Birding at Mallacoota
Black Swans at Mallacoota, eastern Victoria
On our visit to Mallacoota in far eastern Victoria in January we went for an after dinner walk along the foreshore and estuary of the river. It was a calm, warm evening and we had a pleasant time exploring this lovely spot for the first time. We decided that this is one place we needed to revisit – and stay four or five days at the very least.
In the quiet estuary we saw many Black Swans, Australian Pelicans, a few Pied Oystercatchers and three Royal Spoonbills.
Pelicans, Spoonbills and Cormorants at Mallacoota.
While on our walk we saw several Great cormorants as well as some Little Pied Cormorants. Two Whistling Kites patrolled the shallows in the company of a lone White-bellied Sea Eagle. I’ve not seen too many sea eagles in all of my birding, so this was something special. I was surprised though that there were not many ducks in the estuary. In fact I only recorded a few Australian Wood Ducks. Perhaps the kites and eagle had scared them off.
The inlet is an ideal haven for fishermen, and this is iluustrated by the large number of boats present in the water and on trailers in the caravan park. There are also boats offering cruises on the river, like the one shown below.
Mallacoota, far eastern Victoria.
A Starling in a hurry
2 Comments »19th January, 2009; Category: Bird Behaviour, Eagles Hawks and Kites, Murray Bridge, Raptors
Common Starling
Common Starlings are not my favourite birds.
In fact, here in Australia they are considered a pest, especially by fruit growers and people who have a few fruit trees in their back yard. A small flock can completely ruin a crop of apricots in a few hours, for example.
There is a wider environmental issue to also consider. Common Starlings are often found in flocks of hundreds and even number in the tens of thousands in fruit growing areas. Large flocks like this feed on the crops when they are ripe; for the rest of the year they are seriously depleting food sources of many of our native species. Even worse is the fact that they use tree hollows for their nests, thus denying native birds precious nesting sites. They are also very messy in their nesting habits, fouling the hollows to the point where only Starlings will reuse the hollow.
Last night I was at an outdoor function being conducted by our church. We hold this event on Sunday evenings every year in January in the town sound shell. Despite the very loudly amplified music the birding was spectacular. Not many species flew over, mind you, but one incident involving a Common Starling really caught my attention.
Two Australian Hobbies (Little Falcons) live around the CBD and I’ve seen them soaring around the area on a number of occasions. One of them zoomed past the sound shell at great speed heading for some trees in the park opposite. It did a few loops around a tall pine tree disturbing a Common Starling in the process which sped of in the opposite direction, hotly pursued by the falcon. Both disappeared behind a building. I hope that the falcon caught his supper.
Bird Wars – Magpies v Falcon
1 Comment »17th October, 2008; Category: Bird Behaviour, Eagles Hawks and Kites, Garden birds, Magpies and Currawongs
A few days ago I was out in our garden. Whenever I’m out there my ears and eyes are on the alert for anything happening in the bird world.
I was suddenly aware of a Crested Pigeon flying at full speed from the direction of the main road past our five acre block. The pigeon seemed in a great hurry – in fact, it seemed terrified. And with good reason.
A Brown Falcon had been following it, obviously thinking that lunch was an easy grab. It had another think coming.
The resident male Australian Magpie had other ideas and swooped aggressively on the now harassed falcon, turning the aggressor into the victim. The Magpie kept on attacking the falcon – from a safe distance of a few metres – until it was well and truly off the property, and presumably out of the Magpie’s territory.
The Crested Pigeon was seen no more as it made its escape over the other side of the house where I lost sight of it.
And the Magpie saved its two babies in the nest nearby.
My advice to all my readers: keep a sharp eye on the behaviour of the birds in your part of the world. You never know when something dramatic will happen.
The Start of my Indian Bird List?
2 Comments »11th October, 2008; Category: Birds in the News, Birds on Television, Eagles Hawks and Kites
While watching the news on television this evening I was interested in seeing footage highlights of the First Cricket Test match between Australia and India. This match is currently under way in Bangalore, India.
Imagine my delight when part of the highlights package included some close up shots of about 15 -20 Black Kites soaring over the cricket ground.
I’ve never been birding in India. Moral dilemma: can I now start my list of Indian birds?
Black Kite at Mannum, South Australia
The Magnificent Osprey
I don’t often get the chance to observe the magnificent Osprey. When I do, it is always a special moment. I guess most birders feel the same way about this wonderful bird.
Therefore it was with great delight that I saw a special article in today’s state wide newspaper here in South Australia – The Advertiser – about this lovely bird, complete with a great photograph.
For those who do not have access to our daily paper, the photo and accompanying article can be seen by clicking here. It’s worth a quick visit – even if you only take a look at the great photo. [UPDATE: sorry – this link no longer works. Nov 2013]
Happy birding.
Because the link to the photo I wrote about no longer works, I’ve included one I took some time ago while on a holiday on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. It’s not a great photo but it shows the Osprey in flight.
Osprey