Captivating correas
Correas growing in the dunes at Marion Bay, South Australia
Whenever I go out birding, or when we are travelling out in the country and my wife is with me, I keep one eye on the birds and the other on the vegetation. Being a little cross-eyed like that probably means I miss a few plants or birds and sometimes nearly step on venomous snakes. Joking aside, I once had a red-bellied black snake crawl over my boot while checking out a birding spot. I swear that my feet didn’t touch the ground for at lest five metres!
On our recent visit to Yorke Peninsula here in South Australia we were on the lookout for flowering plants of any description and especially these delightful bell shaped correas shown in the photos. We were not disappointed and saw plenty. The photos on this post are all in a small area on the sand dunes at Penguin Point near Marion Bay.
Correas growing in the dunes at Marion Bay, South Australia
Correas growing in the dunes at Marion Bay, South Australia
Correas growing in the dunes at Marion Bay, South Australia
Coastal vegetation in the dunes at Marion Bay, South Australia
A short holiday on Yorke Peninsula, South Australia
1 Comment »25th May, 2011; Category: Beaches, Birds, Holidays, Plants, South Australia, Yorke Peninsula
Penguin Point, Marion Bay, South Australia
Last weekend my wife and I had the opportunity to have a short holiday on Yorke Peninsula here in South Australia. We stayed in a holiday unit in Edithburgh, a popular seaside town near the southern end of the peninsula. It had been quite a few years since our last visit so we eagerly anticipated seeing the rugged coastal scenery. I was looking forward to doing some birding and my wife was keen to reacquaint herself with the native flora of the region.
Sadly the weather conspired against us with bitterly cold wild gale force winds, scudding showers and overcast skies making birding and photography a challenge. Undeterred we soldiered on, having made the booking of the unit. Despite the restrictions caused by the weather we still had a great time, I saw a few good birds and my wife got all excited about the plants and flowers she was seeing. Over the coming few days I will share some of our sightings and the photos I took.
By the way, the caption on the photograph above was taken at Penguin Point at Marion Bay. I didn’t see any penguins, though Little Penguins have been recorded in the area.
Sleepy Koala, Adelaide Zoo
Sleepy Koala at Adelaide Zoo
Some people… er… animals have the best jobs. This sleepy Koala caught my attention on a recent visit to my home zoo in Adelaide. All he has to do is sit there and entertain the zoo visitors. Not a very difficult job, really. I’m sure I’d cope with such a demanding position – though, to be honest, I think I’d be asking for a slightly more comfortable seat.
Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies, Adelaide Zoo
Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, Adelaide Zoo
Possibly the most colourful member of the marsupials in Australia is the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, shown in the pictures on this post. These photos were taken at the Adelaide Zoo, which also has a good collection of them at the Monarto section of the zoo.
These beautiful animals are primarily found in the northern parts of South Australia, especially in parts of the Flinders Ranges. It is also present in small numbers in far western NSW. Although I do not have a photo of one in their natural habitat, I remember seeing several of them many years ago just north of Quorn. They are amazing animals with their ability to scale rocky outcrops with ease.
The Adelaide Zoo website has more information on this species here.
Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, Adelaide Zoo
Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby, Adelaide Zoo
Hippopotamus at the Adelaide Zoo
Hippopotamus, Adelaide Zoo
I love going to the Adelaide Zoo. It’s only about an hour’s drive from home and being a Life Member I can go any time I have an hour or two free when I am in the city. On one visit last year I managed several good photos of the hippopotamus.On other occasions this animal hasn’t been easy to photograph, especially when it stays under water for an extended period of time.
Hippopotamus, Adelaide Zoo
Hippopotamus, Adelaide Zoo