Mount Ive to Koonalda Homestead, South Australia.

A long drive to the West.

Australia, Day Fifty Eight.

Mt Ive's own Sand Sub.

We packed the car and were on our way for the long drive to the western edge of the state, around the camp we saw Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens) and Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena).

The Sand Sub.

Crested Pigeons (Ocyphaps lophotes).

We left the Station accommodation but on the way out we called in at a spot we had seen yesterday which looked better for the Western Grasswren (Amytornis textilis) but again we failed to find it but we did see Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus), Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus), 2x Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) and Euro / Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus).

Hairy Nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) burrow.

We left the area calling to have a look at the Mt Ive Sand Sub on the way out, we stayed on the tracks out to Ceduna, on the way we saw Jacky-winter (Microeca fascinans), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Greater Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster), Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius ssp zonarius) Port Lincoln, Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus), White-backed Swallow (Cheramoeca leucosterna), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Western Grey (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus), Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus), Hairy Nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) burrows and Sand Goanna (Varanus gouldii).

Rock Parrot (Neophema petrophila).

Rock Parrot (Neophema petrophila).

We had a stop in Ceduna where we had some food and then checked out the beach there seeing Silver (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) and Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus), Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) and just along the coast at Murat Bay where I picked up another lifer in the shape of a Rock Parrot (Neophema petrophila), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola), Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus) and Greenshank (Tringa nebularia).

Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus).

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata).

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis).

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis).

We continued on to a spot near Penong, on the way we picked up Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) and at the spot my second lifer of the day, 4x Oriental Plovers (Charadrius veredus) which we saw well through the scope but the heat haze prevented us getting any decent photo's.

Salt on Point Sinclair Pink Lake.

Salt on Point Sinclair Pink Lake.

Salt on Point Sinclair Pink Lake.

From this spot we went along the road from Penong to Point Sinclair Pink Lake, Point Sinclair Jetty and then Cactus Beach, along the track in we checked the lakes finding good numbers of waders and other species including Banded Stilt (Cladorhynchus leucocephalus), Greenshank, Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Sharp-tailed (Calidris acuminata) and Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Silver and Pacific Gull.

Point Sinclair Pink Lake.

We returned to the main A1 and continued on, along the motorway I saw a couple of Australian Bustards (Ardeotis australis) which flew up from the right hand side of the highway as we went passed, unfortunately only I saw them properly and as hard as we searched we could not relocate them.

We turned off the Highway and took the track to the abandoned Koonalda Station where we planned to stay the night.

One of the pools on the way to the beach.

Part of the Dune system.

As we drove in we picked up Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), White-browed Babbler, Mulga Parrot, Nankeen Kestrel, Wedge-tailed Eagle and my third lifer of the day the very local Naretha Blue Bonnet (Northiella narethae).

Point Sinclair Jetty.

Cactus Beach.

We got the swags out and stayed on the verandah of one of the out buildings.

Mount Ive and Mount Ive Station, South Australia.

A lifer Grasswren day.

Australia, Day Fifty Seven.

Ebird List for Mt Ive. 

The Summit of Mt Ive, our destination.

After a decent nights sleep we were up and around and soon getting ready for the accent of Mt Ive, all 309 meters of it but before we set off we saw Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis), White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus) and Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

My first views of the extreamly elusive Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi) through the Spinifex Tussocks it lives amongst.

Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi).

We drove to the halfway point and the started our search for the difficult to find Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi) and it was difficult but after some time Deb and then Ian started to hear a pair in the thick Spinifex grass tussocks below us so we spread out and watched.

Short-tailed Grasswren (Amytornis merrotsyi).

After a while a bird appeared in front of Ian and I got around to him in time to get tickable views before they went missing again but a little while later it reappeared and I managed to get some pictures through the tussocks and then for just a couple of seconds one of the two birds sat out for me, such a brilliant group of birds.

On our way up the hill.

Whilst we were searching we also saw Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis), Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Deb and Ian at the Summit of Mt Ive.

Happy Grasswren birders.

As we walked back to the car we saw several Lizard species which I still need to get names for along with Euro / Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) and Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys).

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The view from where we parked.

Just about clinging to life.

Once we were back at the car we returned to the station and chilled for a while until things cooled down the later Deb and I headed out for a longish walk from the Station searching for the Western Grasswren (Amytornis textilis) but we didn't find it but did find Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Little Buttonquail (Turnix velox), White-winged (Malurus leucopterus) and Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens), Redthroat (Pyrrholaemus brunneus), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons) and Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius ssp zonarius) the Port Lincoln ssp.

Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys).

Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys).

Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula).

White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus).

The degraded habitat for the Western Grasswren (Amytornis textilis).

 

Eagle View, Adelaide, Bald Hill Beach and Mount Ive, South Australia.

Heading Out North West to MT Ive.

Australia, Day Fifty Six.

Ebird List.

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) and Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius) and Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae).

We were up and about early, around the farm we saw Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Little (Anthochaera chrysoptera) and Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) before heading off through Adelaide for the North.

Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) and Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius) and Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae).

On the way we picked up Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Hardhead (Aythya australis), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), Australian (Threskiornis molucca) and Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) and during a short stop off in the city we picked up Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala), Feral Pigeon (Columba livia), Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis), Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius) and Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

Red Knot (Calidris canutus) and Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres).

We continued on North towards Port Wakefield but made a stop in Dublin for a very good Bacon and egg roll and coffee, during this part of the trip we saw Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides), Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae), Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) and Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides).

Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis).

Just before we reached Port Wakefield we called in at Bald Hill Beach, on the drive in we saw Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens) and on the nearest part of the beach there was a good concentration of Little Pied, Little Black and Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius), over to our left we saw Great Crested (Thalasseus bergii), Caspian (Hydroprogne caspia) and Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis), Silver and Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) and another Birder.

Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca).

We started to make our way over towards the other birder as he was in a good spot to check on the waders which were near to him, it turned out to be Paul Taylor who Deb already knew and regularly monitored the waders at the site, whilst we chatted with him we saw Red Knot (Calidris canutus), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) x3, Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) and Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus). 

Ground Cuckooshrikes (Coracina maxima).

Ground Cuckooshrikes (Coracina maxima).

Ground Cuckooshrike (Coracina maxima).

We walked back to the cars and Paul took us to a spot nearby to see if there were any roosting waders on a shallow pool in the Samphire but it was empty, however we did find Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis), White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus), Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus), Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis), Great White (Ardea alba) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), White-faced Heron, Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans) and Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae).

Ground Cuckooshrikes (Coracina maxima).

Ground Cuckooshrike (Coracina maxima).

We moved on and headed up around Port Augusta on to Eyre Highway and then onward along the Nonning Road to Mount Ive Station where we were going to be staying for a couple of nights, on the way we picked up Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus), Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus), Purple-backed (Malurus assimilis) and White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus), Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa), Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephala leucopsis), Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops), Greater Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster), Jacky-winter (Microeca fascinans) and best of all a lifer in the shape of 3 Ground Cuckooshrikes (Coracina maxima).

Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus).

Also seen as we traveled were Shingleback Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa), Euro / Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus), Western Grey (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus) and Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus) and Small White (Pieris rapae).

Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens).

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens).

We arrived at Mt Ive and got sorted into our accommodation, later Deb, Ian and I went for a walk hoping to find the uncommon Western Grasswren (Amytornis textilis) but unfortunatley we failed, however we did find Redthroat (Pyrrholaemus brunneus), Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula), Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) and Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata).

Loosing the light.

Ian had walked back earlier and by the time Deb and I returned had prepared us a very nice meal which we enjoyed along with a couple of beers before turning in.

and the suns gone.