A Short Lunch Time Break
Today we had some business to attend to in Murray Bridge. Our short journey took us past our favourite bakery, so we stopped to buy some lunch. We then drove down to the banks of the River Murray to eat our lunch. Although we only spent perhaps twenty minutes there, it is a very relaxing place to be.
All the usual birds were present:
Welcome Swallows, Silver Gulls, Eurasian Coots, Black Tailed Native Hens, Pacific Black Ducks, White Plumed Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebirds, Australian Magpie, Magpie Lark, Little Ravens and Willie Wagtail.
A lone Whistling Kite soared overhead.
As we ate our lunch a Little Egret steadily worked its way along the shallow water. It came to within five metres of the front of the car where we sat.
An ideal subject for my camera.
But the camera was at home in the office. A lost opportunity.
Next time perhaps.
Birding on a morning walk
This morning we had a gentle walk along a few streets and roads we don’t normally use on our times of exercise. It was a mild morning, not frosty like so many mornings in recent months here in Murray Bridge, South Australia. A few clouds but mostly sunny with a gentle breeze – ideal conditions for a walk.
Honeyeaters
The birds thought so too – not for a walk mind you. They were everywhere calling and flitting around in the bushes and trees in the gardens as we walked along. There seemed to be honeyeaters everywhere; Red Wattlebirds, New Holland Honeyeaters, Singing and White Plumed Honeyeaters. I also heard several Brown Headed Honeyeaters but failed to see them.
Lapwings
I didn’t expect to see several Masked Lapwings as we walked through this part of the town. This species is common and widespread throughout the district but usually in association with water nearby. I had forgotten that we had to walk past a dam in a nearby paddock. There was also a small quarry containing some water. One of the lapwings was pacing along the edge of the muddy water.
Willie Wagtails
As we neared home the area opens into farming areas. In one of the paddocks we saw five Willie Wagtails feeding together. I thought this a little unusual as I normally only see them one or two at a time. As they flew off I realised that three must have recently left their nest as they were hotly pursuing their parents. Our own resident Willie Wagtails haven’t nested yet – at least, I haven’t observed a nest. I’d better check it out tomorrow.
Favourite Birding Spot #3 Kinchina, Murray Bridge
Kinchina is a locality about 3km west of our home on the western edge of Murray Bridge, South Australia. It takes me just over a half hour to walk there. More often we drive to the start of a track leading through the area and then walk for about half an hour before returning to the car for the short drive home.
Kinchina area, west of Murray Bridge
The area originally had a railway siding I think, and there remains the ruin of a house from the early days of settlement in the district. The main Adelaide to Melbourne train line runs through the middle of the area and this is flanked by mainly mallee scrub and open farming country. The scrub area also contains many acacia (wattle) plants, as well as melaleuca, callistomen and correa plants with an understory of quite a range of smaller bushes and ground covers. This makes the area quite rich in flora and one of the better examples of what was here before European settlement.With such a diverse range of flora the fauna is also very good. Of the mammals, Western Grey Kangaroos are present and I have seen Echidnas and Brush-tailed Possums here. The introduced Brown Hare, Rabbit, Red Fox and Feral Cat are also present, unfortunately.
Good birding site
Birding in this area rarely disappoints. I have recorded over 50 species in this locality over the many visits. I am disappointed if my list does not reach 30 after about 30 minutes of walking. Common Bronzewing and Crested Pigeons and Peaceful Doves are all common breeding species in this area. I have seen Brown Falcons, Black-shouldered Kites, Nankeen Kestrels and the beautiful Spotted Harrier. Of the parrots, the Galah is by far the most common, with Mallee Ringnecks, Red Rumped Parrots and Purple-crowned Lorikeets also present.
Small bush birds
Willie Wagtails are very common as are Grey Fantails. Of the robins, the Hooded is resident but I am surprised that I haven’t yet recorded the Red-capped and the Flame Robin which are present only a short distance away. I have seen both the Golden and Rufous Whistlers and if I don’t actually see a Grey Shrike Thrush I usually hear one or more calling.
White-browed Babblers and Variegated Fairy-wrens are usually encountered in their noisy family groups as they scurry from bush to bush. The babblers untidy nests are evident everywhere, seemingly in every bush. Both Spotted and Striated Pardalotes call incessantly from the taller tree canopy. In summer the stunning Rainbow Bee-eater is resident and often nests in the sand banks along the creek banks.
Spiny Cheeked Honeyeater
Honeyeaters
There is almost always something flowering in the Kinchina area. This means that honeyeaters are always present. The New Holland Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebirds and Singing Honeyeaters are the most common species I have recorded there. The Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater and Brown-headed Honeyeaters are not as common but still present on many occasions.
Dusky Woodswallow
Woodswallows
Woodswallows come and go in this area. Only when they nest do they hang around for more than an hour or two. The three species I’ve recorded around here include the Dusky Woodswallow (shown above) and the Masked and White-browed Woodswallows are also occasional visitors.
Other species
I’ve only mentioned a few of the species recorded at Kinchina. There are always Australian Magpies and Little Ravens present. The White-winged Choughs have nested in the branches above the track we walk along. Common Starlings and House Sparrows can seen from time to time too. The most beautiful, however, is the Diamond Firetail finch. I haven’t yet managed to get a photo of this delightful species.
Favourite Birding Spot #2 Swanport Reserve
This is the second in a series of articles I plan to post about my favourite birding spots. The first article can be read here.
Swanport Reserve
This reserve is about 5km south of the Murray Bridge CBD in rural South Australia. The local council has set aside this reserve on the banks of the Murray River as a picnic area. The area is about two acres in size and is mainly lawn with a scattering of River Red Gums and a few other trees, making it a lovely shady place in the summer. There is a safe swimming beach approximately 60 metres in length. A part of the beach is set aside for fishing.
