Sheep - Pink Floyd

The agenda for today included both venturing a little further afield and some sight-seeing starting with the

LINTON CONVICT DEPOT on the road to Port Gregory.

Even though bound for Kalbarri, 100 or so Km north of here it was thought wise to call in again at the pools and Salt Pans, but before doing so stopped to look at just a few of the

thousands of sheep grazing hereabouts. It is also interesting to note the number of lorries full of them as I presume the farmer takes his flocks for a little drive in the countryside every so often??

SHEEP from the album ANIMALS (my personal favourite from) Pink Floyd.

Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air
You better watch out there may be dogs about
I've looked over Jordan and I have seen
Things are not quite what they seem.
What do you get for pretending the danger's not real
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes
Now things are really what they seem, no this is not a bad dream.

In similar numbers were these Melons/Marrows, whatever they are, growing feral along many of the roadside verges.

The RED-NECKED STINTS were back on view, but today a good deal closer and still showing varying plumage.

With little else of note there was a short break at the sea-side for a drink and to peruse

the local Fish species guide to count how many of them I had eaten en-route, 4.

From Port Gregory the road takes a sharp turn inland passing a few farms, most with a novel 'sculpture' at the gateway, before turning once again towards the sea

and a most dramatic coastline. Very easily accessible and signposted the first viewpoint, The Grandstand, is a platform built beyond the cliff edge and overlooking CHURCH COVE to the north.

Looking back to the south is equally rugged

with just a 4Km walk taking you to the NATURAL BRIDGE.

Back to the main road, where soon a group of KANGAROO

were spotted fairly close to the highway

and an AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE clinging to a telegraph wire.

KALBARRI is a neat little coastal town with what look to be a lot of expensive properties complete with small 'Gin Palaces' and fishing boats secured to private jetties. Plenty of beaches here too with Indian Ocean waves crashing over a continuation of the same reef.

A tussle between an AUSTRALIAN KESTREL and a BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE was an interesting but distant sight,

while on another beach there were a number of PACIFIC GULLs but all juveniles - don't you just love 'em?

 Further on there was yet another KANGAROO, this time on the road, but spotting the car soon made for the open fields.

The first encounter with a PIED BUTCHERBIRD this trip allowed for a rendition of its song which belies the brutishness of this species. "Flute-like" is how the Field Guide describes it but I felt there was a similarity with those beautiful sounding, air driven organs found on fairgrounds etc.

During the return drive more BLACK-FRONTED PLOVER were seen,

along with the closest encounter yet with AUSTRALIAN KESTREL.

There were also dozens of BLACK-FACED CUCKOO-SHRIKE but best was saved 'till last when a

PALLID CUCKOO

was very nearly dismissed as yet another 'Shrike'. No 'Lifer' again today but a most successful run out, and back for more fish and a drop Chateau Ordinaire.

Knees Up Mother (Dotterel) Brown - Elsie and Doris Waters

The idea of yet another visit to Port Gregory was quickly seen to be well founded when arriving at the pools to find them 'awash' with small Waders. Not the Stints of a couple of days ago, but just as welcome

RED-CAPPED PLOVER

I think at this point we can let the pictures do most of the talking:-

While no accurate count was made, it would be safe to say there were in excess of 200 adults here,

and despite this being the winter months many were already vigorously displaying.

Juveniles were also well represented with at least 50 individuals.

Let's take a closer look at that wing action again. Time to move on, and back to the Pink Lagoon where again the luck seemed to be holding.

A long way off and shimmering in the pink bloom, at least some of the Avocets were in attendance today, but even with the 'scope no Stilts could be seen. The wait was short, as suddenly this small flock took to the air and landed within the Salt Pan, fortunately a little closer.  

Have just noticed after publishing that the full width of these wider shots cannot be seen. 'Right click' on image to see full shot.

With just binoculars, now c2 BANDED STILT could be seen (6th bird from each end at front)

endorsing the World Lifer status - YES! Having savoured that moment, there was more to come as a lone

RED-KNEED DOTTEREL flew in to join the throng. Middle distance at first, but slowly and surely it seemed to gain confidence

and closed to just a few metres.

That is when I had to temporally give up on it as these 4 Stint were suddenly right before me feeding on the mud. Each in a different state of plumage

added a degree of difficulty to deciding if more than one species was involved here.

Eventually RED-NECKED STINT was thought most likely though I did consult with those in UK (more knowledgeable than I) just to confirm.

By now the Dotterel was all but underfoot, and what a smart chap,

and pushing the luck even further decided on a little Manual Focus practise

on this flying DRAGONFLY.

It would have been foolhardy not to stop at the Pools on the return journey, where it was found most of the Waders were gone only to be replaced by these 2 fine looking

AUSTRALIAN SHELDUCK