Pangarinda Arboretum, Wellington, South Australia
Yesterday we had another visit to the arboretum at Wellington in South Australia. I had been contacted via email by several birders nearby and one from interstate wanting directions to see the Spotted Nightjar roosting in the open.
Still There
The nightjar was still there and we were able to show a birding couple from Victor Harbor this amazing and cryptic bird. I also took along my wife and mother-in-law who also thought it was fascinating. My mother-in-law throught at first I was showing her a lizard, such was the camouflage of the feathers. It melded in beautifully with the sand, twigs, leaves and grass.
Other Birds
Although it had been a cold night and morning, by the time we arrived in the early afternoon the sun was shining, the clouds had cleared and the temperature had risen to a bearable 15 or 16 degrees. The sunshine also brought the birds out. I had good views of the male Red Capped Robin, a Grey Fantail, one Silvereye, many New Holland Honeyeaters, a small family of White Browed Babblers, Zebra Finches coming to a dripping tap to drink, Crested Pigeons sitting on the fence and powerlines nearby and a Whistling Kite soaring gracefully overhead. We also saw several hundred Straw Necked Ibis flying over a nearby farm and a single White Ibis as we left the arboretum.
It worked!
No Comments »9th June, 2006; Category: Garden birds
We had six special visitors in the garden this morning so my thoughts of yesterday worked. This morning my wife observed six Straw Necked Ibis walking purposefully up our driveway, as if they were paying us a visit. After my thoughts of yesterday’s posts – written in jest – I was delighted that they found their way back. I am assuming, of course, that the visitor from yesterday brought back some of his friends or family.
Still no Glossy Ibis though.
[Another big SIGH]
Interesting Garden Visitor
No Comments »8th June, 2006; Category: Garden birds
This morning we had an interesting visitor to our garden and orchard. A single Straw Necked Ibis decided that the snail population on our five acre block of land was worth a visit. It hung around for about an hour before heading off elsewhere.
The Straw Necked Ibis is a common and widespread species throughout many parts of Australia. Flocks of many hundreds can often be seen flying over different parts of the Murray Bridge district. This is a familiar sight in many parts of the country. We’ve even had large flocks – as many as 300 at a time – fly over head.
So why the fuss over a single individual?
This is the first time in the 22 years we have lived here that we have seen a Straw Necked Ibis actually land on our property. This is strange because one section is open paddock and ideal for a small flock to land and feed. I felt like going up to it and asking it to invite all its friends to come pay a visit.
I felt tempted to ask it to invite its cousin, the Glossy Ibis to come pay a visit. You see, the Glossy is one of my “bogey birds” – no matter how hard I try in suitable habitat, I don’t seem to be able to find even one!
(Sigh)
And when I do eventually get to see one, what are the chances of seeing dozens everywhere I go? It seems to be an unofficial birding law.
Birding S.A.
No Comments »7th June, 2006; Category: General
There are many active birders in the state of South Australia where I live. We have an interesting cross section of Australia’s birdlife present in our state. We have a diverse range of habitats in South Australia too, which accounts for why we have well over 400 species.
In his website Birding South Australia Peter Waanders says this about our state and its birds:
South Australia contains a variety of landscapes ranging from the dry red interior deserts to the lush and green Mt Lofty Ranges. Wetlands and mangroves around Adelaide and estuaries in the Coorong, floodplains along the Murray River and vast expanses of mallee provide habitat to many interesting bird species, some of which are only found in this state. Over 430 species have been recorded here, and vagrants turn up regularly. Due to the small human population (1.5 million), large size (three times the size of Texas), and distance from the more populated centres in the eastern states, birding is generally low-key. Over recent years however an increasing number of Australian and international visitors have discovered the birding secrets SA has to offer.
Peter’s site offers a wealth of information about the birds of South Australia, including recent sightings, a checklist of the birds of South Australia, a very comprehensive list of good birding sites throughout the state, trip reports, a photo gallery and many links to other birding sites throughout Australia and some international sites.
Spotted Nightjar
Spotted Nightjar
Yesterday I visited the Pangarinda Arboretum at Wellington East. This arboretum is about 30km south of Murray Bridge South Australia (or about 90km SE of Adelaide). For the last four weeks a single Spotted Nightjar has been roosting in the one location within the arboretum. It has been observed close up by quite a few people in that time.
Yesterday we were able to approach to within 2 metres to take photos without disturbing the bird. It was amazing to observe the cryptic markings on the feathers making it very hard to see as it roosted in a little hollow it had made next to several tufts of grass. Several days ago one of the volunteers received a shock when he disturbed the bird while weeding around some of the plants growing there. The bird puffed itself up and hissed at him. He thought he was about to be attacked by some strange reptilian creature!
This is one species that I had dismissed as being able to get a good close up photo of. One should never say never.
This post updated on 12th October 2015.
Spotted Nightjar