Noisy Miner at Swanport Reserve
Over the years this reserve has become one of our favourite picnic destinations; it is only a ten-minute easy drive from home. I have lost count of the number of times we have taken fish and chips or chicken and chips there for a picnic lunch or tea. And as always, the thermos and tea bags are always handy too. Sitting in a picnic chair watching the river traffic go by has to be one of the more relaxing ways of spending a few hours on a lovely day or a summer’s evening. What is more, the bird life rarely disappoints.
The Birds of Swanport Reserve
Over the years I have recorded 72 species of birds on my visits to the reserve. Naturally, the waterbirds are well represented. This includes four species of cormorants, the Little Pied being the most common. One almost always sees several Australian Pelicans, Straw-Necked and White Ibis, and several White-faced Herons. Of the ducks, the most common would be the Pacific Black Duck and the Australian Wood Duck though I have seen both Mallards and Grey Teal.
Grebes
Interestingly, I have only once observed a single Great Crested Grebe at Swanport and never the Hoary Headed nor the Australasian Grebe, both common species in this area. The Great Crested is not regularly seen in this part of SA.
Other Waterbirds
Almost always one is able to see the Eurasian Coot swimming near the bank and Purple Swamphens skulking along on their long legs. Dusky Moorhens are also seen from time to time, trailing a string of little ones paddling furiously trying to keep up with mum and dad. Black-tailed Native Hens come and go, sometimes there are dozens of them but often none at all. Once I saw a Black-fronted Dotterel, another species widespread but not numerous in this area.
Gulls and Terns
Silver Gulls are always flying past, sometimes in loose flocks of two or three up to several dozen. Single Caspian Terns regularly patrol up and down the river, as do Crested Terns and Whiskered Terns.
Raptors
Whistling Kites, Little Eagles and Black Kites are almost always present and regularly breed in the taller trees along the river banks. The Whistling Kites mournful calls can be heard as they patrol to river banks and nearby dairy farm swamps and wetlands. Swamp Harriers and Spotted Harriers also occur here as does the small Black-shouldered Kite.
Pigeons, Doves
There is a huge population of feral pigeons (Rock Doves) along the river. They seem to nest and breed prolifically underneath the three bridges which cross the river at Murray Bridge. They are also a pest in many of the town’s buildings and they also utilise the hollows in some of the old-growth eucalypts along the river. Flocks of 20-100 can be seen flying along the river at any time of the day. More pleasant at Swanport are the Peaceful Doves, their cooing on a still summer’s day adding to the atmosphere of relaxation. Crested Pigeons are plentiful as are the introduced Spotted Turtle-Doves.
Parrots
Flocks of 100s of Little Corellas and Galahs are often seen along the river it this area. The noisy and gregarious Corellas can undo the peacefulness of the reserve as they fly overhead. Other parrots include Red-rumped Parrots, Rainbow Lorikeets and Purple-Crowned Lorikeets and I once recorded two Yellow Rosellas. This sub-species of the Crimson Rosella is normally found much further upstream; my record seems to be one of those occasional odd sightings.
Honeyeaters
Red Wattlebirds and White-plumed Honeyeaters are common in and around the reserve. New Holland Honeyeaters and Singing Honeyeaters are also present and Noisy Miners (see photo above) are everywhere.
Picnic at Swanport Reserve, Murray Bridge
Other birds
There are many more species to see at Swanport Reserve. 100s of Welcome Swallows swoop low over the river. Australian Magpies and Magpie Larks patrol the lawns looking for a feed. Willie wagtails and Superb Fairy-wrens are always present and Australian Reed-Warblers can be heard in the reeds lining the river bank. Both the Laughing Kookaburra and the Sacred Kingfisher are resident species.
An Anomaly
This reserve is at the historic settlement of Swanport. In all of my visits, I have only ever once seen a Black Swan there! They are much more common further upstream at another wetlands area.
Related Articles and Links:
Post updated on 30th May, 2017.
Vagrant birds in our garden
Over recent days I have written about the bird species that are resident in our garden here in Murray Bridge in rural South Australia. I have also written about birds that are not resident but are regular visitors, some of them seasonal visitors.
Over the last 22 years I have recorded 113 species in total. Of those 36 are resident and many of the rest are regular or occasional visitors. A few species I would regard as vagrants. On this list I would include the species recorded on only one or two or a handful of occasions.
Vagrant Species:
The species I would call vagrants on our home block would include those listed below. The number in brackets is the frequency of recording. (These numbers are not quite up to date). I have kept monthly (sometimes weekly) records throughout the 22 years.
- Australian Pelican (1)
- Little Black Cormorant (3)
- White-faced Heron (5)
- Australian White Ibis (1)
- Wedge-tailed Eagle (1)
- Peregrine Falcon (1)
- Stubble Quail (2)
- Banded Lapwing (1)
- Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (1)
- Budgerigar (1)
- Musk Lorikeet (3)
- White-throated Needletail (1)
- White-winged Triller (4)
- Red-backed Kingfisher (2)
- Australasian Pipit (3)
- Restless Flycatcher (1)
- Jacky Winter (2)
- Flame Robin (2)
- Buff-rumped Thornbill (1)
- Brown Thornbill (2)
- Inland Thornbill (1)
- Southern Whiteface (5)
- White-fronted Chat 3
- Brown Treecreeper (2)
- White-eared Honeyeater (4)
- Yellow-plumed Honeyeater (5)
Some of the species listed above are quite surprising because they are relatively common and widespread in the district.