An incredible birding experience

While travelling across South Australia last Friday in temperatures in excess of 40°C, we turned off the Eyre Highway around 1.30pm for a late lunch. Noticing an interesting old building some distance from the road, we drove over to see if we might find some shade. As we approached, we saw dozens of birds crouching in crevices in the building’s foundations and pressed against the under floor air vents. It was obvious that they were seeking respite from the heat. A few of the larger birds that could reach down to the water, were drinking from a 44 gallon drum against the building’s wall. From the car we counted three Ground Cuckoo-shrikes, one female Crimson Chat, one Yellow-plumed Honeyeater, three Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters, ten Singing Honeyeaters, two White-fronted Honeyeaters, five Southern Whitefaces, one Yellow-rumped Thornbill, three Dusky Woodswallows, two Willie Wagtails, one Budgerigar and approximately forty Australasian Pipits. I carefully climbed from the car and set up my camera for record shots of the Cuckoo-shrikes. After taking 50 or so shots, I tried to creep closer. Many of the birds, including one of the Cuckoo-shrikes, flew off, but others remained. Over an hour or more I crawled closer and closer, continuing to take photos. I eventually reached the base of the building myself. Initially most of the birds flew away from the side of the building out into the sun, but as I sat motionless, they started to return. Over the next three hours I eventually had all three Ground Cuckoo-shrikes sitting as close as two metres from me (far too close to focus) and everything else scattered around me in a very unconcerned manner. I took hundreds of photos. We discovered the old building is the Yantanabie School Hall, which operated from 1918 to 1929. To our surprise we discovered it is now privately owned, fortunately by a lady who is keen on preserving local history. If you are travelling between Ceduna and Kimba on a very hot day, I would strongly recommend you call in and see what birds are about. John Barkla _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org