Nice pose Silver Gull

Silver Gull, Pt Elliot, South Australia

Earlier this week my wife and I celebrated another anniversary. We usually try to do something special on this day and this year we decided to go for an all-day outing. After an early morning phone call from our grandchildren, we set off on a drive via Milang, less than an hour from home. Milang is on the northern shore of Lake Alexandrina here in South Australia. The longest river system in Australia, the Murray River, flows into this lake before heading out to the Southern Ocean.

At Milang we visited the local bakery to buy some Cornish pasties and a lamington for our lunch. We took our lunch down to the lawned area between the lake and the caravan park. While we ate and had a cuppa, we enjoyed watching a few children and dogs playing nearby. The birdlife was not particularly abundant, except for a large, noisy flock of Little Corella parrots in the nearby trees.

Later in the afternoon, we parked on top of a lookout hill above Horseshoe Bay in Pt Elliot. While we were having another cuppa and a few homemade biscuits, a Silver Gull landed on an interpretive sign just in front of our car. It obligingly posed for me while I took some photos. Silver Gulls are the most common species of gull in Australia. They can be found all around the coastline and along most major waterways, near lakes and swamps, even far inland. Even though many people just call them "Sea" gulls, they are frequently encountered far from the sea, but never far from water.

You can read more about Australian birds, and see many more photos of them on my other site Trevor's Birding here.

Silver Gull, Pt Elliot, South Australia

Silver Gull, Pt Elliot, South Australia

Silver Gull, Pt Elliot, South Australia

Silver Gulls

Silver Gull (with Pacific Black Ducks)

A few days ago my wife called me out into the garden. A flock of about 20 Silver Gulls was soaring and gliding on the breeze above our house and garden, and also parts of our five acre property here in Murray Bridge, South Australia.

This was an unusual sighting for our property. Every few months we do have a few Silver Gulls fly high over, but this flock's behaviour was different. They all stayed only 5 - 10 metres above the trees and shrubs. They did this circling around and around and rarely utterly their usual calls; just the odd contact call occasionally. I can only assume that they had found a patch of insects to feed on during this silent aerial display.

Curious.

You can see more photos and read more stories and encounters with Australian birds on my other site called Trevor's Birding here.

Southern Shoveller

Southern Shoveller, Laratinga Wetlands

Australia has quite a good variety of water fowl, including several species of shoveller ducks. The Southern Shoveller - also called the Australasian Shoveller - is just one of them. I have only seen this species on a handful of occasions. This photo was taken at the Laratinga Wetlands near Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills, about a half hour drive from my home in Murray Bridge.

The Southern Shoveller is found throughout the eastern half of Australia where there is suitable habitat. They are also present in Tasmania and the south western parts of Western Australia. Their preferred habitat includes lakes, swamps, wetlands, sewage ponds, coastal inlets and other bodies of water.

For more detailed information about Australian birds, and to see more photos of them, I invite you to visit my other site Trevor's Birding.

Grey Teal, Laratinga Wetlands

Grey Teal

Grey Teal are one of the more numerous ducks found in Australia. They can sometimes number in the thousands on a lake, swamp or reservoir. They are often seen in close association with Pacific Black Ducks, another very common Australian duck.

The photos I am sharing today were taken recently in the Laratinga Wetlands near Mt Barker in the Mt Lofty Ranges of South Australia. These wetlands are about a half hour drive from my home in Murray Bridge, and also a half hour drive from our capital city Adelaide.

The walking tracks around the wetlands are popular with both locals and visitors. Many people visit daily for picnics, walking, running, cycling, photography, birding or just plain relaxing.

For more articles about Australian birds, as well as many more photos of birds, check out my other site, Trevor's Birding.

Grey Teal

Australian Wood Ducks

Australian Wood Duck

On my recent visit to the Laratinga Wetlands in Mt Barker, South Australia I took these photos of several Australian Wood Ducks. In the photo above the male is perched nicely on a tree stump in the water, the stump framing the photo in a pleasant way. On this particular visit I did not see all that many of this species. On other occasions it can be present in large numbers. In some places throughout its distribution one can see this species in large, loose flocks sometimes numbering in the hundreds. They not only frequent wetlands like Laratinga, but can be found in pastures, paddocks, ovals, playing fields and around lakes and dams.

Please note that this is not the same as the Wood Duck found in America, which is quite a different species.

To read more about Australian birds, and to see more photos of them, I invite you to go to my other site Trevor's Birding.

Male Australian Wood Duck

Female Australian Wood Duck (left) and male (right)

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

Purple Sawmphen at Laratinga Wetlands South Australia

Purple Swamphen at Laratinga Wetlands, South Australia

 On a recent visit to the Laratinga Wetlands at Mt Barker in South Australia I took these photos of a Purple Swamphen preening itself in the early morning sun. It was a chilly and frosty morning and the water in the wetlands ponds was as smooth  as a mirror. I will show photos of that on another occasion.

I love the look that the bird gave me in the photo below. It is almost as if it is saying, "How does that look?"

To see more Australian bird photos and to read more stories about our birds, check out my other site Trevor's Birding . 

