My first park and Shire activation for Sunday 9th June 2019 was the Scott Conservation Park 5CP-206 & VKFF-0934 which is located in the Alexandrina Council area (AX5).

The park is located about 76 km south of Adelaide and about 4 km north west of Currency Creek.

The Scott Conservation Park is 210 hectares in size.  The park was first proclaimed in 1969 and re-proclaimed as Scott Conservation Park on 27th April 1972.  The park is relatively flat and is situated east of the Mount Lofty Ranges.  The park consists of Blue and Pink gum woodlands.

Birds SA have recorded a total of 148 native bird species at Scott.  This includes Common Bronzewing, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Grey Shrike-thrush, Cockatiel, Eastern Rosella, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater,  Restless Flycatcher, Hooded Robin, and Eastern Shrike-tit.

Upon leaving home the weather was not looking good.  The Adelaide Hills were experiencing occasional light showers and they continued as I reached the Fleurieu Peninsula.

I accessed the park via Gould Road which runs off the Alexandrina Road (Strathalbyn – Goolwa Road).  I parked the car in the small car parking area and walked a short distance down an access track.

I was still getting the occasional very light shower after setting up, so I had the bothy bag ready.  You can see the bright orange bothy bag in the photograph below.

I found a clear spot on 40m and started calling CQ contest.  First in the log was Brian VK4VAZ, followed by Angus VK2SB, and then Ken VK7DY.  My sixth contact was with Andrew VK1DA/2 who was activating SOTA summit Mount Marulan VK2/ ST-039.

It was pleasing to have a steady flow of callers and reasonably good band conditions.  It was just a shame about the shower activity.

I logged a total of 36 stations on 40m including two Park to Park contacts: Rob VK4SYD/p in the Samford Conservation Park VKFF-1639, and Angela VK7FAMP/p in the Cape Deslacs Nature Reserve

I then moved to the 20m band where I logged a total of 4 stations, three from Queensland, and one from New South Wales.  But it was very slow going, as I was unable to self spot on parksnpeaks.

I then moved down to the 80m band and logged just 2 stations, Marija VK5FMAZ and Hans VK5YX.  Again it was very slow going on that band and there is no doubt that the inability to spot reduced the number of regular callers.

To conclude the activation I moved back to 40m where I logged 7 contacts including two further Park to Park contacts: Linda VK7QP/2 in the Ulandra Nature Reserve VKFF-2009, and Alan VK2MG/4 in the Kurwongbah Nature Reserve VKFF-2868.

I had 49 contacts in the log and it was time to move to my next park, the Mount Billy Conservation Park.

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4VAZ
2. VK2SB
3. VK7DY
4. VK3EV
5. VK3ER
6. VK1DA/2 (SOTA Mount Marulan VK2/ ST-019)
7. VK7GH
8. VK3MKE
9. VK7FJFD
10. VK2LX
11. VK2PAW
12. VK3IH
13. VK3MRG
14. VK3MDH
15. VK2NP
16. VK2FMIA
17. VK3XV
18. VK3PF
19. VK2GR
20. VK4FDJL
21. VK3JP
22. VK4RF
23. VK4HA
24. VK4SYD/p (Samford Conservation Park VKFF-1639)
25. VK5AYL
26. VK4HH
27. VK4RZ
28. VK3LTL
29. VK7ALH
30. VK3ZPF
31. VK3EIR
32. VK3SQ
33. VK7JGD
34. VK3KIX
35. VK4TJ
36. VK7FAMP/p (Cape Deslacs Nature Reserve VKFF-2930)
37. VK7QP/2 (Ulandra Nature Reserve VKFF-2009)
38. VK7LH
39. VK3ANL
40. VK2MG/4 (Kurwongbah Nature Reserve VKFF-2868)
41. VK2HMV
42. VK2MIX
43. VK2TTL

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4HH
2. VK4SYD/p (Samford Conservation Park VKFF-1639)
3. VK4TJ
4. VK2TTL

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5FMAZ
2. VK5YX

 

References.

Birds SA, 2018, <https://birdssa.asn.au/location/scott-conservation-park/>, viewed 25th June 2018

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2011, ‘Parks of the Fleurieu Peninsula’.