Part 3; South Australia
24 & 25 October, 2019
.... but first finish up the 24th. I used a 'cheapie' company for this flight, Jetstar. Worked out fine. Even paying for extra luggage it was still a lot cheaper than using Quantas, but maybe the seating is a bit more cramped. OK though for short inland flights.
I was met by the smiling faces of Peter and Adrienne and off we set to their house.
After some welcome refreshments and a guided tour of their house, Peter took me for a short walk round the roads near his house. I didn't take my camera with me though, just needed some exercise after some lengthy inactivity.
However, we got to hear an unmistakeable Eurasian Blackbird, both calling and tossing over of leaves in someone's garden and could just make him out in the gathering gloom.
Also seen on this short walk were a Laughing Kookaburra, the local subspecies of Australian Magpie (white-backed,
G. t. tyrannica) and a
Red Wattlebird.
When we got back to the house, the water engineers were digging up the road. It eventually occurred to me that the only way to get to a loo that evening, would be to take Peter and Adrienne to the pub for a meal
, so off we set.... and a very good meal it was too.
Laratinga
The next morning we went to an important nature reserve in Adelaide called Laratinga and I ended up with a spinning head within minutes LOL
The reserve consists of a series of lakes and we had a decent walk around. First we found a Chestnut Teal (I'd not seen one since my early days in Brisbane, I think, about a month before). Then came a Grey Teal, a much closer view than I've had before! What a lovely eye he has.
A movement behind the reeds alerted Peter and he spotted this wee
Little Grassbird, I never thought I'd have a hope of seeing one of these secretive guys!!!
Further along, and looking up into the trees, was a new honeyeater for me in
New Holland Honeyeater. A Hardhead, showing his white eyes, was next and we had hardly scratched the surface of this reserve, as we'd only been in there 10 minutes!!!