Telowie Gorge

I decided it was time to make my way back towards Victoria, as much as the Eyre Peninsula (Western Whipbird) and Gawler Ranges (Scarlet-chested Parrot) tempted me. I camped the night at Telowie Gorge, which is part of the southern end of the Flinders Ranges and lies about 50km South-East of Port Augusta. Blue-breasted Fairy Wrens were again possible here, but the main draw card were Grey-fronted Honeyeaters that were suppose to be common in the gorge, and which I hadn't obtained photos to the quality i would have liked during my time in the Gammon Ranges. On the road into the gorge, I started the morning with a a couple of gorgeous Red-capped Robins. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters were calling from along the roadside vegetation, and again some mysterious fairy wrens called from close to a small creek. I would usually have thought these to be variegated, but being in range for Blue-breasted, I'm still unsure. Heading for the gorge carpark by car, a very cute baby Mistletoebird sat low in the vegetation waiting for its food to be delivered. I walked into the gorge over a small bridge and along the creek. It was overcast, and fairly quiet apart from the constant calling of Galahs that drowned out the calls of anything smaller that might be around. After the galahs settled down, I spotted some honeyeaters in some low scrub on the side of the gorge walls. This seems like typical habitat for Grey-fronted Honeyeaters that seem to have a preference for gorges, and especially the insect delicacies that live on the walls of such gorges. Low in a native pine tree, I spotted a juvenile Grey-fronted Honeyeater, that was being attended too by a busy adult that was collecting bugs and other such goodies for it to eat. The clouds parted long enough to illuminate the honeyeaters for a couple of photos, but shortly after returned, and kept me moving on my way homeward.