Wildflowers near Burra Gorge, South Australia
Wildflowers near Burra Gorge, South Australia
On our trip though the mid north of South Australia earlier this year we stopped at Burra Gorge for lunch. A short time after leaving the gorge we stopped briefly by the side of the main road for my wife to take a good look at some wild flowers growing on the road side verge. They were daisies and the bushes made a spectacular show against the dull grey-green colours of the salt bush growing in this area.
We only stopped for about five minutes, not long enough to check for bird life. I wasn’t aware of any birds calling and only saw a few as we drove along. In this open dry grasslands environment I would expect to see Australian Magpies, Little and Australian Ravens, several species of chats if the conditions are good, Black-shouldered Kites, Nankeen Kestrels, Wedge-tail Eagles, Australian Pipits, Galahs and perhaps one or two wren species. Crested Pigeons and Peaceful Doves are another possibility, as are various woodswallows from time to time.
The environment might appear to be lacking in birds, especially if one is only stopping for a few minutes. On closer inspection, and given a longer time frame, many species can be recorded.
Wildflowers near Burra Gorge, South Australia
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Magpies nesting, Burra Gorge, South Australia
Burra Gorge, mid north of South Australia
A few months ago we travelled through the mid north of South Australia to visit family in Peterborough and Clare. Along the way we stopped briefly at the Burra Gorge, some 30km south east of Burra. This is a popular picnic and camping area with an ephemeral creek flowing through the gorge. There are no facilities except for some very basic public toilets.
We didn’t stay long enough to get a long list of bird species seen, but I did manage the following shots of an Australian Magpie near and on a nest.
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Magpie on nest, Burra Gorge, mid north of South Australia
Magpie near nest, Burra Gorge, mid north of South Australia
Galahs at Burra Gorge, South Australia
Galahs at Burra Gorge, mid north of South Australia
Earlier this year we paid a quick visit to Burra Gorge in the mid north of South Australia. We were on our way to visit family in Peterborough and Clare. This gorge has a pleasant camping area and an ephemeral creek flowing through. This creek drains some of the ranges to the west.
I’ve only been to this spot a handful of times and can’t really say what birds could be possible. I would anticipate quite a long list as this gorge is in the zone between the wetter areas to the west – places like the Clare Valley – and the salt-bush plains to the east with a very low rainfall.
While we had lunch in the picnic area I managed several photos of this pair of Galahs. The many hollows in the trees in the gorge probably meant they regularly nest in this area.
The gorge is a popular picnic and camping area but the only facilities are several public toilets. Food, fuel and other supplies can be obtained from Burra about 30km to the north west.
Galahs at Burra Gorge, mid north of South Australia
Burra Gorge, mid north of South Australia
Burra Gorge, mid north of South Australia
Birding at Burra Gorge, South Australia
Galah, Burra Gorge, South Australia
Earlier this year we travelled to Clare to visit family. On the way we took a different route, one we hadn’t taken for many years. Along the way we stopped for a short break at Burra Gorge to have lunch. This ephemeral waterway drains through the hills to the south east of the mid-north town of Burra.
We were only there for about a half hour, so the birding opportunities were limited. It was a rather hot day and the bird activity was minimal. There is a pleasant camping area where I’d like to spend a few days sometime and explore along the gorge deeper into the range. On this occasion I only managed a short list of less than a dozen species. This area should produce some interesting birds if one was able to have an extended visit. This is because this gorge is in a zone between the high rainfall area of the Clare Valley to the west, and the much drier salt-bush country to the east.
The Galah featured in the photos on this post looked as if it was about to start nesting in one of the many tree hollows.
Galahs, Burra Gorge, South Australia
Burra Gorge, South Australia
Burra Gorge, South Australia
It was school holiday time and many people were bush camping in the picnic areas. There are no facilities here except for several public toilets. The nearest supplies are in Burra, some 30km to the north west.