The pair was reported missing about 9.30pm on Saturday after failing to return from a red-tailed black cockatoo count in the Dergholm area, north-west of Casterton.

Acting Sergeant Patrick Day, of Hamilton police, said the Hamilton man and Coleraine woman bogged their four-wheel-drive in rugged terrain and did not have a mobile phone to call for help.

Four officers from Coleraine, Casterton and Balmoral took part in a search using separate 4WDs, with the man found about 5am yesterday.

“He reckons he’d walked for about 20 kilometres to try and go and get help,” Acting Sergeant Day said.

“Their vehicle was winched out by the police members and they were fit and well but just a little bit disorientated and a little bit cold.”

It is understood the pair’s car became bogged on the edge of a pine plantation.

“It was a very, very bushy area. The police members themselves got bogged on numerous occasions looking for them,” Acting Sergeant Day said.

“The (Police) Air Wing were going to actually come down at first light and search for them ­— we had grave concerns for them, particularly in relation to their age, and also with the fact that they’d been out there for such a long time.”

State Emergency Service members were put on standby to assist the aircraft in the event a daylight search was ordered.

Volunteers began the cockatoo count about 9am on Saturday as part of an annual event that covers 60 sites across south-east South Australia and south-west Victoria.

Acting Sergeant Day said the weekend scare emphasised the value of mobile phones as a safety measure.

“Mobile phones, if they work in that area, are fantastic,” he said.

“Even after police picked (the man) up it still took them 30 to 40 minutes of driving around for him to then pinpoint the car so that they could then go and rescue the elderly lady.”