Bar-shouldered Dove of Australia

Bar-shouldered Dove

The beautiful Bar-shouldered Dove is found in eastern and northern coastal parts of Australia where there is suitable habitat.

Their preferred habitats include vegetation near water, mangroves, tropical and sub-tropical scrubs, gullies and gorges, near swamps, plantations and gardens with plenty of trees. They are sometimes found on off-shore islands.

This is one species I have yet to see in the natural environment. The photos in today's post were taken in one of the walk-through aviaries in the world renowned Adelaide Zoo.

You can read more about Australian birds and see more photos of them on another site I write for called Trevor's Birding.

Bar-shouldered Dove

Australian Magpie, Laratinga Wetlands

Male Australian Magpie, Laratinga Wetlands

The Laratinga Wetlands do not just make a good environment for a large number of waterbirds. The habitat surrounding the various ponds is very suitable for a range of other species, including many honeyeaters, pigeons, parrots, fairy-wrens, corvids (eg ravens), swallows, woodswallows and the ubiquitous Australian Magpie as shown in today's photos.

The area around the ponds has a natural creek bed with associated eucalypt forest trees as well as a range of smaller shrubs such as acacias (wattles). The walking tracks around the ponds have been planted up with many other local native plants species as well, making the whole area very attractive.

The Australian Magpie, one of the bird species commonly encountered in such environments, is right at home in such a habitat. The vegetation provides an ample food supply, a ready supply of nesting materials and plenty of places to build their nests. The photo above shows a male in full breeding plumage, while the one below shows one with something in its beak - perhaps a worm or a caterpillar.

The final photo shows the picnic area next to the wetlands. Laratinga Wetlands are near Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia, about a half hour drive from Adelaide.

For more photos of and articles about Australian birds, visit my other site Trevor's Birding.

Australian Magpie (male)

Barbecue and picnic area, Laratinga Wetlands

Common Blackbird in the Adelaide Hills

Common Blackbird in the Adelaide Hills

While visiting the Laratinga Wetlands in the Adelaide Hills recently I captured some good photos of a male Common Blackbird. It was foraging in the leaf litter on the side of one of the walking trails through the wetlands area.

Common Blackbirds are a common species in Europe and were introduced many years ago to parts of Australia. Since then they have spread widely and have established populations in most southern and eastern towns and cities here. In many places they are regarded as a pest species. On the other hand, many people enjoy hearing their beautiful song, especially in the spring and summer evenings.

You can see more bird photos on my other site Trevor's Birding here.

Black-fronted Dotterel, Adelaide Hills

Black-fronted Dotterel 

 

 

 

 

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Last week on my way home from Adelaide I had a few hours to spare and so I called into the Laratinga Wetlands near Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills here in South Australia.

These wetlands are a classic example of how to effectively treat effluent waste and turn it into a tourist attraction. The lovely picnic area is a delight and is very popular. The main walking and cycling trail is constantly in use by locals and visitors, and the bird life is an added attraction.

What is more - there is no nasty smell. In fact, the waste water is recycled and used in nearby orchards. Win, win, win.

The bird featured today was feeding quietly in a swampy area just off one of the walking trails. Black-fronted Dotterels are found in many parts of Australia where there is suitable habitat. They are generally only absent from the driest parts of the continent.

To see more photos of Australian birds click here.

Royal Spoonbill in the Adelaide Zoo

Royal Spoonbill in the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

I love seeing spoonbills in their natural habitat. Ever since I saw my first one in the far north of South Australia in about 1978 I have enjoyed seeing both the Yellow-billed Spoonbill, and the Royal Spoonbill shown in today's photo.  Both are relatively common and widespread throughout much of Australia where there is suitable habitat.

We don't have many of either species near where I live in South Australia despite there being suitable environments for them. So whenever I visit the Adelaide Zoo I look for them in the walk through aviary.

You can read more about Australian birds and see more of my photos on my other site, Trevor's Birding, one of the most popular bird sites in the world.

