Birds of the Mannum district, South Australia
Murray Princess, Mannum, South Australia
Over recent days I have written about several species of birds that I saw in Mannum. Mannum is a medium sized town on the River Murray about a half hour’s drive from my home in Murray Bridge, South Australia. It is a popular tourist destination. Many houseboats moored at Mannum are available for hire. The Murray Princess (see photo above) takes tourists on river cruises lasting three, four or seven days.
The birding in the Mannum district is interesting and quite diverse. There are the normal river birds such as Australian Pelicans, Silver Gulls, Australian Wood Ducks and Pacific Black Ducks. Sometimes there are large numbers of Grey Teal and Chestnut Teal. On this occasion I also recorded a large number of Chestnut-breasted Shelducks a little further upstream, but they were too far away to photograph.
Just north of the well patronised and well appointed caravan park there are extensive wetlands. At present this area has large areas of mud flats due to the low level of the river. Due to the drought the river is at least a metre lower than normal. On these mudflats I saw Straw-necked, White and Glossy Ibis, Red-kneed Dotterel, Eurasian Coots, Purple Swamphens and Dusky Moorhens. Several Yellow-billed Spoonbills were also seen feeding in the shallows.
The reeds lining these wetlands are suffering badly at present because of a lack of water. That didn’t prevent me recording the Little Grassbird and the Australian Reedwarbler. In the trees lining the wetlands I saw Red-rumped Parrots, Crested Pigeons, Galahs, Purple-crowned Lorikeets, Willie Wagtail and Grey Fantail. Also seen or heard were White-plumed Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebirds and a Peaceful Dove.
Sitting on the bank of the river here can be rewarding. This is one good way of observing a number of species flying past. In this way, together with a cup of tea at hand and lunch from the local bakery in my hand, I added Caspian Tern, Crested Tern, Whiskered Tern, Whistling Kite, Welcome Swallow, Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Egret, Little Corella and Little Raven.
We drove along the river towards the small town of Bow Hill. Stopping at various points along the way I added Masked Lapwing, Black Swan, Blue Bonnet Parrot and White-faced Heron. In the trees lining the river I observed Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters and Singing Honeyeaters. A Grey Shrike Thrush added its beautiful song to the lovely morning. At one stage I heard a Sacred Kingfisher but I didn’t see it. I did manage to catch sight of a solitary Laughing Kookaburra flying near the river bank.
I also heard a small flock of Rainbow Bee-eaters and saw a family of White-browed Babblers near the side of the road as we drove along.
Overall it was a very satisfactory morning’s birding. The big bonus was adding Glossy Ibis to my list for the first time. Getting a “lifer” is always satisfying.
Birds on golf courses
No Comments »23rd November, 2007; Category: Good Birding Sites
I don’t play much golf these days. I used to play socially quite often some years ago but not so much in recent years.
Golf courses in Australia are often excellent places to do some casual birding on the side. For example, our local golf course features many native Australian trees and bushes and these attract quite a range of native birds. This course also includes a number of water features as a part of the hazards players have to negotiate. These water features attract a variety of ducks and other water birds. The grassy fairways are favourite feeding spots of a number of species of birds. In some places it is far easier to hit a “birdie” of the feathered kind rather than of the golfing kind.
A golfing course in Sydney was in trouble last week when they had a massive problem with too many Australian Wood Ducks on their course. The ducks were allegedly causing massive damage to the fairways and greens, so the club gained permission to have a cull of the birds. This shooting did not go down well with some locals.
On a more positive note, one golf course in the Adelaide Hills here in South Australia has published a list of birds found on the course. The Mt Lofty Golf Course website features a list of birds that have been recorded there along with several fine photos of birds. They should be congratulated on this positive move. More golf courses could follow their fine example. So could local councils with their parks, gardens, ovals and reserves.
Links:
Masked Lapwings are a common species of bird found on many golf courses and parks throughout Australia. Watch out for them swooping when they are nesting.
