Eurasian Coot, Laratinga Wetlands, South Australia

Eurasian Coot at Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia

On a recent visit to the Laratinga Wetlands at Mt Barker I photographed many birds. One of the first I saw was the Eurasian Coot (shown above) swimming towards me on one of the ponds. The wetlands are made up of a series of ponds and serve as the filter for the sewage treatment works for the town.

The ponds are well maintained and the surrounding parklands have been beautifully landscaped with Australian native trees, bushes and other plants. The local authorities have even installed a picnic ground, complete with shelter sheds, tables and seats, barbecues and toilets. Hundreds of people use the area every day for such activities as walking, picnicking, running, cycling and, of course, bird watching.

On the day I visited recently it was early on a frosty morning and the water was still mirror smooth, as shown in the photo below.

For more stories about and photos of Australian birds check out my other site called Trevor's Birding. 

Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia

Eurasian Coot

Eurasian Coot

Australia may be a very dry continent but we do have many wetlands, especially in the wetter parts of the country such as the tropical north, the eastern and southern coast and most of Tasmania. Wherever you get wetlands - creeks, rivers, swamps, lagoons, lakes and estuaries - you will find waterbirds.

One of the most common water birds in Australia is the Eurasian Coot, common in many other parts of the world as well. They can occur where there is suitable habitat: sometimes just a few individuals through to many thousands congregated loosely on a single body of water. They also frequent the shorelines, especially in grassy areas like that shown in the photo above.

For more about Australian Birds, go to my other site, Trevor's Birding.

Eurasian Coots

The Eurasian Coot is a widespread bird species in many parts of the world, including here in Australia. This familiar waterbird with its bright white bill and bill-shield is very abundant throughout Australia, especially in the eastern half of the continent. It is only absent in the driest inland areas.

The Coot's preferred habitats include rivers, lakes, dams, wetlands, reservoirs and sometimes estuarine waters. They can number in the hundreds in one locality. They are nomadic and can appear in large numbers when conditions are ideal, especially for breeding. The type of nest is shown below. Photos of baby coots can be seen here.

For more information about Australian birds click here.