Purple Swamphen, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia

Pacific Black Duck

Pacific Black Duck, near Mannum, South Australia

Earlier this year my wife and I went for a drive from our home in Murray Bridge to Mannum in South Australia. Both of these towns are situated on the Murray River, Australia's largest river. After a delicious picnic lunch - bought from a local bakery - we drove along the river towards the town of Bow Hill.

Along the way we stopped at a locality called Younghusband, a small community of houses - many of them holiday homes - and a small general store and caravan park. While having afternoon tea in a picnic area next to the river I photographed the Pacific Black Duck (see above) and the Australian Pelican soaring above the river (see below).

It was lovely day and we saw some wonderful birds.

For more photos and information about Australian birds visit my other site called Trevor's Birding here. Or you might want to read about my travels in Australia and overseas on Trevor's Travels here.

Australian Pelican soaring over the Murray River in South Australia

Mallard Ducks

Mallard Ducks at Victoria Park, Peterborough, South Australia

My wife and I recently visited family in Peterborough in the mid-north of South Australia. During our stay I drove around town taking a few photos. I always try to find time to visit Victoria Park which is an artificial lake and park next to the swimming pool and caravan park.

This park, and the lake in particular, always has some resident birds including a collection of ducks and other water birds. There is currently a loose flock of about 30 ducks of varying breeds, mostly non-native, including the Mallards shown in today's photo. This species is an introduced species in Australia and is common in parks and gardens where there is water. They often interbreed with our native species such as the Pacific Black Duck.

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

Black-tailed Native-hens

Black-tailed Native-hen, Peterborough, South Australia

Black-tailed Native-hens are a widespread and relatively common bird throughout Australia, but only where suitable habitat exists. They prefer wetlands such are dams, lakes, rivers, swamps and only venture short distances from water in order to feed on pastures and grass. Sometimes, when conditions are right and food is plentiful, they can breed up quickly in large numbers in one locality, occasionally flocking together in their thousands.

On the occasion of this photo there were about 80 feeding around the artificial lake called Victoria Park in Peterborough in the mid-north of South Australia. This lovely park is next to both the swimming pool and the caravan park in the heart of the town.

For more photos and articles about Australian birds, go to my other site Trevor's Birding here.

More products from Trevor's Birding

Over the last decade I have taken many photos of birds, both here in Australia and also on overseas holidays. I have often shared some of the best photos here on this site as well as on my other site called Trevor's Birding (click here).

More recently I have made some of these photos available on various products such coffee mugs (see above for an example), T shirts, aprons, mouse mats, puzzles, clocks, cards and many more.

My site is part of Zazzle group and you can access TrevorsPhotos by clicking 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

Chestnut Teal

Chestnut Teal

Of all the Australian ducks, the Chestnut Teal (above) is one of our more colourful members. The male is shown in the photo; the female is a duller brown colour.

Chestnut Teal can be found in suitable habitat throughout south eastern Australia. Although I have seen this species in many places, I have not recorded it in large numbers anywhere. That could just mean I'm not looking in the right places, or I'm not going birding enough.

For more about Australian Birds, check out Trevor's Birding.

Australian Wood Ducks

Australian Wood Ducks

Despite being a relatively dry continent throughout most of the country, we do have a good range of ducks and many wetlands where suitable habitat exists to maintain good numbers of waterbirds.

One of the more common species is the Australian Wood Duck shown in today's photo. Don't confuse this with the Wood Duck of North America; quite a different species.

Australian Wood Ducks are found along waterways, lakes, rivers, swamps and also in parks, gardens, ovals and any grassy areas where they can graze on the grass. They are often found in close association with people and are a common sight in picnic grounds.

For more information about Australian Birds, check out my other site, Trevor's Birding.

Pacific Black Duck

Pacific Black Duck

The Pacific Black Duck is one of the most common ducks in Australia. They are widespread throughout the country in suitable habitat. They can be seen small numbers - from one or two to about a dozen or so - through to loose flocks of many hundreds in one place. They are highly mobile and respond quickly to ideal conditions after heavy rain or flooding in different parts of the country.

For more reading about Australian Birds, check out my other site, Trevor's Birding.

Black-fronted Dotterel

The tiny Black-fronted Dotterel is found throughout most of Australia where there is suitable habitat. This species prefers shallow freshwater wetlands, swamps, edges of lakes, rivers and lagoons and sometimes brackish waters. They are usually encountered singly, in pairs and occasionally in small groups. They feed in very shallow water and along mudflats.

To read more about Australian birds click here.

Darter

The Darter is also called "Snake-bird" because of its long, snake-like neck. As it swims along the surface of the water you can often only see its neck out of the water, not unlike a snake swimming.

The Darter is a widespread water bird in many parts of Australia where there is suitable habitat. It frequents lakes, rivers, reservoirs, swamps, lagoons and estuaries but rarely the open sea. After swimming individuals can be seen perched on a bank, log or tree branch with wings outstretched drying out the feathers which are not water resistant.

To read more about Australian birds, and to see many more photos of them go to Trevor's Birding blog.