Birding along the River Murray
Black Swan, Murray Bridge
A few weeks ago I participated in the Global Big Day. This was a special birding day held all over the world. Participants went out birding in their local patch. This could be your own garden, a nearby park, or a little further away. I decided to visit six of my favourite local birding sites, starting with my own garden. It was an interesting and relaxing afternoon. I visited several spots I had not been to in quite a while. Naturally, my camera came with me.
One of my birding sites was Sturt Reserve here in Murray Bridge, South Australia. This reserve, about five kilometres from my home, incorporates large grassed picnic areas along the River Murray. At this point, the river is quite wide and affords good views of quite a range of water birds, including ducks, coots, swamphens, cormorants, darters, pelicans and grebes.
The picnic areas have some old growth gum trees which are favoured spots for a range of parrots, cockatoos, honeyeaters and magpies. To the south of the reserve, there are several shallow lagoons. These generally fill up due to run-off from land nearby during rain. They would also be filled if the river ever flooded. There may even be a way for water to enter these lagoons directly from the river, but I am not aware if this actually happens.
These lagoons also attract a range of water birds. On my special day out birding, I saw Black Swans (see photo above).
As well as the swans I also recorded the following species:
- Pacific Black Ducks,
- Grey Teal,
- Pink-eared Ducks,
- Purple Swamphen
- Eurasian Coots
- Dusky Moorhen
- Black-winged Stilts
Please note that if you click on any of the above list of birds, it will take you to more articles and photos of those species.
Dusky Moorhen (left) and Eurasian Coot (right)
Purple Swamphen
Part of the lagoon south of Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge
Dusky Moorhens at Laratinga Wetlands
Dusky Moorhen, Laratinga Wetlands
Over recent posts here on my site I have featured some of the birds I saw and photographed on a recent visit to the Laratinga Wetlands in Mt Barker, South Australia. As I have stated before, this is one of my favourite birding places to visit because of the large number and variety of birds present all year on the dozen or so ponds which make up the wetlands. Besides, it is about a half hour drive from my home.
Apart from the ease of getting there, and the good variety of birds, another benefit is being able to access the various ponds via a great network of walking paths. These paths are used daily by hundreds of locals and visitors for walking, running, cycling and birding. From the paths visitors have a great view of the birdlife and this makes photography a delight there. On many occasions the paths themselves afford good photographic opportunities.
A example of this on my most recent visit was a small flock of Red-browed Finches drinking from some puddles on the path. Unfortunately the puddles were in deep shade, and the birds constantly moving, so my shots of them turned out very blurry. You get that.
On the other hand, today’s photos feature several Dusky Moorhens feeding on the grassy verges of one of the paths – and in full sunlight. It made it a little easier to get some photos, but on the downside, they were a little skittish.
Dusky Moorhens are often found near bodies of water like the Laratinga Wetlands and often associate with both Purple Swamphens and Eurasian Coots. They found throughout the eastern half of the Australian mainland as well as SW Western Australia and Tasmania.
Further reading:
- Great birding moments – Red-browed Finch
- Dusky Moorhen and chick
- Purple Swamphens at Sturt Reserve
- Baby Coots
- Laratinga Wetlands
Dusky Moorhen, Laratinga Wetlands
Dusky Moorhen, Laratinga Wetlands
A little birding in Clare
No Comments »13th January, 2013; Category: Clare, Coots and Moorhens, Darters and Cormorants, Ducks Geese and Swans, Herons and Egrets
Lake Inchiquin, Melrose Park, Clare, South Australia
Last December we visited our daughter who teaches in Clare in the mid-north of South Australia. One afternoon I wandered down the road to Lake Inchiquin which is next the Melrose Park on the northern edge of town. Over recent years I have often visited this top little spot to do a little birding.
Over recent years this lake has often been almost dry due to the extended drought conditions we’ve experienced over that period. This last year’s good rains has seen the lake return to capacity again. The birds have also returned, so I try to find a half hour or so to check it out every time we visit our daughter.
On this occasion I saw a few Pacific Black Ducks, Chestnut Teal, Grey Teal, plenty of Eurasian Coot, several Masked Lapwings and a solitary Darter. On the opposite shore a single Great Egret patrolled the lake edges, especially near the reeds. Another species was a Yellow-billed Spoonbill but I didn’t manage a photo of the one bird seen flying overhead.
Away from the water the birdlife was just as interesting, with Laughing Kookaburras, Little Corellas, Galahs and dozens of Rainbow Lorikeets. In nearby trees I saw Noisy Miners, Red Wattlebirds and White-plumed Honeyeaters. Standing quite still for about 5 minutes I watched a Mallee Ringneck feeding on the seeds of some weeds growing on the bank of the lake.
Great Egret, Lake Inchiquin, Melrose Park, Clare, South Australia
A short visit to the Laratinga Wetlands
Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
A few months ago we travelled to Mt Barker for a special birthday celebration. My son and daughter in law had flown over from Sydney so that we could all celebrate my grandson’s third birthday. As we don’t get to spend much time with our precious little man, it was a very special time. We had the party at his other grandparents’ home in Mt Barker. After the party we all felt the need for a walk, so we drove the short distance to the Laratinga Wetlands on the eastern edge of town.
These wetlands were established in 1999 by the local council to deal with the town’s waste water and sewage. Accompanied by an extensive tree planting programme, the wetlands have become very attractive to birds – and birders. Extensive walking/cycling paths around the perimeters of the ponds allow easy access to great views of the ponds and the birdlife present. It is fast becoming one of my favourite birding destinations; it’s proximity to my home just 30 minutes away is an added bonus.
Eurasian Coot, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
Eurasian Coot, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
Hoary Headed Grebe, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
Coots and Moorhens, Laratinga Wetlands
Dusky Moorhen, Laratinga Wetlands
The Laratinga Wetlands at Mt Barker in the Mt Lofty Ranges usually have a large number of Eurasian Coots and a moderate number of Dusky Moorhens. On my recent visit the numbers were reversed. There were a few Coots, but they were far outnumbered by the Dusky Moorhens which seemed to be everywhere.
It was also interesting to note that there were many juvenile moorhens getting about in the lagoons. The high rainfall of the latter part of last year may well have triggered a very productive breeding season.
Related articles:
Eurasian Coots, Laratinga Wetlands