Winter in the Fleurieu......

 Yesterday, 24th July, was a very wild and woolly day and not looking forward to being inside yet again, we thought it might be good to pack a picnic and go to Parson's Beach look out and have lunch there.
So I duly made salad rolls and a thermos of coffee, packed our cameras, dressed in rain jackets and set off late morning in somewhat of a storm...We drove through misty rain and howling winds along the roads that led through Yankalilla ,past Fannyside on the Torrensvale road which becomes a dirt road before you get to the Range road which leads to the turn off for Parsons Beach.

As it had been my suggestion to go on this little adventure I kept saying I was sure the weather would clear by the time we got to the look out.
Sure enough it did clear long enough for us to enjoy our lunch and see the wild waves, swooping gulls and a little singing honey eater taking shelter in the undergrowth. It was an off shore wind so the waves had these interesting plumes blowing back as they arrived where they break. Remember to click on the photos to get a better view. We came home via the Victor harbour bypass, a more civilized way to travel..

The above photo was taken last week, early in the morning when the sun was rising through some very dark clouds and the light was rather spectacular and reflected off  tree limbs and the Trevi fountain I foolishly agreed to take off someones hand some time ago. Still, the birds like it and it has succulents on it so it needs very little water. The pond is quite full now after these lovely rains we are having at present. The white flowers are some snapdragons which seem to last longer than one season.

More wildlife appeared suddenly last week when these two kangaroos were sitting in the front garden by the pond.They were not all that fussed when I came out with the camera, not to just photograph them but also to tell them I had rather they went back to the vineyard next door where they mainly live as they could do quite a bit of damage in our garden. Besides, they are quite imposing as they sit there looking at you and the male could be aggressive and I don't really want to argue with him....

Across the road from us are vineyards in their winter dormancy, pruned and ready for spring. Willunga village is actually at the base of the hills but the vines block the view of the houses which is rather good.
This afternoon this pair of Black duck arrived to investigate the pond. I am pretty sure it is the same pair which arrives near spring but of course that may be my fond imagining, although they never seem very disturbed by me photographing them through the kitchen window. They obviously do see me there as most birds have excellent eye sight.
This last photo is of our garden at the back.

It looks lovely and green now with the winter rains as in the summer it is brown and yellow.
The roses still have leaves and I will have to start pruning next week in spite of that. I picked Black velvet and St John last week and the roses are still looking well in the vase, just amazing.
The lemon tree in the container is looking much better. We have not been able to grow a lemon tree here as the soil is heavy clay and lemon trees like well drained soil. Luckily our friend gave us a whole bag of lemons which are so useful and make wonderful lemon butter......

Yellow tailed Black Cockatoos and other Birds in Willunga

Over the past week or so, we have seen some very different birds come to our garden.
Yesterday, early in the morning we had a flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos land in the gum trees at the back of the house. They have a modest, rather squeaky voice, unlike their raucous White Sulphur-crested cousins or indeed the even more loud and obnoxious Corellas....
These Black Cockatoos are meant to be on the endangered list but we had about two dozen here for a while. They are inclined to prune quite heavy branches near the top of the eucalyptus trees. So if they stay too long they can do quite a

of damage.
The Ibis on the right has been stalking around the garden for some days now and this morning it decided to investigate the pond.
It has been on its own, yet they mostly seem to be in small flocks and patrol the vine yards nearby.
We often wonder how many bugs and harmful insects they would devour each day and so keep crops and vineyards healthy. It was finding something under the low shrubs by the pond and I hope it was not a frog....

Later in the day the White faced Heron came and stood on one leg in the pond, looking miserable and cold.He, and I think it is the male as he is inclined to attack the spare bedroom window probably thinking it is a rival, has been catching the gold fish which are still there in a goodly number. I wish he would catch them all as then we may have frogs again. The Goldfish eat small froglets and also the spawn so there is no hope of having a lot of frogs in the garden, such a shame....

We have also had an influx of little White Eyes or Thorn bills. They are difficult to photograph too, as they are very quick and don't stay in one place long enough to get a really good shot.
They too, must do an excellent job of keeping little bugs under control. Of course they also love fruit and when we had Mulberries quite some years ago now, you would be picking Mulberries one side of the tree and a flock of the little buggers would be feasting on the berries on the opposite side. They also fit through the bird netting.....
Still, it is nice to have them around.

The other thing that is changing is the fact our neighbours are at last going to plant vines to the north of us...In a way it is sad as we are going to loose our young share farmer now. He was not told they were planting vines this season so he had planted his crop and he includes our three acres as well. Now it wont be worth his while to come down with all his equipment and do our three acres, though he assured us he will find a solution for us. I may have to start thinking Dexter cow and calf ?

I include the bottom photo to show how large the leaves grow after the Blood lily has flowered.
They are spectacular flowers that first appear with the autumn rains and the Honey eaters love them. Then the flowers die and the leaves appear......a haven for frogs.... if only the Goldfish wouldn't eat them....