Eagle View, South Australia.

Around the farm.

Australia, Day Seventy Nine.

New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae).

Deb was off out to a market before dawn and Ian was heading for a Clay shooting day and as the weather was not going to be brilliant I decided to stay put and get on with a bit more catching up on the laptop.

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla).

Whilst birding through the windows I saw Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Common Brown (Heteronympha merope).

Eagle View, South Australia.

A day around the farm.

Australia, Day Seventy Eight.

Looking down the Valley to the Coorong.

I was up at around 06:00 and sorting a few bits on the laptop in front of the big windows of the cottage and started the day list off with Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) and House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).

After Breakfast I went out to the cow fields with Ian on the Gator, we passsed the two Dams where I added Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) and Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos).

Other species seen whilst out included Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) along with Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus), Common Brown (Heteronympha merope), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Small White (Pieris rapae) and Australian Emperor (Anax papuensis).

Back at the farm I continued to watch was passing as I worked on the Laptop, new species included Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) and a Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) which was being mobbed by a big gang of Little Ravens.

Later Deb, Ian and I picked fruit and Rhubarb ready for Deb to take it to the Markets over the weekend.

Belair CP and Near Parra Winna CP, South Australia.

A visit to see the Square-tailed Kite.

Australia, Day Seventy Seven.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura).

Deb and I headed out Early as we were going to monitor the Kites again but the weather was set to come in and turn nasty by early afternoon, we arrived at the Belair site and put the chairs but the birds were missing which was not surprising as the wind was very strong and conditions were quite unpleasant.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura).

Eventually the female flew in and spent some time clinging to a branch near the nest and then continued to collect a branch or two, whilst we were there we also saw Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops), Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris), Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris), Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Common Brown (Heteronympha merope) and Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae).

We were lucky and managed to do the monitoring in full before the rain arrived just as we reached the car, we decided to just pop into the nest near Parra Winna to check on the chicks which we were pleased to see were all looking fine so we returned to the farm in the rain.

Renmark area, South Australia.

A walk around Paringa Paddock Trail with Elizabeth and a visit to her property later.

Australia, Day Seventy Six.

Little Friarbird (Philemon citreogularis) the first of quite a few.

Deb and I headed into Renmark where we met Deb's friend Elizabeth, before she arrived we started the list with Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae), Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala), Fairy (Petrochelidon ariel) and Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae), Great White Egret (Ardea alba), Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) and White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata).

Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus).

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis).

White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica).

Elizabeth arrived and we went for Coffee before heading to the Paringa Paddock Trail where we went for a walk through the woodlands and around the pools finding good numbers of Striped (Plectorhyncha lanceolata), White-plumed and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis), Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris), Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides), Crimson (Yellow) Rosella (Platycercus elegans ssp flaveolus), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa), White-necked (Ardea pacifica) and White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) and then at a junction in the track we had the first of several Little Friarbirds  (Philemon citreogularis).

Little Friarbird  (Philemon citreogularis).

Little Friarbird  (Philemon citreogularis).

Little Friarbird  (Philemon citreogularis).

We searched the area for a much rarer Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus) which Deb and Elizabeth were convinced they could hear but we did not get good enough views or photographs to be certain unfortunately.

Eremophila species.

Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) male left.

Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus).

Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus) feeding on the flowers.

We walked up to and along the Murry River and then back to the cars adding Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Little Grassbird (Poodytes gramineus), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus), Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis), Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus), Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Red-backed (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius) and Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus), Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida), Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis), Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans), White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus) and Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza uropygialis).

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus).

White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus).

Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans) immature.

The strangest thing I saw whilst we were birding in this area was when a Australian Pelican flew over and a Red Wattlebird flew up from the trees and bit the tail feathers of the Pelican and hung there for around 5 seconds before letting go and dropping back into the trees.

A view over to Pike River Conservation Park.

We returned to the cars and then headed for Elizabeth's place and once there we had a nice lunch and then went out for a walk around the lands there which Elizabeth and her husband have been re-vegetating for a few years.

Greater Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster).

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus).

As we walked we picked up Shingleback Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa), Chestnut-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps), Greater Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster), Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius), Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), Grey Butcherbird, Whistling Kites and a Sacred Kingfisher.

Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) immature.

Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) immature.

We said  thanks and goodbye to Elizabeth and returned to the woodlands we had been in earlier hoping to find the Noisy Friarbird but again we could not get anything convincing but we did add White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor) and Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum).

Australian Ringneck (Barnardius zonarius x barnardi).

We gave up on the Friarbirds and then headed back to eagle view, on the way we saw Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) and Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis).

