and we were soon watching the 2nd target species the Rufous Treecreeper (Climacteris rufus) which showed well through the bins but was always distant.

The Entrance to the main CP.

Western Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria griseogularis).

Our final stop of the day was not far away but was in the main park where we were going to be camping and looking for the 3rd species the Western Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria griseogularis) which after a bit of a search we found whilst Ian set up camp.

The Mallee.

White-eared Honeyeater (Nesoptilotis leucotis).

In this area of Mallee we also saw Inland Thornbill, Mulga Parrot, a single Rufous Treecreeper, Galah, Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus) and Purple-crowned Lorikeet (Parvipsitta porphyrocephala).