The black swamp isn’t black

It was the same day when we found some cars on the road. We came to an old vinery. Old gentlemen parked their old Jaguars and went for some lunch and wine with their old ladies.

It was dry even after the rain season. Laurius and the wolf didn’t get wet feet. The wolf is possing with African (!) plants.

Mr. Eagle is looking for his prey.

Tree martin on a dead tree.

Welcome swallow. Hello swallow, nice to meet you swallow.

A swamp doesn’t look black.

Flowers and the vineyard.

Before the walk we had to register in a journal. Then they know how many tourists sank in the swamp or something. A lady here told us to beware of snakes. They enjoy first warm day after the winter, doesn’t matter that it’s windy.

Some historical railway bridge. We heard the train comming, so waited for it for about 10 minutes. Then realised that is was just the wind in pine trees.

Almost lithuanian view – a little forest. The only difference – a pine needles are very long.

Another wolf.

Some strange plants.

Picnic together with a bug.

Perfect calmness in a vinery with velvet chocolate cake, singing birds and sleeping lamas.

Willie wagtail is showing off. As always.

Our picnic place with a view of swamp.

Lama or alpaca. I’ll learn what’s the difference between them later.

After the lunch we left to the seaside.

Deep Creek bushwalking

At the entrance to Deep Creek conservation park we met Scarlet Robin.

And a lovely couple o Superb Fairy Wrens. Male is bright.

His wife – modest and shy. They were jumping like those tin birds – toys.

As they call walking in forest or at the river bushwalking too, this trail was a real bushwalking. At the beginning we were going surrounded by dense bushes, just a little bit too tall so we couldn’t see anything around.

The tack began to go down and we saw a wide landscape. We have seen photos of this trail before and it showed some kangaroos on the cliff edge. There was nothing like a cliff. Just a steep slippery stony surface under your feet. Those, who didn’t look under their feet got many bruises (of course it was Laurius).

Sadly, it was windy day, it means – no birds. We didn’t know where we were going. Just down. And the sea looked so far away, and we – so high on the hill.

Instead of kangaroo.

The end of the trail was very near, but we had to turn and run up, because sun was going down so fast. And it took an hour to get down.

Some flowers.

The last point where you can see something before getting in the bushes.

 

Finally we made it – we came to our car. After that it got dark in  minutes. A night butterfly hiding in the toilet.

On the way back we met  kangaroos and a rabbit on the road! A little bit extreme ridding in twilight on gravel roads.

Morialta

Every time I want to start a post with words “This weekend we…” Boring.

In summer there were no butterflies. As soon as it got cooler we got plenty of them. Especially now.

So, last weekend we went to Morialta park. Actually, trails begin almost in the city. It’s so near, but it doesn’t mean that’s bad. Maybe because it was overcast, there was not crowded. There are so many parks and trails around Adelaide to choose. Some of the people probably go to less steep places (the surface is pretty rocky, not suitable for small children), the ones who want to exercise a little choose, for example, Mount Lofty trail, so it was calm here.

LEGO bricks.

We visited that “balcony”.

And walked that track.

City view and the sea. Everything looked dark purple.

Where the rock was soft enough, now it is gorge. And water falls from harder rock down.

Landscape is still changing, but very slow.

Those flowers you could smell from few metres. And where it was more than one – it smelled so strong!  A giant ant is trying to bite my finger.

Rock/wall climbing.

A waterfall.

I wonder how it will look in summer when it is so dry.

New Holland Honeyeater.

Everything got green around the river.

Grey fantail. It was a fantastic echo here, so the songs of birds sounded even better.

Yellow.

Left from the bridge.

And right.

 

Onkaparinga river

One more weekend, one more Nature walk. We have a little book of 40 greatest SA short walking trails. (Because long ones are very very long). This time we went to Onkaparinga River. A pleasant place to walk – quiet, calm, nobody scares any animals.

Nor little birds.

Nor big red kangaroos on the other side of the valley.

What a lovely kangaroo! Our first wild kangaroo and so near!

With a full pouch!

She looked at us, didn’t seem scared, until Laurius stepped on some branch.

Laurius is growing.

The same plant.

Sitting on the edge.

Onkaparinga!

Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike.

After a nice walk we drove towards sea. Through vineyards where the Australian Kestrel lives.

Happy full bird after dinner.

Where Onkaparinga meets the Ocean.

River banks.

And birds everywhere.

Australian colours – red rocks, blue sky.

Those little guys were hanging out with some gulls.

Red-Capped Plover is looking for some sushi.

Hyperactive birds, again.

Hooded Plover just hated photo camera and ran away. I’m getting used to that.

Laurius is showing the typical move of that bird.

Bird’s rump

Birds are always posing…

… till you take your camera.

Then they show you their tails.

Like they agreed about that with each other!

Or they fly away.

They are created to show their tails.

Or they just hide behind branches.

C’mon!

It’s terrible!