After
an almost 6 month break from birding I have finally managed to get out onto a short
roadtrip. With limited time I decided to head west to the Eyre Peninsula where
I could spend more time birding and less time driving.
With no
specific targets I decided to concentrate my time around Port Lincoln and Whyalla
and see what I could find.
While birding
around Port Lincoln I concentrated on Lincoln National Park. There are some
very nice birds there including the elusive Western Whipbird. I heard plenty of
them, and got 3 brief views but no photo opportunities.
Rock
Parrots fed in the marsh and clearings while New Holland, Purple-gaped and
Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters were seen feeding in the canopy.
Rock Parrot
Purple-gaped Honeyeater
Purple-gaped Honeyeater
Tawny-crowned Honeyeater
Purple-gaped Honeyeater
While
staying in Port Lincoln I decided to also take the opportunity to do something I’ve
always wanted to do. I went diving with Great White Sharks! It was a long day,
leaving at 6.15am and getting back into Port about 6.30pm! It takes three and a
half hours to get out to Neptune Island where the boat anchors and the cage is
lowered into the water. An hour in the
cage provided excellent views of 6 Great White Sharks.
Great White Shark
Time to get in with them!
I was pleased to get 2 in one photo!
AWESOME!!! Great White Shark!
Then a hot shower on
board, before a good feed and more viewing of the sharks while on board. I
noticed a White-bellied Sea-eagle fly out to the boat looking for a feed before
we commenced the long journey back to land. A great day out!
I then
headed to Whyalla where I concentrated on areas of old growth mallee and saltbush. I was lucky to
get good views of Western Grasswren on most days.
Blue
Bonnets were feeding in the saltbush along with Mulga Parrots.
Blue Bonnet
Female Mulga Parrot
Redthroats
were plentiful, along with Blue-breasted Fairywren, Southern Whiteface along
with a variety of Honeyeaters including Spiny-cheeked, Singing and White-eared.
Crested Bellbirds could be heard calling throughout each morning.
Australian Raven
Redthroat
White-eared Honeyeater
Crested Bellbird
Female Crested Bellbird
