Eagle View, South Australia.

Watching the reason Eagle View is called Eagle View.

Australia, Day Eighty Six.

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax).

Today was a rest day at the farm and a chance to catch up with some work on the laptop but as I did this I saw 4 Wedge-tailed Eagles (Aquila audax), 2 were the resident pair which spent time displaying and showing their territorial dominance to the visitors.

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax).

I also saw Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Little (Anthochaera chrysoptera) and Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis).

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax).

Later in the day friends Sue and Dave came down from the North of the city for a meal, we had a nice meal and a good chat telling Dave about our plans for the last few days of my stay which included going north to the Port Clinton area.

Dave suggested that we follow them to their place and then we could do some birding in the Northern areas of Adelaide and then stay with them and head north early the following day from there.

Near Finniss and Eagle View, South Australia.

Back to the Marshes near Finniss monitoring the Southern Emu-wrens.

Australia, Day Eighty Five.

Ebird List for Finniss area.

Sun rise at the survey site.

Deb and I were up before 05:00 so that we were on site and at the start point before 06:00, the water level was up a little from the first time and this made going quite difficult at times, there was quite a bit of mist over the lake where we saw several Australian Pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Black Swans (Cygnus atratus), Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) and Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).

Australian Pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus) in the mist.

Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans).

For most of the early part of the walk the sky was full of Australasian Darters (Anhinga novaehollandiae), Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Great (Phalacrocorax carbo), Little Black (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) and Pied Cormorants (Phalacrocorax varius) as they left their roost site at a nearby lake.

Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae).

Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis).

As we carried out the survey we recorded over 60 of the target Southern Emuwrens (Stipiturus malachurus) which is over double the counts of 2022, numbers are thought to have increased drastically due to the flooding of the area and its surroundings after large falls of rain in 2022.

Southern Emuwren (Stipiturus malachurus).

Southern Emuwren (Stipiturus malachurus).

Other species seen included a single Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus) new for the trip, Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis), Lewin's Rail (Lewinia pectoralis), Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Caspian (Hydroprogne caspia) and Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida), Australian (Threskiornis molucca) and Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia), Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus), Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis), Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis), Little Grassbird (Poodytes gramineus), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris).

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus).

Blue-spotted Hawker (Adversaeschna brevistyla).

Blue-spotted Hawker (Adversaeschna brevistyla).

Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis).

We also saw and heard Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus), Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus), Red Fox (Zorro / Vulpus vulpus), Eastern Banjo Frog (Limnodynastes dumerilii), Common Brown (Heteronympha merope), Small White (Pieris rapae), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Blue-spotted Hawker (Adversaeschna brevistyla) and what I think is a Red form of Red and Blue Damsel (Xanthagrion erythroneurum).

Southern Emuwren (Stipiturus malachurus).

Southern Emuwren (Stipiturus malachurus).

Red and Blue Damsel (Xanthagrion erythroneurum) ????????

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We moved on after taking all our kit off and went to the Cafe in Finniss for some lunch, it was very busy so we decided to sit outside as it was much quieter, we only managed to add one new species for the day, a White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata).

Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae).

Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae).

Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

We returned to the Farm and picked up Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Crescent Honeyeater (Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus), Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) and Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris).

 

Eagle View, Jones Road Dam, Near Parra Winna CP and Jones Road Dam, South Australia.

A last visit to check on the chicks of the Square-tailed Kites at Parra Winna before I head home.

Australia, Day Eighty Four.

Ebird List for Jones Road Dam.

Early morning Sun on the Hills.

At the farm I started my day list off with Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Red (Anthochaera carunculata) and Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) and Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys).

Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis) male.

Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis) male.

Deb and I headed off to go to the North of the area, on the way we saw Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis) male on the right.

Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis) female.

Just passed Hahndorf we stopped off at Jones Road Dam where we had good views of a group of at least 8 Blue-billed Ducks (Oxyura australis) along with Musk Duck (Biziura lobata), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Hardhead (Aythya australis), Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala), Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) and Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans).

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) Adult.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) Adult.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) Adults.

We continued on adding Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris), Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) and Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae).

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) the youngsters.

We arrived at the Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura) site and checked in on them and we were pleased to see all three chicks were doing well and both adults were sat up in a nearby tree chilling for a while before they headed out hunting.

Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) adult.

Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) immature.

We didn't stay long but had good views of all 5 birds before heading back towards Eagle View, on the way back we called at a spot and picked up Varied Sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera), Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris), Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris), Buff-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza reguloides), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris), White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos), Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), Monarch (Danaus plexippus) and Common Brown (Heteronympha merope).

