Little Desert - near Nhill

Little Desert 

4 - 7 December 2015

We have visited Little Desert Lodge twice since September last year and were keen to return. The forecast heatwave over the weekend was perfect timing for us - we could stay in a room at the lodge rather than camp, and go out walking early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The lodge has various levels of accommodation including ensuite rooms, bunk house and camping. Ensuite room guests have access to a small kitchen (microwave, toaster, jug) and a lounge area with TV.

We arrived around lunch time with the temperature already over 30 degrees, so we retreated to the air conditioned comfort until it started to cool a little later in the day. Mick spent a couple of hours down at the bird hide, before returning home for dinner.

In the morning we both headed down to the hide early and stayed until morning tea time, when it was starting to get a bit hotter. The very small hide is positioned right beside a water source so there were heaps of birds visiting.

Diamond firetail. I never tire of seeing these beautiful finches.

New Holland is a very common honeyeater in this area.

It's taken many attempts to get a decent shot of the Shy heathwren.

White-eared honeyeater are in good numbers at the hide.

Both Christie and Whimpey's pond reflecting.

Sunset over Little Desert.

Dusky woodswallow in for a drink.

Shy heathwren again on day two!

Striated Pardalote.

Tawny-crowned honeyeater.

White-plumed honeyeater.

I tried to spend as much time as possible in the hide again this visit but the extreme heat meant that this was only possible early and late in the day and late in the day it is only possible to drink beer. The light is much more even and better for photography in the morning anyway. Watching the local birds come in to drink and bathe is a wonderful entertainment and it's hard to leave, not knowing what may visit next. Will it be a Purple-gaped honeyeater?... no as it turns out... worse luck! Maybe next time! Mick.

Male Hooded Robin.

Female Hooded Robin.

Juvenile Diamond Firetail.

In late spring and early summer its common to see lots of juvenile birds around. This has certainly been the case for us on this trip. It is also common for the successful parents to look a little bedraggled, like the Hooded Robins pictured above. Finding a mate, building a nest, defending a territory and catching food for fast growing nestlings all takes a toll on the dedicated parents. Mick.

Flat out like a lizard drinking. This Stumpy-tailed lizard drank long and slow on this very hot day.

Because of the oppressive heat (above 35 degrees) we didn't do as much walking as we might have. We did go down to Whimpey's Waterhole at sunset and to Big M's Pond on Sunday afternoon. Mick spent time each morning at the hide, even getting up at sunrise on our final day. Little Desert Lodge has become a favourite spot - we just hope our next visit will be in more mild weather conditions!

We said our goodbyes and headed off to the south, through the part of the National Park that had been burnt out last year, and through the back roads to Horsham, and on to Halls Gap in the Grampians.