Lake Gilles Conservation Park and coastal heath SA birding

A weekend in Lake Gilles was just what I needed to escape the wet and rainy winter weather of Adelaide, SA.

A freezing morning but with blue skies provided some nice birding in the peaceful old growth mallee of Lake Gilles.

The birds were active and  I wondered if I might even finally get a photo of my "photography bogeybird" the Rufous Treecreeper which occurs here - at the eastern most end of it's range. I have seen so many of these birds over the years but have never managed a recognisable photo for my collection.

I stumbled across some Whiteface, Weebill's, and Blue-breasted Fairy-wrens before finally heard the distinctive call of the treecreeper. It then landed in a tree not far from me and YES, finally, I have photos!

Rufous Treecreeper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue-breasted Fairy-wren - not in full plumage yet!

 

 

 

Female (or immature male) Blue-breasted Fairy-wren

 

 

 

 

 

I  called into a nice patch of coastal marsh/heath and enjoyed White-winged Fairy-wrens, White-fronted Chats, Redthroats and songlarks. Even a Black-eared Cuckoo made an appearance as it skimmed low in the samphire looking for food.

Have I mentioned how good mallee birding is??

 

 

 

 

White-winged Fairy-wren

 

Redthroat

 

 

 

 

 

 

White-fronted Chat

Female White-fronted Chat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black-eared Cuckoo

 

 

Winter Birding in South Australia

 

 

 





 

 

Crescent Honeyeater

 

 

 

The rainy weather over the past few weeks has made bird photography a challenge however I've braved the elements a couple of times, been caught in hail storms and rain but still have managed to see a few nice birds. A day trip to Gluepot Reserve yesterday found me enjoying the mallee and today in the Adelaide Hills stringyback forests provided some nice Crescent Honeyeaters.

 

Winter birding is fine so long as you remember to carry a water proof bag to put over your camera when caught in the rain!

 

Hope you enjoy the photos!!

 

 

 

 

 

Crescent Honeyeater

 

 



 

 

Red-capped Robin

 

You can't see me! Brown-headed Honeyeater

 

 

 

 

 

Crescent Honeyeater

Brown Thornbill

 

Crescent Honeyeater

 

 

 

 

 

Brown-headed Honeyeater

 

 

 

 

 

Crescent Honeyeater

Non-breeding Australasian Grebe

A quail of a time!

Brown Quail

 

It's winter and the weather has been wet, rainy and windy. So when I decided to buy a new Canon camera body I wondered whether I'd get out to use it over the weekend!

As I drove, the sky was grey but at least it was not raining!  I headed to the coast as I hoped to get some decent photos of Brown Quail. Within 5 minutes of leaving the car I spotted a family of 8 quail feeding on the side of the track! As I lifted my camera the sun burst through the clouds lighting them beautifully!  The posed for a couple of photos before scurrying into the grass.



I'm happy with the camera by the way! Canon7D is an older model these days but still excellent for bird photography with 8 frames per second!!

Brown Quail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pacific Gull

 

Rufous Bristlebirds, Victoria Birding

Its been a while since I last went birding, due to moving house and battling illness and injury. With a long weekend coming it up was with heavy heart that I concluded I would not be able to go birding yet again.  However with 4 bouts of physio in one week and a friend convincing me to take a trip where I would not need to try and drive nor walk far, I agreed to go.

We headed for Nelson, Victora to try and photograph Rufous Bristlebirds in Lower Glenelg River CP - these elusive little feather balls are fast but sitting quietly can result in some success. This was a good weekend to try it as sitting quietly was about the only activity I'd be able to do!

We had a good time and some success, and ironically my back seems to have improved! Amazing!

Eastern Yellow Robin

Swamp Harrier

 

Swamp Wallaby

 

 

 

 

 

Rufous Bristlebird

 

 

 

 

White-browed Scrubwren

 

 

 

Crested Shrike-tit

 

 

Eastern Yellow Robin

 

 

 

 

 

White-browed Scrubwren

 

 

 

 

 

Rufous Bristlebird

 

 

 

 

Rufous Bristlebird

 

 

 

 

Crested Shriketit

 

 

 

Rufous Bristlebird