Monday, 3 March 2014

Bool Lagoon – South Australia 21-02-2014

Bool Lagoon Reserve fed by Mosquito Creek,  is one of the largest freshwater lagoon systems in Southern Australia
P1410257
Sunset and Drooping Sheoak on our first evening by the lagoon – fantastic night sky –  Cosmic clouds within a star studded Milky Way – no light pollution here!
P1410271
Gunawar track via boardwalk to Hacks Island. Waiting for the autumn rains; both Bool and Hacks lagoons where much reduced in size, normal for this time of year.
P1410278 P1410292
Bracelet Honey-Myrtle (Melaleuca armillaris) ?  We were camped beneath these bushy trees, so protected from the winds.
P1410295
Another in the Myrtle group – White Bottlebrush (Callistemon salignus)
P1410304
The magpie goose formed an important diet for the Boandik (Bunganditj) people of this area, but became locally extinct soon after the European settlement here!  These lagoons later played an important role in the re-establishment of magpie geese in southeastern Australia. The eggs were brought down from the Northern Territory and hatched local incubators here.
We saw (at a distance!) Brolgas, hundreds of Magpie Geese and Ibis wading midst the reeds, also Swamp Swamp Hens, Avocet. Black Ducks and Black Swans in the reed free areas well beyond our reach. Oh for a pair of binoculars!
P1410322
Strange rounded rectangular loo with flush toilet! The notice says ‘Please close the door to keep the swallows out’
P1410349
P1410350
A small section of Bool Lagoon - Magpie Geese, Ibis, Black Swans and many small wading birds.
P1410354
Pretty mauve ground cover plant in the dry foreshores
P1410359
Illusive butterflies!
P1410376
Artist S J Hignett ‘Stringy Bark Artworks’ - painted walls in a bird hide here.
P1410389
Ridge - Fruited Mallee  (Eucalyptus incrassata) ?

No comments: