I returned to Mulligans Flat Woodland Reserve for more photography, determined I would have enough time to get down to the wetlands in the south. I had been warned the wetlands were very dry, a mere remnant of what they normally are. When I finally arrived at the wetlands, on a very windy morning, I realised just how much they had dried out, with only a long, narrow pond remaining behind the dam wall. I was a little disappointed but if I had not gone I would not have found out about the Floodplain Mussel, which had a number of shells on the drying dam banks. I also did manage to photograph some lovely birds.
A panoramic view showing how dry the wetlands are
The last remaining water in the wetlands
Walking towards the wetlands I could not help but photograph this truly beautiful Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), especially the way the sun was lighting it.
The Crimson Rosella is a beautiful bird
As usual, I spent a bit of time trying to find this Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus) once I heard it, and then a bit more time trying to photograph it.
Striated Pardalotes are always a challenge to locate, then to photograph
This lone Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) was sitting high in a tree making a racket, but no other birds joined it.
A Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
The wind was blowing strongly the whole morning. By the time I saw this Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris) on my walk the wind was reasonably strong but it did not stop this Weebill from flying between trees.
A Weebill not being deterred by the wind
These two Galahs (Eolophus roseicapillus) were walking around in the grass when I was almost back to my car. They appeared to be eating. They were frightened by something, although probably not me, flying off a short distance to another location.
Two Galahs out looking for food
The same Galahs landing after being frightened by something
In almost the same location there were four Straw-neck Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), two adults and two juveniles. They were moving in a line across the grass but were easily spooked by my presence.
An adult showing the “straw” plumage at the front of its neck
I saw this Jacky Dragon (Amphibolurus muricatus) sunning itself high up on a dead stump. It was right our in the open, although camouflaged perhaps as some bark on the tree, it still seemed to be very exposed.
A Jacky Dragon out in the open
At least by going to the dried wetlands I found out about the Floodplain Mussel (Velesunio ambiguous). There were a number of bivalve shells scattered around, often with one half crushed while the other side was in good condition. Not knowing anything about Australian freshwater mussels I wondered if this was just detritus from somebody enjoying a shellfish meal beside the wetlands discarding the shells into this dam. Shells now exposed as the water had dried out. Arriving home I did some searching on line and found out about this interesting mussel that no longer needs flowing water to live but prefers quiet water locations like farm dams.