Eagle View, Laratinga Wetlands and Eagle View, South Australia.

My second visit to Laratinga.

Australia, Day Sixty Three.

We did the feeding, during my walk round I picked up Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis), Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) and Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans).

Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis) ♂.

Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis) ♂.

After the jobs were done we headed toward Mount Barker, on the way we saw Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) and both Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) and Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis).

Hardhead (Aythya australis) ♀.

Hardhead (Aythya australis) ♂.

Hardhead (Aythya australis) ♂ and ♀.

Hardhead (Aythya australis) ♂.

We arrived at Laratinga and went straight to the main large lake were we soon found our main target, 2 male Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis) which showed fairly well before disappearing into some dense reed beds.

Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea) ♂.

Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae).

Other Ducks, Grebes and Rail type species seen as we walked around the rest of the reserve included Hardhead (Aythya australis), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Grey (Anas gracilis) and Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea), Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa), Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra), Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) and Spotless Crake (Zapornia tabuensis).

Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa).

Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa).

Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus).

Spotless Crake (Zapornia tabuensis).

As we walked around we also recorded Little Grassbird (Poodytes gramineus), Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis), Common Bronzewing, White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Eastern Shrike-tit (Falcunculus frontatus) ♂, Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata), Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Superb Fairywren and Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops).

Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis).

Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera).

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) ♂.

We returned to Eagle View where I had nice views of a fast moving Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus) as it hunted for a late meal.

Eastern Shrike-tit (Falcunculus frontatus) ♂.

Eastern Shrike-tit (Falcunculus frontatus) ♂.

White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata).

White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata).

Mount Bald Reservoir, South Australia.

Several more spots around Mount Bald and a couple more early Orchids.

Australia, Day Sixty Two.

Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus) watching me taking photo's of Orchids, wondering what this idiot is doing lying on the ground across his path.

After yesterdays complete wash out due to the wind and heavy rain we headed for another part of the Mount Bald Conservation Park where we did several short walks checking out different types of woodland and scrub.

Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus) waiting for me to shift out of its way.

Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans).

Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans).

At our first stop we picked up Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis), Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) and Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus).

Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans).

White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea).

In the second area we found Australian Magpie, Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Crimson Rosella, Little Raven, Elegant Parrot (Neophema elegans), White-throated Treecreeper and Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus).

Winter Gnat Orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta).

Winter Gnat Orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta).

Winter Gnat Orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta).

Area three held much the same species along with Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) and Chestnut-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza uropygialis).

Blue Fairy Orchid (Pheladenia deformis).

Blue Fairy Orchid (Pheladenia deformis).

Blue Fairy Orchid (Pheladenia deformis).

Blue Fairy Orchid (Pheladenia deformis).

We moved on to the fourth area, this time we added Brown (Acanthiza pusilla) and Buff-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza reguloides), Western Whistler (Pachycephala fuliginosa), Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), Chestnut-rumped Heathwren (Hylacola pyrrhopygia), Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor) and Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica).

Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi).

Horse Dung Fungus (Pisolithus arrhizus).

Our last stop was in a burnt area where we found Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) and had a fly over Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), Horse Dung Fungus (Pisolithus arrhizus) and Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi) before I spent some time photographing two new Orchids species, the first I think is Winter Gnat Orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta) and the second I am quite confident is Blue Fairy Orchid (Pheladenia deformis).

Scented Sundew (Drosera whittakeri).

Climbing Sundew (Drosera planchonii).

Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata).

Other plants seen included Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata), Common Heath (Epacris impressa), Climbing (Drosera planchonii), Scented Sundew (Drosera whittakeri) and Leafless Bitter Pea (Daviesia brevifolia) thanks for the ID Deb.

Common Heath (Epacris impressa).

Leafless Bitter Pea (Daviesia brevifolia) thanks Deb. 

Whilst I was lying across a Roo trail a couple actually wanted to use it, they stopped just before they reached me and waited until I had finished before moving on.

Eagle View, South Australia.

Well wat a Day.

Australia, Day Sixty One.

A total wash and blow out.

Mount Pleasant, Warren Reservoir, Baynes Gully Reverse and Porter Scrub Conservation Park, South Australia.

A drive to Mount Pleasant Market with Renate.

Australia, Day Sixty.

Ebird List for Warren Reservoir.

Ebird List for Porter Scrub.

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus).

I picked Renate up at her farm and we headed north to Mount Pleasant where she was going to run a Market Stall selling fleeces and other bits from the farm, we arrived and I helped her into the building with the kit and then headed off to do some birding.

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus).

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus).

My first stop of the day was at Warren Reservoir where I parked at area 2 and had a short walk around the parking area before the first of the many showers came through, as usual the picnic area and toilets were spotless and also held Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata) and out on the water the first of a couple of Australian Pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus).

Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans).

Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans).

After the shower had passed I walked out to the far end of the eastern arm of the water, on the way I got a bit damp as more showers passed but added Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Little Black (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) and Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Hardhead (Aythya australis), Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae) and Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra).

Grey Teal (Anas gracilis).

Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris).

I returned to the car and then crossed onto the North shore of the Eastern half of the rest and walked out as far as the point where the road cuts across, along here I saw and heard White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea), Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops), Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) and Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) before returning to the car and going the short distance to Baynes Gully Reserve Boardwalk.

Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata).

Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris).

Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris).

I parked and set off along the track heading back towards Mount Pleasant and the followed several sections of boardwalk along the Gully, as I walked I saw Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang), Crescent Honeyeater (Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus), Eastern Spinebill, Superb Fairywren but not a lot else as there were lots of dog walkers using the trail as well.

Crescent Honeyeater (Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus).

Crescent Honeyeater (Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus).

Crescent Honeyeater (Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus).

My last stop before I returned to meet up with Renate and Deb was at Porter Scrub Conservation Park, I again parked but struggled to find an access point so it was a climb over the gate job to get in, I just walked up the main trail where I saw a couple of Dusky Moorhens (Gallinula tenebrosa) on a pool by the entrance followed by Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Brown-headed Honeyeater (Melithreptus brevirostris), White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis) and Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica) which were all new for the day.

Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata).

Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata).

Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata).

In the wood I also managed to get some nice shots of Striated Thornbill as one bird was particularly well behaved.

White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis).

I drove back to Mount Pleasant and met up with Renate and Deb, who had arrived after doing some survey work, Renate took her car and went home and Deb and I finished off at the Market before travelling back.