Eagle View, Billiatt CP, Loxton and Camping park near Renmark, South Australia.

A couple of days out east in the Mallee and River Lands hoping for the 8th Grasswren.

Australia, Day Seventy Five.

Ebird List for Billiatt.

Ebird List for Loxton.

Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens) male.

Deb and I were headed off out east hoping to pick up a couple of SA lifers for me and some year ticks for Deb, before we left we saw Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and several Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus). 

White-eared Honeyeater (Nesoptilotis leucotis).

On the way down to Talem Bend we added Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Black-shouldered (Elanus axillaris) and Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis), Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) and Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca).

Western Whistler (Pachycephala fuliginosa).

We stopped at Talem Bend for Breakfast and then headed onward to Billiatt seeing Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) and White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos).

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We arrived at Billiatt and drove into the site, we parked and went for a walk out into the Mallee / Scrub and on the way out we had brief views of the 8th of 8 Grasswren species for South Australia the Striated Grasswren (Amytornis striatus) but that was the best we did with this difficult species.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).

As we walked we added White-eared (Nesoptilotis leucotis), Brown-headed (Melithreptus brevirostris) and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters (Acanthagenys rufogularis), Shy Heathwren (Hylacola cauta), Southern Scrub-Robin (Drymodes brunneopygia), Purple-backed (Malurus assimilis) and Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Western (Pachycephala fuliginosa) and Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris), Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris), Inland Thornbill (Acanthiza apicalis), Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus), White-browed (Artamus superciliosus) and Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus) and Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus). 

Blue-faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis) adult.

Blue-faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis) immature.

Blue-faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis) immature.

By the time we returned to the car it was getting rather warm so we left and headed off to Loxton along the River Murry where we had a walk and found a single Little Friarbird (Philemon citreogularis) and several Blue-faced Honeyeaters (Entomyzon cyanotis) as well as Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae), Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) and Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala).

Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae).

Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae).

Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae).

Whilst we were there Deb rang an ecologist friend who lives near Renmark which was a little further up the river and asked her for some info and also arranged to meet her tomorrow morning.

Great White Egret (Ardea alba).

We headed off up to Renmark and found some accommodation at one of the campsites beside the river, before turning in we sat on the side of the river and had views of Whistling Kite, Silver Gull, Pied (Phalacrocorax varius), Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos) and Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae), Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus), Black Duck, Australian Wood Duck, Australian Ibis, Great White Egret (Ardea alba), Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner and what I first thought was a small log in the river but it developed ears as it got closer and turned into a Australian Water Rat (Hydromys chrysogaster).

Australian Water Rat (Hydromys chrysogaster).

Belair CP and Near Parra Winna CP, South Australia.

Back out watching the beautiful Square-tailed Kites.

Australia, Day Seventy Four.

Square-tailed Kites (Lophoictinia isura).

Deb and I were up and out earlier than usual today as we wanted to beat the weather and get the monitoring done before we got wet.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura).

We arrived on site and watched the Kites comings and goings for the next 4 hours, whilst there we also picked up Purple-crowned (Parvipsitta porphyrocephala), Rainbow (Trichoglossus moluccanus) and Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus), Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris), Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis), Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus), Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris), Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops), Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) and Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis).

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus).

Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus).

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).

Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla).

During the survey I went for a walk down to the lake and back, during the walk I saw many of the same species but added Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala) and Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius).

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius).

Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala) being noisy.

Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala).

Back at the monitoring spot we picked up Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla), lots of Common Browns (Heteronympha merope), Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus) and Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

Common Brown (Heteronympha merope).

We returned to the car and headed off to our second spot, once we were on site we were pleased to see that the youngest of the chicks was still alive and looking well but noticeably smaller that the two old birds.

Square-tailed Kites (Lophoictinia isura).

Square-tailed Kites (Lophoictinia isura).

Square-tailed Kites (Lophoictinia isura).

We again watched the birds for the next few hours and also added Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris), Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus), White-plumed (Ptilotula penicillata) and Brown-headed Honeyeater (Melithreptus brevirostris), Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), Buff-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza reguloides), Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus), Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Monarch (Danaus plexippus) and Marbled Xenica (Geitoneura klugii).

5x Square-tailed Kites (Lophoictinia isura).

Square-tailed Kites (Lophoictinia isura).

Square-tailed Kites (Lophoictinia isura).

Square-tailed Kites (Lophoictinia isura).

On the way back to the farm we picked up Western Whistler (Pachycephala fuliginosa), Great Crested (Podiceps cristatus) and Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) and Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena).

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) male with prey item.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) male with prey item.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) male with prey item.