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus).

Back at the farm I watched the local Wedge-tailed Eagle and a couple of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo's (Calyptorhynchus funereus) which came into the Banksia tree behind my Cottage.

Eagle View and Deb's Mom's, South Australia.

Around the farm with a quick run up to Renate's for Willie-Wagtail.

Australia, Day Eighty Three.

Another cold, wet and foggy start to the day.

The day started very grey and windy, the fog lifted but it remained windy and cold all day, around the farm I saw Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Little (Anthochaera chrysoptera) and Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) and Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

Whilst Deb and I sat and had a coffee with Renate we saw the needed Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), White-naped Honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus) and Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata).

and on the way back to the farm we added European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) and  Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

Back at the farm Deb and I caught up with some Ebird Lists and other computer work and through the wingows of the cottage I saw 

Eagle View, South Australia.

Not quite a washout but close.

Australia, Day Eighty Two.

A wet start to the day and it got worse before it improved a bit.

During the night I was woken several time by very loud, very close claps of thunder, Lightning and heavy rain so the very grey view down the valley when I got up was no surprise.

Even during the heaviest of the rain the more European species which are used to this type of weather were still on the move including House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) and Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris).

Also out were the flocks of  Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus) and Galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla) which were later joined by Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), 4x Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) and Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa).

Late in the afternoon I realized that I hadn't seen the required daily Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) so I walked the garden where I found a very reluctant to fly Small White (Pieris rapae) and out on the road and lower down the hill Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus) and eventually a Willie-wagtail which was sat on the back of one of the neighbors cows.

Last birds of the day were a small group of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus), later two of Deb and Ian's friends came up from their place just down the hill and we enjoyed a really nice Lamb roast and a few drinks.

Eagle View, Lake Alexandrina, Milang, Tolderol and near Milang, South Australia.

Around the farm and further South.

Australia, Day Eighty One.

Ebird List for the Pools along Lake Alexandrina.

Ebird List for Tolderol.

Looking brighter down towards Lake Alexandrena where we were going today.

I was awake early and working on some photos by 06:00 to the sound of the local Australian Magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) calling from the Eucalyptus trees on the boundary line as well as Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Little Raven (Corvus mellori) and whilst we were getting ready to go we had several Elegant Parrots (Neophema elegans) fly over.

Some of the 40 or so Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus).

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus).

On the way down to our first stop we dropped the dogs off at Deb's Mom's and then took the Old Bull Creek Road to Strathalbyn, on the way we picked up Australian Magpies, Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna), Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), Little Raven, Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris), Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Western Whistler (Pachycephala fuliginosa), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Common Brown (Heteronympha merope), Rabbit (Conejo / Oryctolagus cuniculus) and Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

Australian Pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus).

We went through Strath and then onto Finniss where we had so lunch in the Cafe before heading to Milang and then along the coast of Lake Alexandrina checking the pools along the way where there were good numbers of birds including Great White Egret (Ardea alba), White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica), Black-tailed Nativehen (Tribonyx ventralis), Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Grey (Anas gracilis) and Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea), Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus), Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa), Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus), Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus), Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae), Caspian (Hydroprogne caspia), Whiskered (Chlidonias hybrida) and Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii), Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae), Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Great (Phalacrocorax carbo) and Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes), Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa), White-winged Triller (Lalage tricolor), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis), Little Grassbird (Poodytes gramineus), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and most surprisingly a flock of 41 Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus).

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris).

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris).

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris).

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris).

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris).

Shingleback Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa).

Our next stop was at Tolderol Wetlands where we drove most of the tracks but it was generally quiet, however we did find several more species for the day list Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans), Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens), White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons), Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis), Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae), European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) and Shingleback Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa).

Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala) immature.

Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala) immature.

Noisy Miners (Manorina melanocephala) Adult on right.

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) female.

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) immature.

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) male.

From Tolderol we headed back to Milang where we went to the Bakery and sat out side at a bench near the wetlands along the railway line and we were soon joined by some of the local Noisy Miners (Manorina melanocephala) and Australian Magpies.

Australasian Swamphens (Porphyrio melanotus) in a large Lignum Bush.

Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes).

Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) and Greenshank (Tringa nebularia).

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes), Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus), Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) and Greenshank (Tringa nebularia).

After we finished the coffee we headed towards Clayton Bay checking the pools on the way where we saw many of the species seen earlier but we added Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia), Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) and Cape Barren Geese (Cereopsis novaehollandiae).

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes), Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus) and Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus).

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata).

Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes) and Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus).

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata).