Vik's Gallery:   Superb Parrot (1/4)

PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae

Polytelis swainsonii  

Whilst researching Gulpa Creek, near Mathoura, I came across information about an ephemeral wetlands walk at a winery at Thule, 50 kilometres to the west. The blurb mentioned the possibility of seeing Superb Parrots there.

This was for us! Combining walking, birding and a little wine tasting is about as good as it can get, so if we had the time, we would check out this winery, the name of which was Restdown Wines.

We did have the time, but as it was late on Saturday afternoon, we were prepared for a Closed sign. Instead we were warmly greeted by Jo and Don Hearn and Molly, the dog.

Jo, the wine maker, gave us lots of information on the local birds and we tasted and subsequently purchased several bottles of a very nice merlot and also of a rose which we both liked.

I had expected the Superb Parrots may have moved north for the winter but Don said that he was still seeing them daily and he even offered to drive us around the property to find some, answering our questions along the way, with obvious and justifiable pride, about the farm, their Hereford cattle, and the local wildlife, and hey presto, Don located some Superb Parrots feeding in the long grass of one of his paddocks and I photographed my 464th Australian bird.

We will return to Restdown Wines, only next time we'll call ahead to let Don and Jo know we're coming and checkout what local produce they might have on the menu at the same time.

Visit Don and Jo's website at www.restdown.com.au. Be sure to turn your speakers on when you do because the background music was written and performed by Don (this is a talented couple) and I left the web pages open after I'd finished reading just so that I could enjoy the music for a while longer.

Thank you Jo and Don. We much enjoyed our visit to your farm and winery.