Hi,
On the weekend I went for a trip down to the Picanninie Ponds Conservation
Park in the South-East of South Australia. During the trip I also crossed
the border and checked out the Nelson Estuary walk.
I camped in one of about four camping sites in the park. They are all within
about 100 metres of beach. My first birdwatch was a walk around to the Ponds
themselves via the road. On the way the highlights were a Swamp Harrier,
Black Shouldered Kite, Australian Shelduck (flying over), Brush Bronzewing,
Eastern Yellow Robin and an Olive Whistler. The lowlight was a black and
white cat scurrying through the scrub. I later found cat tracks on the walk
through the coastal heath as well.
I had intended to go snorkelling at the Ponds but a few minutes just ducking
my head into the water with a mask and snorkel suggested that it was way too
cold.
I then did the coast walk and found two Southern Emu Wren, European
Goldfinch (feeding on weeds growing along the high tide line), four
Beautiful Firetail and Blue Winged Parrot (two flew overhead and another
swooped in front of me and landed on a dune). On the beach there was an
immature Kelp Gull, Pied Oystercatchers and several large groups of Great
Cormorant.
It started raining so I drove over to Nelson on the assumption that moving 7
kilometres would get me out of the rain. Sure enough it was sunny in Nelson
and the walk was excellent. The highlights were two Olive Whistler, Striated
Fieldwren, Pied Oystercatcher (I counted 80), Great Crested Grebe, Musk Duck
and Red-Browed Finch.
The highlight of the drive home was an Echidna crossing the road near Robe.
Nick
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