Great Birding Moments #12 White Faced Heron
No Comments »10th September, 2006; Category: Waterbirds
White Faced Heron
White Faced Herons are a widespread and common waterbird in our region. On many occasions I have had close up views of this species and usually without a camera in my hand. Last Thursday, while at St Kilda north of Adelaide, I was able to creep up reasonably close to one feeding in the shallows. It was more pre-occupied by feeding rather than watching me.
With the 12x zoom fully extended on my camera, plus a little tweaking on the computer I was able to get the above photo. Not as sharp as I’d like but satisfying all the same.
Favourite Birding Spot #5 St Kilda
1 Comment »9th September, 2006; Category: Favourite Birding Spots, Herons and Egrets, Migratory birds, Pelicans, Seabirds, Shorebirds, Spoonbills, Stilts and Avocets, Waterbirds
Black-Winged Stilt
I have only recently visited St Kilda and Barker Inlet north of Adelaide for the first time, but already it is becoming a favourite birding spot of mine. Access to the area is very easy being just a few kilometers off the main highway heading north from Adelaide (the Port Wakefield road). There is a large car parking area, a large lawned picnic area, an interesting Adventure Playground (for the ankle biters – teens might even like it), a fast food outlet, boat ramp and a well kept clean public toilet block.
At low tide the tidal mudflats stretch for many kilometres along the coast. On top of the rock wall protecting the boat channel out to deeper water is an excellent walking path. This enables one to walk far out from the beach, perhaps nearly a kilometre. This allows one to get close to the birds feeding on the mudflats.
On my few visits I have observed many Black Winged Stilts (see photo above), Sooty and Pied Oystercatchers, Australian Pelicans, White Ibis, Great and Little Egrets, Black Swans and Royal Spoonbills. On my visits I have seen, far out from the shore, what looked like thousands of Grey Teal. I also recorded several Chestnut-Breasted Shelducks.
An added bonus for the birder at St Kilda is the Mangrove Boardwalk nearby. I have written about this here. Of course, my visits have been in early spring. I dare say, as the weeks progress, many migratory waders will arrive here for the summer months.
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Updated Nov 2013.
Birds of the Mangrove Boardwalk, St Kilda
On Saturday we had some business to attend to in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. After the business was dealt with we travelled the short distance to St Kilda. We had been intending to visit this area for many years and we were pleased to finally get there.
St Kilda Mangrove walk
After lunch in the picnic ground near the excellent Adventure Playground we went on the Mangrove Boardwalk. This boardwalk was established nearly 20 years ago, so our visit was well and truly overdue.
Mangrove boardwalk St Kilda
The Interpretive Centre is an excellent resource for visitors to the area. Leaving the centre one is immediately in the mangrove forest. This area, along with the nearby Barker Inlet tidal flats, is an excellent birding area. Over 200 species have been recorded here but I only managed about 30 in the short time there.
In the mangroves I recorded several Willie Wagtails, several very vocal whistlers, probably Rufous Whistlers, Spotted Turtle Doves, Grey Fantails and one Grey Butcherbird was heard but not seen. Near the visitor centre I saw and heard many Fairy-Wrens, but none of them were coloured males. They were most likely to have been Superb Blue Wrens, though I checked them out carefully because the beautiful White-Winged Wren has been recorded near here, a species more common much further north.
Barker Inlet, St Kilda, near Adelaide
On several occasions the boardwalk gives excellent views over the tidal flats of Barker Inlet. This is where the birding gets interesting. There seemed to be many hundreds of birds feeding or resting in the shallow water. Grey Teal were the most common bird present. Also present were Royal Spoonbills, White Ibis, Australian Pelicans, Great Egrets, Chestnut Breasted Shelducks, White-faced Herons, Black Swans and Sooty Oystercatchers. Far out over the deeper water I think I saw some Whiskered Terns.
This may have been our first visit to this area; it will not be our last.
Related articles:
- My photo gallery – photos of birds, my travels and much more
- St Kilda SA – on my wife’s blog
Black Swans at Rocky Gully Wetlands
I had some business to attend to in town this morning. On my way home I stopped at the Rocky Gully Wetlands. I often drive past this wetland area either going to or coming from the CBD of our town. As I pass the various stretches of water I carefully glance over to see if there is anything unusual about.
This morning I observed two Black Swans. I can’t recall ever seeing this species at this location before. They are present in the area but not numerous as they can be in some other parts of Australia. Of course I didn’t have my camera with me. The photo below was taken some time ago in a completely different location – the Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens.
Black Swan, Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens
Other species seen included:
Black Winged Stilt, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Australian Pelican, Masked Lapwing, Eurasian Coot, Willie Wagtail and a male Superb Fairy Wren.
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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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