Pied Heron in the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

Pied Heron in the Adelaide Zoo

Because I am a life member of my local zoo I try to visit the Adelaide Zoo several times a year. It is about an hour's easy drive from home. Another section of the zoo is at Monarto, a quick ten minute drive from home. Yes, we have open range lions as our near neighbours. Fortunately, they are well fenced.

One of the features of the Adelaide section of the zoo is the walk through aviary. This affords me with great photographic opportunities. Today I have posted two shots of a Pied Heron, a bird of the northern parts of Australia.

For more information about Australian birds, and many more photos of them, go to my other site, Trevor's Birding.

Pied Heron

Sun Conure in Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

Sun Conure in Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

I don't normally feature non-Australian birds here on this site because its aim is to show photos of birds found in Australia. However, I couldn't resist showing this photo of a South American bird, the Sun Conure. I took the photo in the Adelaide Zoo in South Australia, an hour's drive from my home. I am a life member of the zoo so I visit often.

One of the most pleasing aspects of this photo is that I took it through the wire mesh of the aviary where this bird was kept.

You can read about Australian birds and see more of my bird photos on my other site called Trevor's Birding (click here).

The beautiful Eclectus Parrot of Australia

Male Eclectus Parrot of northern Australia

The Eclectus Parrots of northern Australia are one of our most colourful parrots. In fact, one of our most spectacular birds, period. Both the male and the female are brightly coloured as you can see in the photos on today's post.

This is one species I would love to see in its natural habitat, but because I haven't yet visited the far northern parts of Queensland, this is still a dream.

In the meantime, I have to be content with these photos of the beautiful birds kept in a walk through aviary in the Adelaide Zoo here in South Australia.

You can see more photos of birds and read more about our Australian birds by visiting my other site, Trevor's Birding here.

Female Eclectus Parrot in Adelaide Zoo

Beautiful Australian Lorikeets

Red-collared Lorikeets, Adelaide Zoo, South Australia

One of my favourite places to visit is my local zoo in Adelaide, South Australia. The zoo has an excellent collection of birds, both Australian and exotic. There are also several walk through aviaries where the visitor can get up really close to the birds.

The photo of Red-collared Lorikeets was taken in one of the walk through aviaries. I had accidentally timed my visit to coincide with one of the keepers coming to feed the birds. I had "captive" subjects for my camera (in two senses).

Red-collared Lorikeets are a race of the more common Rainbow Lorikeet and are found in northern parts of our continent.

To see more photos of birds and to read more about Australia go to my other site Trevor's Birding.

Long-billed Corellas in the Adelaide Hills

Long-billed Corellas in the Mt Lofty Ranges

One of my favourite places to go birding is at the Laratinga Wetlands on the eastern edge of the town of Mt Barker here in South Australia. These artificial wetlands were constructed over a decade ago to deal with the town's waste water. Many plantings around the wetlands assure birders of a good range of bush birds in addition to the many water birds which have moved in.

On a visit some time ago I saw a small flock of Long-billed Corellas in one of the larger trees near the wetlands. This is an unusual sighting because the Little Corella is far more abundant in the Mt Lofty Ranges when compared with the Long-billed. That makes this photo even more interesting.

You can read more about Australian birds on Trevor's Birding.

A mean looking cockatoo

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo from Australia

A few months ago I was driving through the streets of Adelaide when I saw a small flock of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos low down in a street tree. I stopped and whipped out the camera. The birds obligingly posed for me while I took a few photos. This one was very curious about what I was doing with my camera. With a beak like that I'm sure he was wanting to take a chuck out of my finger.

Or perhaps he was just curious and meant me no harm.

Read more about Australian birds on my other site, Trevor's Birding.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo of Australia

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo of Australia

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo of Australia is a beautiful bird and much loved as a pet. It is quite an accomplished mimic and some have mastered an interesting and varied vocabulary.

In the natural environment they are locally very common, gathering in large raucous flocks. Wild birds can be very destructive, chewing the woodwork around houses and other buildings.

The two shown in today's photo were investigating a tree hollow in Burnside, a suburb of Adelaide in South Australia.

For more photos of Australian Birds, check out my other site, Trevor's Birding.