It has been quite a while since my last entry. I’ve been busy and quite often distracted by other things in my life.

A few weeks ago I had my first visit to Gluepot Bird Reserve. This is about 64km north of Waikerie in South Australia. This large tract of mallee bushland used to be a working sheep station. In 1997 the members of Birds Australia purchased the land and have set it aside as a bird reserve. This area has a high concentration of threatened species present and so it has become a very valuable part of Australia’s reserves. I was one of the many members who donated funds for its purchase.

The main reason for visiting on this occasion was to attend the very first course held at the reserve. It was a Nature Photography course and was very beneficial. It forced me to become more familiar with my Canon Powershot S2 IS digital camera.

This Grey Butcherbird visited my campsite.

Pity it looked away just as I took the photo!

Gluepot Reserve is a wonderful birding destination. The new Visitor Centre is not only packed with information, it is also a beautiful building. The course I attended was held next door in the shearing shed which had been converted into a lecture hall. The final touches were being made as we arrived for the first session on the Saturday morning.

Gluepot Reserve has many roads which enable the visitor to experience the different environments within the reserve. After rain these roads can become like a “gluepot” hence the name of the station. Bird hides have been placed in strategic places to observe the birds up close.

I only had time to access several of the more than a dozen walking tracks. These tracks take the keen birders deep into the mallee and spinifex country where the birds abound. Several camping grounds enable one to camp right where the birds are common. The camp sites are all set in beautiful scrubland.

My camping spot at Gluepot Reserve.

I was able to add a new species to my Life List; the Black-Eared Miner. This species of honeyeater is nationally threatened but relatively easy to find in parts of Gluepot. Although I missed out on many other species I would like to have seen, such as the Scarlet Chested Parrot, I am determined to return frequently in the future.