To Fraser Range

To Fraser Range 13^th August

A much milder night, nearly into shorts ……hooray!  

Heading off to Fraser Range…..Another long straight road!!

There were heaps of Red Kangaroo road kills, and lots of Wedgies and some different wattles that were mounds.

We passed through Cocklebiddy and Caiguna, then Balladonia, arriving at Fraser Range mid avo.

Rob had his first bird thrill here – we saw some White-backed Swallows when we went for a walk.

Tuesday 14^th August...by Rob

About time the male of the species contributed to the blog!

This morning was cold and windy but sunny, and we did the ridge top walk

… about 6km, in 2 ½ hours.

Saw many kangaroos and wallabies

and Wedge-tailed Eagles which seemed inquisitive and flew low over us.

Birding highlights: White-backed Swallows and Ground Cuckoo-shrikes (7), neither of which I have seen for many years.

Also a male Emu with 5 chicks, behaving just like a 21^st century Dad, doing a great job with the kids.

Not a lot of birds around the camp because the Yellow-throated Miners (the avian equivalent of Hell’s Angels) are dominant and make life uncomfortable for the other birds.

However there are plenty of beautiful Ringnecked Parrots

 and Pied Butcher-birds with their melodious, fluting call.

Looking forward to Sally’s Risotto tonight – 4 of us in the van, perfecting the Topaz tango!

To Head of Bight

To Head of Bight 11th August

Early start....the beginning of a special day.

Another long straight road....

and surprised to see crops as far as Nundroo.

To encourage peace and quiet  for our ever-patient driver we started to listen to Bill Bryson  "A Sunburnt Country" (Thank you Derek & Sue)..entertaining and funny.

We arrived at Nullabor Road House at 10.30 to find the motel units were basic but ok, much better than we had expected ! And 5 bars of cover so we could do the blog!

We drove to the Head of Bight and were overcome with the spectacular views.....long white sandhills,
limestone cliffs, and turquoise water leading into dark blue depths as far as the eye could see

........and then the whales! We must have seen about 40 whales....mothers and calves (one calf was white and born on August 1st)

 The whales come into the protected and warmer waters of Head of Bight  within 50 metres of the viewing area.

They leave the Antarctic winter and arrive at Nullabor between June and October .They come to calve and grow strong enough to return to Antarctica, catching the warm current running south from Albany.

We  watched in awe to see them in action....

Our day was complete by the venue and menu for dinner.
Sue and Sal had to learn to do the Topaz Tango !

To Fowler's Bay

To Fowler’s Bay 9^th  & 10^th August

A CD might be an alternative……

Bought some fresh Whiting for dinner before we left Streaky Bay then some oysters at Ceduna…yum!

A surprising area of cropping country all the way to Fowler’s Bay

until we approached the turn-off….then it became barren samphire flats.

There are some beautiful old buildings here but nothing much else – a long pier and enormous sand hills.

Piles of sea grass on the beach so we had to walk further down…a beautiful long beach for walk, and found a friend like Red Dog!

Sandalwood was growing there.

Some more Pied Stilts

The next day was a glorious 16 degrees and a cloudless sky.

Mats down, legs stretched, deep breathing and lots of groaning…. started the day at the Fowlers Bay Pilates Studio!

One hour later three tired bodies and our chauffeur went to look at the ruins of a homestead “Yalata” station. It was in the most remote, bleak, treeless area, with huge sand dunes behind, but in the past ran 21,000 sheep.

On the centenary of the New Year’s Sports Day, 1998, there was a big celebration held. Hundreds of people came from far and wide…tyres marked the sports arena and 100m track on the salt pan!

 Again there were lots of pretty wildflowers… including some tiny greenhood orchids.

Silver Senna (Cassia)

Olearia (daisy) and huge Templetonia retusa (Cocky’s tongue)

Maybe fishing is the answer?!

Day 4 To Streaky Bay

8th August

Balmy morning..

Rob preparing for another long day in the car!...Thanks for the ear plugs, Steve!

Left about 8.15

and headed for Iron Knob - iron ore mine closed in 1998.

First view of Iron Knob.

Went through Kimba, Wudinna.... a long, straight road passing through saltbush plains, changing to tall mallee bush and extensive cropping areas.

The cabin at Streaky Bay is right on the beach. As we arrrived, a flock of Banded Stilts landed right beside us.

Revived with a cup of tea in the sunshine.

Went for a walk along the beach, through samphire and mangroves

....saw a Great Egret

Going to the pub to have some local fish...we hope!

From the Girls

P.S. Enjoyed the comments!

To Port Augusta

7th August

Another freezing morning - left Berri, through heaps of vineyards unpruned, orange groves, past the Berri Co-op towards Waikerie - found out that Waikerie is Aboriginal word for Rainmoth (a moth as big as a bird that emerges from the ground)

Crossed the Murray on a punt at Cadell

On the Saltbush plains on the way to Burra we passed some lovely red Eremophila (Emu Bush)

and the spectacular Shoe Tree!!!

Then to beautiful Burra - an old copper mining town with many of the original miner's cottages......the miners were Cornish - a town of quiet charm and historical interest...

Then on to Wilmington and through very pretty ranges, in Saltbush country to Port Augusta where we spent a couple of hours looking at all the plants and birds.....our favourite spot, the Arid Botanical Gardens.
Noodles for dinner and an early night.

Signing off from the Girls

To Berri

6th August

Day 2 - woke up early, freezing morning, and watched Bolt winning the 100 metres - after a coffee on the run from Nhill, had a walk around the Harding Springs Reserve, saw a few flowers ...



Stopped by the side of the road and found tiny Greenhood Orchids

No special birds yet!!  Lunch at Pinnaroo before arriving here at Berri - a lot warmer here....lovely walk along the river before Sue's yummy chicken and rice and Finnish Berries...cabins here really good, now watching Sally Pearson .....signing off S and S



We're on the Way! Horsham

Day1 To Horsham

Polly and the chooks went to their 5 star foster home yesterday, and we headed off at 8.15 this morning to pick up Sue and Brian in South Yarra. Had an easy trip with little traffic , being a Sunday, and met up with Sal in Beaufort

and had a coffee with Jule and Andy and Sophie and Lucy .. we were quite a rowdy mob!

 then went to Horsham and checked in at the cabin



then went for a walk along the river - it rained a bit but it was a lovely walk ...my new coat was perfect tyvm!







Now we are in the cabin, having a drink and watching news of the games, and a delicious dinner that Sal brought....