CAMOUFLAGE

 It is amazing how well animals are able to blend into their surroundings and it isn't until you stand still, listen and look around you might get a glimpse of them. Yesterday on a visit to Mount Bold Reservoir I was fortunate enough to find these guys lounging around in the last rays of the sun. My timing was bad for entry into the park but on the roadside the Kangaroos obviously knew it was closing time because every field of had kangaroos grazing on the open grasses. They werent too fussed by me as a fence was between us.

When i mentioned blending in , I was reflecting back on an instance when the family visited Yorke Peninsula and we were near the ocean crossing a grassy area. David went off the path to cut across the grasses and suddenly there were at least 50 kangaroo heads popping up out of the grasses. They were perfectly hidden in their surrounds. Now some of the  male kangaroos are quite large and can be extremely dangerous when disturbed (the hind legs have be known to tear a man's abdomen  apart from one kick) so David didn't waste much time getting back on the path.
These guys are a smaller breed than the ones we saw that day - quite cute really.

 Across the field at some distance were these red and blue parrots. I've never seen them before in nature and was quite thrilled. I had difficulty getting a good shot of them with my limited zoom but I consider myself fortunate to have seen them at all.

 So today I decided to make a return trip to the reservoir (during opening times). Last night we had heavy rains, the first of the season and what a good drenching we have had. There was even a spot of hail this afternoon. Despite being rained upon I decided to walk around the dam road. All the walking paths are closed to the public , this may be due to the fires of two years ago or just that they get sick of rescuing tourists from mishaps. The paths are steep!

So much rain in one night, water is even being let out of the reservoir...I can't fathom why as it is less than half full.

The walk down to the spillway and suspension bridge is paved for public use and this little guy was well camouflaged . (I had to crop the picture so you could find him) Perfect colouring though.

A couple of bush pickies. I looked up and started to photograph what I thought was a nest after I snapped the shot it moved and only then did I realise it was a Koala. He was nestled well up in the tree and these are the best shots I could get of the face. Everything else was all bottom

Dont forget to look up

Keep an eye on the sky

I was intrigued by this bark _ maybe a stringy bark - maybe it has a disease or an animal has affected the bark?? Interesting patterning though.

 Quick snap the camera, This guy does not stay still for long. I have lots of blurry shots and some half body shots

More interesting bark patterns

Country road home, see you next visit

Gonna (Going to) leave this all behind. (A little Aussie slang)
Cheers !

Mid South Coast- SouthPort and The Onkaparinga River

Today Jordy requested to go surfing originally  to the South coast but plans change with the change in surf conditions, so we headed to the mid south coast to one of my favourite areas to visit.

So whilst she surfed I snapped a hundred shots on my phone (or what seemed like it) and then followed the river down to visit the wildlife.

Where the river meets the sea (surfing to the left and right of the river)

Red sand stone cliff faces

Unuasal rocky out crops eroded by the ocean

The shadow of the rock below looks a bit like an angel fish.

I love the light reflection patterning in the water.

SouthPort SA

Further down the river but still within walking distance of the beach , shallow waders in the wetlands.

Black swans found all along the river

the birds come two by two

Pelicans again- I can't help myself

Not sure what this little fella is called

If you look closely you can see pelicans flying in the tree line (and someone sitting in the trees fishing on the opposite shore)

Thats it , you made it! I think I'm done with nature shots for a wee while - although there is a group of galahs and white cockatoos that have been screeching around the neighbourhood this evening...might have to go and investigate.
Cheers..see you soon I hope.