Alice Springs birding guru, Mark Carter, had suggested looking for Nullabor Quail-thrush by the airstrip just behind the camping area at the roadhouse. Mark had also given us excellent gen on the Naretha. The Quail-thrush would be a lifer for James, so he walked back to have a look. In less than an hour he had returned and was beaming. He showed me his camera and he had seen and photographed the Quail-thrush! It is well known as a difficult bird of which to get a photo. I did not get one when Lynn and I saw our lifer in 2016. So I walked back with James to have a look. He refound it for me and I even got some photos as it ran across the runway. Sweet.
We packed up and left the roadhouse. Troopi’s engine light issue had reared its ugly orange head and this was worrying me somewhat. This issue continued to play-up on and off throughout the rest of the trip. I am taking it into the repair shop later this week. Crossed fingers, we will see.
We made a short detour over to The Head of the Bight and paid a small admission fee to walk down to the viewing areas and look at the whales. There were at least a dozen Southern Right Whales out there. A parent and calf came in close and I took some photos. It is a stunningly beautiful view. It is definitely worth stopping and having a look.
We drove on and stayed in Wudinna again. Then we headed over to Telowie Gorge for James to tick Grey-fronted Honeyeater, and both of us saw our lifer Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby. It is a lovely area in that gorge. After these successes, we went over to Port Germein and stayed at the very cool little caravan park there. In the morning, James saw his lifer Black Falcon right over the town. There were three of the birds, and I followed them in Troopi through the neighborhood streets until James got some great views and photos.
In the meantime, a Letter-winged Kite had shown up in Rupanyup, Victoria. Yes, there was another LWK in VIC! I was fortunate enough to see the one in April of last year. It had only stayed around for three days. This would be an incredible opportunity for James to add a very special lifer and a cool sighting for me as well. We changed our route and rather than stopping by Adelaide to get James a Barbary Dove (they could wait), we drove to Keith, SA. We did stop on the way to have a quick look at some Silo Art. Keith would put us about two and a half hours from Rupanyup. We spent the night there and in the morning left at first light for the twitch.
We arrived in a dense fog. Ugh. After a lovely clear drive over, the kite area was foggy as London in an old film. Our friend, Gary Gale had just arrived as well and the three of us began looking. I decided to ring my friend, Jenn Stephens, who had seen the raptor the day before. She told me that we were searching further east than she had been, and suggested we go back toward town. We did and the fog was lifting.
As we started down Rupanyup-Burrum Road, I glimpsed what looked like a kite shape amongst the foliage at the top of a tall gum. I stopped and said, “I saw something.” Gary stopped behind us and watched us get out. James and I walked to get an angle where we could see more clearly into the leaves and yes, it was the Letter-winged Kite! I think James said, “That’s it!” And it certainly was.
The day before, Black-shouldered Kites had harassed the bird, causing it to fly several times. Our friend, Jenn got some beautiful photos. But no BSK were around bothering it and it just perched there, occasionally shutting one eye or the other as it appeared to be nodding off. Of course we hoped to see that gorgeous under-wing “letter” and we waited to see if anything happened. We stood around for about three hours while it perched there comfortably. We finally just left it as we had found it. It was a glorious ending for Team Troopi’s trip. After taking a Lifer Selfie for James and Gary under the "kite tree," we drove on back to Lara.
I am in the Tiny House and yes indeed, I will be continuing to work toward finally getting the book, The Year, out and available to the public. As I have promised, it will only be a couple more weeks or so. I really think y'all are going to like it.
I write, therefore I am.
Love. Peace. Birds.
We packed up and left the roadhouse. Troopi’s engine light issue had reared its ugly orange head and this was worrying me somewhat. This issue continued to play-up on and off throughout the rest of the trip. I am taking it into the repair shop later this week. Crossed fingers, we will see.
We made a short detour over to The Head of the Bight and paid a small admission fee to walk down to the viewing areas and look at the whales. There were at least a dozen Southern Right Whales out there. A parent and calf came in close and I took some photos. It is a stunningly beautiful view. It is definitely worth stopping and having a look.
We drove on and stayed in Wudinna again. Then we headed over to Telowie Gorge for James to tick Grey-fronted Honeyeater, and both of us saw our lifer Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby. It is a lovely area in that gorge. After these successes, we went over to Port Germein and stayed at the very cool little caravan park there. In the morning, James saw his lifer Black Falcon right over the town. There were three of the birds, and I followed them in Troopi through the neighborhood streets until James got some great views and photos.
In the meantime, a Letter-winged Kite had shown up in Rupanyup, Victoria. Yes, there was another LWK in VIC! I was fortunate enough to see the one in April of last year. It had only stayed around for three days. This would be an incredible opportunity for James to add a very special lifer and a cool sighting for me as well. We changed our route and rather than stopping by Adelaide to get James a Barbary Dove (they could wait), we drove to Keith, SA. We did stop on the way to have a quick look at some Silo Art. Keith would put us about two and a half hours from Rupanyup. We spent the night there and in the morning left at first light for the twitch.
We arrived in a dense fog. Ugh. After a lovely clear drive over, the kite area was foggy as London in an old film. Our friend, Gary Gale had just arrived as well and the three of us began looking. I decided to ring my friend, Jenn Stephens, who had seen the raptor the day before. She told me that we were searching further east than she had been, and suggested we go back toward town. We did and the fog was lifting.
As we started down Rupanyup-Burrum Road, I glimpsed what looked like a kite shape amongst the foliage at the top of a tall gum. I stopped and said, “I saw something.” Gary stopped behind us and watched us get out. James and I walked to get an angle where we could see more clearly into the leaves and yes, it was the Letter-winged Kite! I think James said, “That’s it!” And it certainly was.
The day before, Black-shouldered Kites had harassed the bird, causing it to fly several times. Our friend, Jenn got some beautiful photos. But no BSK were around bothering it and it just perched there, occasionally shutting one eye or the other as it appeared to be nodding off. Of course we hoped to see that gorgeous under-wing “letter” and we waited to see if anything happened. We stood around for about three hours while it perched there comfortably. We finally just left it as we had found it. It was a glorious ending for Team Troopi’s trip. After taking a Lifer Selfie for James and Gary under the "kite tree," we drove on back to Lara.
I am in the Tiny House and yes indeed, I will be continuing to work toward finally getting the book, The Year, out and available to the public. As I have promised, it will only be a couple more weeks or so. I really think y'all are going to like it.
I write, therefore I am.
Love. Peace. Birds.
I love your adventures!
ReplyDeleteThanks, mate! I love sharing them...
ReplyDelete