Cape Barren Geese
8 Comments »5th November, 2006; Category: Ducks Geese and Swans
Cape Barren Geese
On Thursday we travelled south from Murray Bridge to the shores of Lake Alexandrina. The River Murray flows into this lake near Wellington before flowing out to sea near Goolwa. Just west of Wellington is a reliable spot to see Cape Barren Geese. They congregate in their hundreds here to feed on the local irrigated pastures.
Cape Barren Geese breed on the islands in Bass Strait between Victoria and Tasmania and also on the islands of South Australia and Western Australia. During the summer months they disperse to suitable grazing areas on the nearby mainland in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. In total there might be less than ten thousand birds, though some might dispute this figure.
On previous occasions I have counted over 500 birds in the one paddock where the above photo was taken making this locality a significant feeding ground for this species. Smaller flocks occur around the perimeter of Lakes Albert and Alexandrina, often in association with White Faced Herons, White and Straw Necked Ibis, Masked Lapwings, Australian Shelducks and the occasional flock of domestic geese.
Cape Barren Goose
Mother duck ducks off
No Comments »28th September, 2006; Category: Bird Behaviour, Birds in the News, Ducks Geese and Swans
This seems to be an annual event in the heart of the capital city of South Australia. A mother duck and her family of five ducklings were seen in King William Street yesterday morning. This is one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares and goes right through the middle of the CBD.
All the fuss caused by the incident prompted the mother to abandon her offspring, flying off and leaving them to the perils of the busy street. The little ones were soon rescued and put into foster care where they will be hand reared.
A report in the local newspaper said it appeared that the mother duck was taking her brood from Victoria Square in the middle of the city to the nearby River Torrens. This is a march of about a kilometre through the middle of the city. Almost every year there are reports similar to this one.
Australasian Shoveler
Australasian Shoveler
On a recent visit to the Laratinga Wetlands near Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills I was pleased to record and photograph an Australian Shoveler. I have not observed this species of duck very often here in South Australia. I have probably been looking in the wrong places!
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Blue Billed Duck
No Comments »10th August, 2006; Category: Ducks Geese and Swans
Blue Billed Duck
On a recent visit to one of my favourite birding spots I saw about fifty Blue Billed Ducks. This is not a species I have seen very often in my birding life. Quite a delightful species and I was fortunate to be able to get close enough for a reasonable photo. They can be a somewhat timid species – in my limited knowledge of them that is.
The sighting was at Lake Inchiquin in Clare in the mid-north district of South Australia. Look at My Favourite Birding Spots for more about this lovely spot.
For more of my writings about different species of ducks click here.
They’re back
Pacific Black Duck
They’re back.
Every winter we have several visitors to “Le Swamp” (otherwise known as our swimming pool, but its current shade of green would discourage most human swimmers).
Two, sometimes three Pacific Black Ducks come and take up residence on the pool, enjoying our wonderful hospitality. From time to time they will wander out to the paddock for a feed, or perhaps waddle through the orchard looking for a snail or two.
Several years ago they had a brood of 6 ducklings which proceeded to occupy the pool too. Trouble was, they couldn’t get out and by the time we saw them – we’d been away – they were too exhausted to survive. We tried hand rearing several of them but without success.
While we like seeing them around, they do make a horrible mess on the paving around the pool.
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