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Just spent one and a half weeks in South Australia. Only
the first few days were spent birding and the rest was general touristy
stuff.
The drive from Cobar to Port Augusta was generally uneventful,
just very long so the birding was very minimal. Many apostlebirds and yellow
throated miners early on and many emus after Broken Hill. I did get a Red Backed
Kingfisher (tick) on the Stephens Creek Reservoir road which is on the right
about 10 kms before Broken Hill. At Yunta I picked up Chestnut Crowned Babbler
and Variegated Fairywren along the railway line, two excellent birds to see
again.
Coming into Port Augusta itself on the left salt pans were
hundreds of Banded Stilt (another tick). The road behind these salt lakes
produced Red Necked Avocets, Black Winged Stilts, Red Capped Dotterels and Sharp
Tailed Sandpipers.
There was an area of bluebush just on the left hand side of
the road just past the turnoff to Whyalla which was excellent for White Winged
Fairywrens.
The next day was very hot. I met up with Peter Langdon early
and we spent the morning in the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens. In the car park
was a female Black Honeyeater (third tick). Chirruping Wedgebills were calling
and soon became very visible (fourth tick). There were also many Spiny Cheeked
Honeyeaters here. White Winged Fairywrens were also
happy to show themselves off though I really only sighted one male for
every twenty females.
Redthroats, a target bird, refused to appear. We did get
sightings of Rufous Fieldwren but they began by being fairly distant until after
quite a lot of searching one popped up on a bush right in front of us showing
off its thin striations (my final tick). A Red Backed Kingfisher was at the
beginning to Yorkey's Crossing Road just past the Arid Lands
Gardens.
In the afternoon I returned to Arid Lands for a bite at the
cafe ( a great place to eat at) and watched a young White Fronted Honeyeater as
I ate my late lunch.
I had to leave Port Augusta for Adelaide on the
following day but popped briefly into a few noted sights along the
way. The wind made birding dificult. I found the Penrice Saltfields at Port
Gawler to be excellent. I only drove along the road but both stilts, Red Necked
Avocets and Whiskered Terns were all very obliging in showing themselves
off.
Thanks to Peter for taking me out and the effort he put into
finding some of these birds. Also thanks to all who repied to my
RFI.
Regards Steve Gross
Orange NSW
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