Check my birding map for specific location.
Coober Pedy is a town I have heard of. I know it to be the centre of opal mining and that Hamish and Andy once visited it. I wasn't sure really what to expect and was quite amazed as I drove closer to the town by the thousands of mounds of earth, between 2 and 5 metres I estimated, dotting the landscape. Every now and again there were large mine operations and there was just no doubt what the main industry is here. As I drove into town, to my surprise there were more mounds and machinery in gardens
The centre of town caused me much amusement with it's underground motels. I had recently watched the Flintstones movies and the area reminded me of Bedrock! I wondered which town was based on which. I couldn't decide whether to shop for opals or visit 'The Big Winch'. I settled for the sewage farm.
There are 2 sewage farms listed on eBird, another Coober Pedy oddity perhaps. I went to the one with the most recent listings (I couldn't find the other anyway, looked like it had been turned into a sports arena) and found the dog pound. I was sensing a pattern of weirdness in Coober Pedy. Anyway, opposite the pound was a long, thin stretch of water with lots of reeds. I could see swallows swooping along it and could hear the peep peep of dotterels so I knew it was worth a look.
I first found a white-backed Australasian Magpie. I shot it because I have only seen black-backed so far on my 2022 trip. A southern Australia anomaly? On the wire above it was a female Red-capped Robin.
In the reeds I could hear fairywren and waited patiently for them to pop up. My luck was in as a male White-winged Fairywren sat up to sing. What an incredible bird. I had trouble processing this image because of the bright colours. I hope I have done it justice.
White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus)
The dotterels and other birds were not very co-operative so I moved on and decided against staying in town. It was just too busy. I headed south to the Hutchison Monument which also doubles as a rest area. A very good choice as there was a huge are behind the monument and I drove around half a kilometre in till I found a spot next to some bush. I put out my portable bird bath ($1.50 courtesy of KMart) and waited. There was not a lot around other than the ever present Zebra Finches but eventually a rather shy crow (Torresian I think - no pale base feathers in the wind) circled the van and eventually came in. Often dismissed by birders and civilians alike, I think they are beautiful with that glossy plumage and bright eyes.
In the bushes were more fairywren, purple-backed this time. Again with some patience, the male came close enough to photograph. Pretty rough looking in moult but still interesting.
As the day wore on into late afternoon, the Singing Honeyeaters came out and were flitting around catching bugs. I don't think their call is much of a song but people don't much like my singing either!
All in all, a very satisfactory introduction to South Australia.
eBird Lists
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S119124922
https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S119121137
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