Masked Lapwing
A series of birding accidents
2 Comments »22nd November, 2007; Category: Bird Behaviour
I had a series of disturbing bird incidents last week. I was driving along through the Adelaide Hills near the small town of Macclesfield on my courier run to Strathalbyn. In this locality the road is steep in parts and with many sharp turns. In some spots one needs to slow down to about 25kph to negotiate sharp bends.
As I came around one corner, an Australian Magpie flew off from the side of the road and collided with the side of my car. I was only going quite slowly and had no opportunity to slow down. Looking in the mirror as I drive on I could see a magpie on the side of the road, so I am assuming it was only stunned. I hope it survived. The road at that point was not safe to stop to investigate.
Around the next corner I had to brake suddenly (after checking the mirror for traffic behind) to avoid a dozen or so Australian Wood Ducks standing in the middle of the road. I slowed down enough to avoid hitting any. They obligingly waddled off the road into the nearby paddock and safety.
Around the next corner an Adelaide Rosella parrot flew low and rapidly across the road in front of the car. This time there was no way I avoid it or brake. I didn’t hear any impact, but checking the mirror again I saw a cloud of feathers behind me and no body. I am assuming I hit it somehow.
All of these incidents happened within a sixty second time frame. Most distressing.
Related articles:
Adelaide Rosella
Birds of Floriade 2007 Canberra
2 Comments »18th October, 2007; Category: Trip reports
Floriade 2007, Canberra
2007 Australian Capital Territory trip report #4
We had two main motivations for including Canberra in this holiday trip. The first was to include a visit to Floriade, the second, a visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens. On our first afternoon in the nation’s capital we went to Floriade 2007.
Floriade 2007, Canberra
This is an annual flower festival held in Commonwealth Park just a short distance from the CBD. It features tens of thousands of flowering bulbs; tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, dutch iris, narcissus and ranunculus. Other plants include daisies, pansies, violas and poppies. It is a time of sensory overload. And it is a photographer’s paradise. I must admit I went a little crazy with the camera, but I’m also very pleased with the results.
Floriade 2007, Canberra
As the initial thrill of so much to photograph wore off I was able to concentrate on the birdlife of the park. Black Swans were accompanied by two cygnets in the nearby lake. Australian Wood Ducks and Pacific Black Ducks were both in the water and the on the lawns nearby. Superb Fairy-wrens seemed to be everywhere, despite the thronging crowds of people. Dusky Moorhens and Eurasian Coots patrolled the waterways, and weren’t shy at coming up close and personal when we sat on a park bench to enjoy an ice-cream.
Black Swan with cygnets, Canberra
Birds of Lake Burley Griffin
1 Comment »17th October, 2007; Category: Trip reports
Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra
2007 Australian Capital Territory trip report #3
On our first day in Canberra we found a lovely spot on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin for lunch. This artificial lake in the heart of Canberra is a magnificent setting for this beautiful city, our national capital. From our picnic spot we could see the giant fountain shooting water high into the air, the National Library building and the old and new Houses of Parliament. A little further along the shores of the lake we could both see and hear the National Carillon playing, the tunes drifting over the lake towards us as we ate our lunch.
I only had a limited time to watch birds while having lunch. My list is rather short as a result. Local birders will probably laugh at this very short list. I am sure that the lake is home to many more species. While we had lunch Red Wattlebirds and White-plumed Honeyeaters were noisy in the trees nearby. A Willie Wagtail and some Superb Fairy-wrens could be heard in nearby bushes and several Galahs flew overhead.
A Black Swan and several cygnets were swimming in the lake nearby along with a small group of Australian Wood Ducks. Two Pacific Black Ducks flew along the shore heading south. I could hear some Sulphur-crested Cockatoos screeching from nearby trees. Several Australian Magpies searched the extensive lawns for their lunch. Occasionally two or three Silver Gulls flew over the lake.
National Library of Australia, Canberra
I don’t have any photos of birds to show you today. All of the birds I saw while having lunch were too far away to photograph.