Eagle View, South Australia.

A day around the Farm.

Australia, Day Forty Four.

Today was going to be a bit of a sit on my backside day after the last few days of lifting Bales, I did venture out with Ian to check the cows which worked out well as we saw the 2 missing Wedge-tailed Eagles (Aquila audax) from down by the second dam as well as Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) and Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca).

Around the farm it was the usual species which included Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus), Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Little (Anthochaera chrysoptera) and Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Crescent (Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus) and New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis).

Deb's Moms, Bull Creek, South Australia.

Bringing in the Hay.

Australia, Day Forty Three.

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus).

We were up and out over to Deb's Moms where Deb and I continued to fetch in the Hay off the Top Meadow whilst Ian baled the lower paddock, later we all mucked in before Ian took the baler back to Eagle View and Deb and I tried to get finished but ended up running out of fuel 13 bails short of completion.

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus).

During the day I saw a few species but the best was a very confiding Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus) which sat very nicely for the Camera during one of the drinks breaks we had.

Clinton Consevation Park, Port Wakefield, South Australia.

Wader watching North of Adelaide with Deb.

Australia, Day Forty Two.

Ebird List.

At the back of the Mangroves.

We were up and out early and on our way up to Clinton CP looking for waders as we wanted to be back to help Ian after he had baled the top meadow at Deb's Moms place.

Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae).

Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae).

Little Black Cormorants (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris).

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia).

On the way up we saw Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Black-shouldered (Elanus axillaris) and Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides) and Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae).

Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae).

Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae).

Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).

We arrived at the gate of Clinton CP, Deb had all ready got permission to drive in which save quite a long walk so we headed along the track picking up Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), Australasian Bushlark (Mirafra javanica), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Brown Songlark (Cincloramphus cruralis), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens) and Brown Falcon (Falco berigora).

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus).

Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus).

We parked and after putting our wellies on we continued out to the shore line, as we went we crossed an area of Samphire with several large pools of water where we picked up the first of a good number of Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus), as well as a single White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons), Samphire / Slender-billed Thornbill (Acanthiza iredalei ssp rosinae) and a single flyby Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans).

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis).

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis).

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis).

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) and Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis).

Once we were out on the shore line we started to walk south following a line of off shore Mangrove trees, along this stretch of water we saw Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), Great White Egret (Ardea alba), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Black-shouldered Kite, Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis) and Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus).

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus).

Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis).

Red Knot (Calidris canutus).

Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris).

Further on we picked up more and more waders as the tide started to drop, first were Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Curlew (Calidris ferruginea) and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), Pied (Haematopus longirostris) and Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus) and Greenshank (Tringa nebularia).

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus).

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus).

At the top end of the beach we could see good numbers of Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), 3x Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), 2x Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), Red Knot (Calidris canutus) and lots of Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) but things kept getting shock up due to a Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) and a pair of  Black Falcons (Falco subniger) continually flushed the waders.

Black Falcon (Falco subniger).

Black Falcon (Falco subniger).

Black Falcon (Falco subniger).

As the tide dropped further we added more species including at least 9x Greater Sand Plovers (Charadrius leschenaultii), 2x Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus), Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Gull-billed (Gelochelidon nilotica), Australian (Gelochelidon macrotarsa), Little (Sternula albifrons), Australian Fairy (Sternula nereis), Whiskered (Chlidonias hybrida) and Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii), Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos) and Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca).

Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca).

Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica).

Gull-billed (Gelochelidon nilotica) and Australian Tern (Gelochelidon macrotarsa).

Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta).

Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta).

We returned to the car adding Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis) and Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans) before heading back South adding just Hardhead (Aythya australis), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) and Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) on the way.

8 of the 9 Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii).

3x Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii) and a Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis).

6x Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii).

Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris).

Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus).

We arrived at Deb's Moms and chatted with Ian before going back to the farm and getting changed to make a start on getting the Bales in.

Eagle View, Deb's Moms and Tolderol, South Australia.

A visit to a wetland site which used to be one of the best in SA.

Australia, Day Forty One.

Ebird List for Tolderol.

White-naped Honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus).

We were up and about quite early as we were having a mornings birding whilst Ian baled the meadow at the farm then later we were all mucking in to get the bales stacked in the shed, before we left I saw Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) and Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata).

Black Falcon (Falco subniger).

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus).

Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides), Black-tailed Nativehen (Tribonyx ventralis), both Australian (Threskiornis molucca) and Straw-necked (Threskiornis spinicollis), Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) and Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae).

Before we headed out south we popped over to Deb's Mom's and check all was good and saw Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), New Holland (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) and White-naped Honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) and Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus).

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos).

Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans).

Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans).

We left there and headed South towards Tolderol picking up Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), Black Kite (Milvus migrans) and Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis).

White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons).

On the drive into the Wetland along the farm tracks we checked a wet paddock and had very good numbers of Black-tailed Nativehen (Tribonyx ventralis), both Australian (Threskiornis molucca) and Straw-necked (Threskiornis spinicollis), Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides), Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) and sitting around watching for meals several Whistling Kites (Haliastur sphenurus) and a female Black Falcon (Falco subniger).

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris).

Euro / Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus).

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata).

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus).

Once we were on the reserve we checked out the main ponds and ditches seeing good numbers of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (Calidris acuminata), Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) x5, Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus), Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus), Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae), Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Australian Crake (Porzana fluminea), Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Great (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Great White Egret (Ardea alba), a single Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes), Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Elegant Parrots (Neophema elegans), White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis), Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Little Grassbird (Poodytes gramineus), Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), surprisingly a couple of Euro / Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus) and a large Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) which moved from the grass just to the side of where I was standing and then continued to shuffle around in the reeds a couple of meters away.

Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis).

Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae).

Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae).

On the way out of the reserve we added Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) but nothing else.

Loading up the gator, there's still a few to go.

Once we were back at the farm we got straight on with collecting the bales in and by the time we did that we were all ready for something to eat and a sit down.