I have just loved being in the Little Desert. It is so peaceful and yet so busy, so quiet yet so noisy. Each morning I try to open my van door so I don't disturb the grazing kangaroo. One morning, a group of juvenile emu ran through the long grass. They looked so comical, with only their heads visible, bobbing up and down.
My favourite place at the Kiata Campground has been an area on the Red Gums track. I called it the Meadow. It was at the eastern side of the loop and there was more grass here and bigger trees. It almost looked like an old orchard with smaller trees lining the path. The area used to be a eucalypt distillery so that might account for it. Anyway, it was just beautiful and the birds seemed to agree with me. They used the area as a sort of thoroughfare with numerous species zooming through.
Best of all, they would regularly stop and sit on a dead branch, frequently in front of me. First up was the Striated Pardalote. For a small bird, they frequently allow you to get close and they never disappoint.
Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus)
A family of robin frequented the area so I wasn't surprised when they turned up. As usual, the male was shy but the juvenile hung around for a while.
Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata)
It was chased away by a Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater. That, in turn, was replaced by a White-plumed Honeyeater. I couldn't keep up!
White-plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula penicillata)
I returned the next morning at dawn and just wandered this part of the track. In the early morning sun, the whole area was stunning and I loved the big trees.
The Brown Treecreeper appeared with a youngster in tow and I was thrilled to actually get them in the sunlight, just showing against the tree. What camouflage!
Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus)
As I walked further round, a young White-eared Honeyeater landed right in front of me. I blinked and blessed being at this place once again.
White-eared Honeyeater (Nesoptilotis leucotis)
Last up was another family of robins, this time the red-capped. A bit tricky to identify them at first as the family consisted of a female and 2 juveniles. Their call is unmistakable, which confirmed it.
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