White Faced Heron
I have many birds on my list of favourites. I guess that they really can’t be ALL favourites. A better way of expressing it would be to say that I really enjoy seeing this species or that species.
White Faced Heron
On the list of birds I really enjoy seeing and watching is the White Faced Heron. This bird is such an elegant, neat and beautiful bird that I delight in every sighting of this species. On a recent trip to visit my daughter in Clare in the mid-north of South Australia we came home via Kapunda, an old historic copper mining town now farming centre. It was time for a cuppa, so we pulled off the main road through the town and found a delightful little park. Birding was a secondary aim but this little interlude was rather special.
White Faced Heron
A single White Faced Heron was stalking elegantly through the sticks and mud and debris at one end of the small artificial lake in the park. As I cautiously approached for a close up shot it flew to a nearby bridge across the lake, alighting on the hand rail. I was delighted with the resultant photo.
White Faced Herons are found throughout Australia where there is suitable habitat. They are mostly found in shallow wetlands, swamps, farm dams, tidal mudflats, grasslands and are sometimes seen visiting garden fishponds. On one occasion we even had one visit our swimming pool… er… “swamp” – it had frogs in it at the time.
Bird Word: Immature
- Immature: this is the stage of a bird’s life from when it fledges, or flies, until it is ready to breed.
Immature birds can be very confusing to identify. In many cases they have not yet developed their adult plumage. Good Field Guides will show these variations in the illustrations. In some cases it would be wise to also check the descriptive text of the field guide.
This variation in plumage colours and patterns just adds one more dimension to this fascinating thing called birding. It means that we always have to be alert and constantly learning.
An immature bird is similar to a juvenile, though these two terms can have subtle differences in meaning.
Rufous Whistler (juvenile male)
The Birds of Granite Island, Victor Harbor
Granite Island, Victor Harbor
Granite Island lies a short distance off the coast from Victor Harbor, South Australia. The island is one of several in Encounter Bay. It is possible to walk the short distance from the town to the island via a wooden causeway. It is also possible to take a ride on the historic horse drawn tram that operates every twenty minutes every day.
Pacific Gull
When I checked my birding database I was surprised that I don’t have any records specifically confined to the island. This could just reflect the way I have the database set up. Being an island there are quite a few sea birds one can see on a visit to the island. Just a quick list of the sea birds I have seen – and this is from memory:
- Little Penguin
- Silver Gull
- Pacific Gull
- Little Pied Cormorant
- Little Black Cormorant
- Great Cormorant
- White-faced Heron
- Sooty Oystercatcher
- Pied Oystercatcher
- Caspian Tern
- Crested Tern
- Red-capped Plover
- Australian Pelican
A few other species of birds can be seen on the island itself. There are a few trees and large expanses of grass on the top of the island. Here I have seen:
- Australian Magpie
- Little Raven
- Masked Lapwing
- Crested Pigeon
- Galah
- Spotted Turtledove
- Welcome Swallow
- Willie Wagtail
- Singing Honeyeater
- Magpie Lark
- Common Starling
This is far from an exhaustive list and has been done from memory – a dangerous thing to do.
Little Pied Cormorants on Granite Island
Bird Word: Juvenile
- Juvenile bird: a young fledged bird that has not yet reached sexual maturity.
One has to be careful with juvenile (or immature) birds. It can be tricky identifying them. This is because young birds recently out of the nest sometimes have non-adult plumage. Their colours and feather patterns can vary markedly from the adult plumage and markings. This can be so for as long as a year or more after hatching.
Most good Field Guides will show plumage variations either in the illustrations or explain them in the text – preferably both. Look for these variations when trying to identify a young bird.
Juvenile Striated Pardalote
Birding Bloopers #20
When I set out to record a few birding bloopers – misidentification of birds – I never realised I would get so many willing contributors. But here we are – up to number 20. There is a standing, open invitation to all my readers to contribute their embarrassing birding moments – or dob in someone else.
This latest contribution comes from Snail – she’s dobbed in someone else. I think this is a classic:
I’m forever mistaking inanimate objects for birds. But here’s one more story where I can point the finger at another (unnamed) party.
We were having a Sunday afternoon picnic in a park in Townsville. One of the people at the next tableâ€â€a self-proclaimed expert in natural historyâ€â€announced loudly and confidently, “Hear that sound? It’s a whistling kite.â€Â
We took the squeaky toy from the dog and put it in a bag.
Some things are best left unsaid.
Thanks to Snail from A Snail’s Eye View for this classic birding blooper.
Read more birding bloopers here – some entertaining reading.
White-Bellied Sea-Eagle
Disclaimer: This photo has nothing to do with this article; I just think it’s a nice photo from my photo gallery and I wanted to share it with you.