Trip to Adelaide

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We took off to Adelaide last week and decided to take in a brief visit to the Riverland rather than going across the Mallee.  Overall we ended with 122 species for the trip, including 2 life birds (Chestnut quail-thrush and Gilbert's Whistler, both at Gluepot).  Thanks to Mat Gilfedder and Ian Fraser for suggesting spots to visit.

 

We were surprised by the greeness of the coutryside pretty much all the way across and realised that most of our trips to SA were in Summer. We were astonished by the number of birds on the Hay Plain: Nankeen Kestrels, Black-shouldered kites and Pied Butcherbirds were everywhere.

 

We got to Renmark on the first evening and started our birding at the Lyrup Flats a few kms West of the town.  The weather was very ordinary - cold, cloudy and a very strong wind - which kept most of the birds in shelter but it seemed a spot with potential for later visits.  A visit to Cooltong NR was unproductive (apart from the only Red-capped Robins of the trip) ad we headed to Gluepot Station.  The road in was in very good condition although the weather continued to be putrid.  We only had time for one walk (Whistler Tank) which was quite productive of dry country species.  We concluded that the terrific reputation of the Station was well merited.

 

After spending the night at Waikerie our first visit was to Maize Island Conservation Park on the Northern outskirts of the town.  This includes a good stretch of river, a (currently dry) lagoon and some bush, which is currently being replanted.  The birds and scenery were both excellent and it is a place well worth adding to a itinerary.  On the Western side of the town the sewage works (peered at from the road) and Hart's Lagoon added a few species to the trip list.  Putting the pedal halfway to the metal we headed for Adelaide calling in  for a brief drive on the Mallee Drive at Brookfield CP.  The birdlife wasn't as brisk as in the past but we were entertaed by excellent views of Hooded robins and trying to convert some of the hordes of Brown Treecreepers into White-browed Treecreepers.

 

In Adelaide my main birding was a trip to St Kilda where the Salt fields were excellent (47 species), although few waders were present.  Barker Inlet by the Boat ramp was notably for a large (100+) flock of spoobills - mainly Royal, but some Yellow-billed mixed in.  Back in the metropolitan area the breakwaters at Glenelg gave good cormorant: all 5 species observed over a 15 minute period.

 

Martin