Turtle spotting!

Yes, you read that right ... turtle spotting. In fact, Murray River turtles. There's quite a large and thriving colony of them in Playford Lake at Belair NP; and when the sun shines ... and when that sun is at just the right angle to strike into the water --

Sometimes you see them, sometimes you don't. They might be right there, but the sun's at the wrong angle; they also might be down deep, in which case all you see is a stream of bubbles. When they surface, sometimes they come up for a split second -- especially if they're very close to humans and catch a glimpse of you, in which case they're gone in a flash. Other times, they bask on the surface, but only way out in the lake, where you need a loooong lens to reach them.

Of course, turtles aren't the only critters around:

Talk about luck! Capture a dragonfly in flight ...
suuure, I planned this (ahem!)

A Little Raven, with bright blue eyes

A White Faced Heron ... fisherman on the lake.

A Darter, drying off in one of the big trees overhanging Playford Lake.

There are always birds galore, and when the sun shines it's a birder's and photographer's playground. It's also a lovely walk, and you meet some interesting people, usually walking an assortment of dogs, everything from the cattle dog and border collie to the huskies and malamutes...

Golden wattle

At this time of the year it's golden wattle season ... in other words, sneezin' season. Take a box of kleenex along: chances are, you'll need them! But the "enchanted forest effect" is well worth the sneezing:

On the Wood Duck Walk in spring, Playford Lake, Belair NP.

We'd packed a picnic, and after this hike and photo op we headed over to the Echo Tunnel area -- an old, rather creepy tunnel through the hillside, right under the main Belair rail line -- for a picnic before the mandatory walk through the tunnel. I'll blog that part of the story next time!