Birding in Loxton, South Australia

On my trip to Loxton last Monday I made time for a little birding along the river front near the caravan park. I only had about a half hour late in the afternoon. Loxton in the Riverland region of South Australia is about three hours by road north east of Adelaide.

Australian Pelican, River Murray, Loxton

The visit was rushed and not very productive as far as birds were concerned. I did manage to get the above photo of an Australian Pelican cruising the shallows near where I parked. Other birds seen in the vicinity include:

• Australian Wood Duck
• Pacific Black Duck
• Little Raven
• Galah
• Yellow Rosella
• Little Corella
• Little Black Cormorant
• Silver Gull
• Unidentified Tern (possibly Gull-Billed Tern)
• Crested Pigeon
• Rock Dove
• Australian Magpie
• Australian Magpie Lark
• White Plumed Honeyeater
• Red Wattlebird
• Noisy Miner
• House Sparrow
• Common Starling
• Welcome Swallow
• Striated Pardalote
• Wren (heard – possibly a Superb Blue)

River Murray at Loxton, South Australia

This photo shows the low level of water in the Murray River at present. The reeds in the middle right of the photo are normally quite green and in the water. The whole river system needs several years of above average rainfall and snowfalls in the catchment areas to replenish the water to its normal levels.