Signs and Symptoms

Seen in a town called Redhill in rural South Australia. Some wannabe poets on the town council maybe.

Although it rhymes better if you pronounce "NEWS" the American way, "Noohs".

Anstey Hill, Adelaide

Last weekend went birdwatching in Anstey Hill Conservation Park on the outskirts of Adelaide. Rather dry drought conditions recently so not as many birds as expected.

Picture of a Wanderer butterfly. Also known as a Monarch (Danaus plexippus) in the Americas. Probably introduced into Australia in the 18th century.

Flinders Ranges 3 - Stokes Hill Lookout

This is a beautiful lookout point just outside Wilpena Pound. We thought the views there at sunset were so spectacular we woke up early and went back there for sunrise.

The vegetation here is quite different from the Wilpena Pound area although it is just about 15 kms north of the Pound area by dirt road. It is mostly spinifex, a kind of very prickly grass which grows in clumps in a lot of outback Australia. May look cushiony but don't try to sit on them. There are also some grass-trees or Xanthorrhoea around.

Stokes Hill is also a reliable site to see Short-tailed Grasswrens. These little birds run around on the ground an hide in the protection of the spinifex.

Flinders Ranges 2 - Wildlife

My bird-watching highlight in the Flinders Ranges was a glimpse of a few Short-tailed Grasswrens amongst the spinifex from the spectacular Stokes Hill Lookout. This little bird is, I believe, endemic to South Australia, ie. found nowhere else in the world.

Wasn't a dedicated bird-watching trip though so didn't see other birds new to me although managed to see some that I haven't seen for some time like the Australian Ring-necks parrots, Wedge-tailed Eagles (one of the biggest birds of prey in the world).

Other bits of wildlife in the Flinders Ranges that were around are the Euros, a kind of kangaroo with a more shaggy coat and blunter muzzle, more dog-like face if you can imagine it. However didn't get round to seeing the rarer Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies the Flinders Ranges are famous for. I've seen them before elsewhere though.

Also saw some lizards which I haven't managed to identify yet.

Flinders Ranges 1 - Wilpena Pound

Over the Easter long weekend went camping in Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges, in the drier interior part of South Australia. Wilpena Pound is a geological curiosity which makes it look like a meteorite crater but actually isn't. The most famous photographer of the Flinders Ranges is Peter Dobre.

Luan and his wife Wendy organised it all. We (all 9 of us) piled into a hired van and slept in one big tent! Talk about communal camping. Wendy did a terrific job of organising the food supplies and meals as well.

We managed to do 2 good walks. The first long walk we did, about 20km round trip, towards St Mary's Peak (we didn't quite get up there) was cut short somewhat as we ran out of water. A very important resource especially in outback Australia.

The second was somewhat more successful as we learnt our lesson and carried more water. However this was a shorter walk up to Mt Olssen and a great view of the Pound.

It was a great trip.

Easter Weekend

Managed to get this long weekend off work. Yay!

Going to the Flinder's Ranges, to the area around Wilpena Pound. Will be going in a minibus with my friend Luan and his wife and half his clan I think.

Hope to get some pictures now that Ian and Cuong have kindly posted my camera back to me that I left in their place in Melbourne.

Happy Easter!