The weather overnight was somewhat stormy. It seemed that every hour a squall would pass with very noisy wind, and lashing rain. At least the temperature is several degrees higher than it has been in Canberra. The dawn however was great!
We decided that we would go to Coffin Bay the next day so headed off towards Port Lincoln, pausing to check out the
Big Swamp. We were rewarded with a
sighting of a male Musk Duck doing a vigorous display by chucking wingfulls of
water high into the air. The object of
his attentions was not visible,
Proceeding down the highway I stopped to begin my collection
of photos of SA road safety signs. So
much better than the NSW equivalent with some slapper doing a weak pinky pose.
As we swung into Port Lincoln we were intending to do the
Pernkalla walking tour. Then I looked at
the map and realised it was going to be many kilometres long. So we started in the middle, adjacent to the
statue of Makbe Diva – a nag who won two Melbourne Cups,
We wandered along the walk going around the silos and fishing jetty
and generally enjoying ourselves when I noticed that putting on our raincoats had been a good idea. Looking at the sky suggested it was about to get very damp so we returned to the car. In fact the dark sky appeared to have been a very localised shower, but we still drove to Billy Light's Point . The aim of going there was to find our way to a Reserve described as a bird-watchers paradise.
and generally enjoying ourselves when I noticed that putting on our raincoats had been a good idea. Looking at the sky suggested it was about to get very damp so we returned to the car. In fact the dark sky appeared to have been a very localised shower, but we still drove to Billy Light's Point . The aim of going there was to find our way to a Reserve described as a bird-watchers paradise.
This turned out to be a tad hard to find as all access to the
Reserve appeared to be labelled as Private Property. Eventually we got to a track overlooking the
sea covered with very large gravel. It
was hard for us to walk on and must have been agony for Tammy. Then Frances spotted a dirt trail on the far
side of some lagoons. More bad signage
by Port Lincoln City Council, who will be getting some advice about this. From looking at one (badly defaced) sign we did eventually find it seems as though the rocky track was the bed of a former railway line.)
Eventually we got to the Reserve to be greeted by a group of
about 4 green parrots. They had blue
faces so were Rock Parrots (not quite a lifer, but my original sighting at the
salt fields North of Adelaide had been very stringy). Shortly after we decided that the wind was
too cold to stick to the waterside so headed off back towards an inland
track. Before getting there Frances had
to explore the far side of a bush. To my
surprise I was called to attend her. She had discovered another colony of
Cyrtostylis robusta and on this occasion some of the flowers were fullyopen. Despite the howling gale I managed
to take a couple of reasonable images.
We had become convinced of the ID from reading the text in
“First start with the leaves” a book by Robert Lawrence about the orchids of the Adelaide
hills. With that as a good hint I had been able to follow
up with “Orchids of South Australia” which revealed the species to be common on
the coast, both limestone (original sighting) and sandy soil (later sighting).
A few other additional good plants were seen today as well as
several repeats from yesterday:
Leucopogonparviflorus (this was a surprise as the
plant was 2m high: I am used to knee-high bearded heaths!)
Acacia sp
Plus -
although not photographed - a good collection of Xanthorrhea semiplana tatei beside
the Flinders Highway. The lack of images is dealt with tomorrow!
About 20 metres down the track a large white bird erupted
from a tree letting fly with the most outstanding spray of guano I have ever
seen in mid air. It was very good that it didn't
fly over us while so doing! Frances, the
eagle-eyed scout, picked it as a Barn Owl.
Shortly thereafter we were serenaded by one of the local
intelligentsia on a trail bike. While he
did slow down to pass us the noise of his machine was most offensive. So we turned to go back home to find other intelligent persons were driving towards us while their 3 pig dogs ran beside
the car. I grabbed Tammy and moved off
the track while Frances advised these well sun-tanned folk that we had a dog
with us. Their three mongrels were
inserted back in their car, already occupied by about 5 anthropoids, and we
passed by, accepting apologies.
We got back to our car and called in at a seafood place to
get some prawns and oysters. They made
our tea, and very nice they were too!
Bird of the Day:
Barn Owl
[Rock Parrots strolled down the red carpet but were not as exciting as a day-time
Owl].
Plant of the Day: Cyrtostilis
robusta, as it was identified today!
Interesting thing of the day: the way the walk weaved
though the post and silo areas.
What we learnt today: Where
Tammy came from!
And now this spell was snapped: once more
I viewed the parrots green,
And having once turned round walked quick
Because I saw a flying owl
Drop down a mighty slick.
