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)

Common Bronzewing pigeon

Common Bronzewing pigeon

I am always fascinated by the colours displayed on the feathers of some of our Australian pigeons. When the sunlight catches the feathers at just the correct angle, the feathers come alive with a rainbow of iridescence. The wing feathers of our Common Bronzewing is a classic example of this, as shown in today's photos.

A month or so ago I spent a few hours watching birds and taking photos of them at the Laratinga Wetlands near Mt Barker in South Australia. These wetlands are frequently visited by local and interstate birders because the birdlife is usually prolific. Because the walking tracks around the ponds are used daily by hundreds of walkers, joggers and cyclists as well, the birds are used to human activity and are easy to approach for photography.

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

Common Bronzewing pigeon

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

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.

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.

Australian Pelicans

I took this photo of three beautiful Australian Pelicans while on holiday in Mallacoota, Victoria.

This photo, along with many more of my bird photos, can be purchased on a wide range of merchandise items. Click here to go to Trevor's Photo site.

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.

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.

Golden-headed Cisticola

Golden-headed Cisticola

Golden-headed Citicolas are sometimes not easy to see, and challenging to photograph. Their preferred habitat in Australia is in long grass, reeds and tussocks in swampy areas near water. From time to time they will fly high up into the air and then glide down to the safety of cover again.

With the bird shown in the photograph above, I was lucky that it posed out in the open in full sunlight for long enough for me to zoom in and shoot it.

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

Australian Brolga

The Brolga is a large long-legged bird found across northern and eastern Australia. It is a member of the crane family of birds. It stands up to 140cm tall.

The bird in the photo above was a part of the Bird Show at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.

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

Australian Pelican

Australian Pelican

In Australia we only have one species of pelican, as shown in the photo above. It is the Australian Pelican and it is a widespread bird species throughout the country, wherever suitable habitat occurs - such as rivers, swamps, lagoons, lakes, estuaries and sometimes the open sea near to shore.

Although they can sometimes seen on small groups or even just one or two, they can also be found in loose flocks of many dozens, especially if the fishing is good.

Read more about Australian birds here.

Pacific Black Duck

Pacific Black Ducks are very common throughout most of Australia where there is suitable habitat. While they often prefer artificial lakes and ponds in parks and gardens, they can also be found in many rivers, dams, reservoirs, swamps, wetlands, estuaries and lakes. Numbers can vary from a pair to many hundreds in loose flocks.
To read more about Australian birds go to Trevor's Birding.