BAY OF FIRES (LARAPUNA), TASMANIA

In early December 2012 we spent some time in the beautiful Bay of Fires Conservation Area, camping at Cosy Corner and enjoying the start of the southern summer. 

Taylors Beach

The bay came by its name when an English ships' captain, Tobias Furneaux, saw the fires of the original indigenous inhabitants along the beaches when exploring the east coast in 1773. Larapuna is the alternative name for this area.

The oystercatchers weren't particularly shy and it was nice to see them regularly on many of the beaches  we visited around Tasmania.

Pied Oystercatcher

Sooty Oystercatcher

It was unusual to see these gulls clambering about on some shrubbery near the campground. It seemed they were picking tiny berries from among the foliage, a bit of a change from their usual fishy fare.  

Silver Gull

One of the more common Tassie endemics was present but by no means allowing close proximity, the image below taken from some distance off.

Yellow-throated Honeyeater

A small flock of Black-Cockatoos did a flyby then settled in some nearby gums where one sat out in the open for a half decent shot.

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo

I was pleased to spot a Frogmouth when walking one of the tracks a bit further inland one morning. Not a common occurrence because they are usually so cryptic when settled into their day time roost.

Tawny Frogmouth

Meanwhile back at our campsite a Shrike-thrush was being very conspicuous when pecking at it's reflection, even though the car mirror had been turned in earlier to prevent this from re-occurring. 

Grey Shrike-thrush

The granite boulders along the shoreline are splashed with orange lichen making for a colourful contrast against the blue summer sky. 

Cheers & Happy Birding

COFFIN BAY TO CEDUNA

After our Port Lincoln visit it was onwards to Coffin Bay National Park on the other side of the Eyre Peninsula, in South Australia. After savouring a couple of dozen succulent oysters fresh from the farm we savoured some of the coastal scenery and birdlife in the area.  

First time oyster shucker

Yangie Bay

Point Avoid

Pied Currawong

Sooty Oystercatcher

Red-capped Plover

Pacific Gull

On our way to Ceduna we overnighted at Murphy's Haystacks, a type of granite rock formation known as inselbergs. They were mistaken for giant haystacks by a distant traveller early last century and were named after the properties owner.

Murphy's Haystacks

Ceduna - aboriginal name for "a place to sit down and rest," which we were looking forward to -

was our last stop before crossing the Nullarbor Plain. We walked the 368 metre long and nearly century old jetty in Murat bay. A lone Crested tern was using the railing as a perch to do a spot of fishing.

Crested Tern

Great Egret

Common Greenshank

Cheers and Happy Birding

FITZGERALD BAY TO PORT LINCOLN

Continuing on with our travels in SA earlier this year we made our way down the Eyre Peninsula with our first stop at Fitzgerald Bay where we sat out the Easter long weekend, with access to flushing loos, fresh water, peace and quiet.  

High tide at Fitzgerald Bay 

Sunset over our camp

After trying unsuccessfully to spot one of these little buggers in the Botanic Gardens at Port Augusta, I snagged some half decent views of some in the saltbush not far from our camp and snapped a record shot of one.

Rufous Fieldwren - lifer

I drove out to a conservation park not far from Whyalla to search for Thick-billed Grass-Wrens and Slender-billed Thornbills, with no luck. Did see plenty of Chestnut-rumped Thornbills and they were much more confiding than the Fieldwrens.

Chestnut-Rumped Thornbill 

Wild Dog Hill

Full moon over Fitzgerald Bay

From the bay it was on to Port Lincoln National Park where we stayed at Surfleet Cove and enjoyed the lovely scenery and varied birdlife.

On the beach at SurfleetCove

Coastal rock formation

Emu

Pied Oystercatchers

Sooty Oystercatcher

The Yellow Robins here were just as photogenic as their Eastern cousins.

Western Yellow Robin - lifer

View from Stamford Hill lookout

The Port Lincoln race of the Australian Ringneck were common around the campground and it didn't take me long to get on to a small flock of Rock Parrots, a member of the Neophema family confined to the coasts of southern WA and SA.

"Port Lincoln" Ringnecks

Rock Parrot - lifer

Australian Pelicans wait for a handout

Pacific Gull

Cheers and Happy Birding