Australian Reedwarblers in full song
Australian Reedwarbler, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, Sth Aust
During my visit to the Laratinga Wetlands in Mt Barker, Adelaide Hills, last week the reed beds were constantly alive with both Little Grassbirds and Australian Reed-warblers singing. Every patch of reeds seemed to have 4 to 6 individual birds of each species. I didn’t do a count as it would be very hard to do this considering that both species can be very secretive in the reeds. I tried to get photos of the Little Grassbird, but they were too shy and stayed mostly in the reeds. I did see the occasional one flit from one reed patch to another but far too quickly for a photo.
The reed-warblers were a little more cooperative. I stood patiently for about half an hour on the jetty in the middle of the photo below. One section was about 3 – 4 metres from the clump of reeds in the photo above. Several reed-warblers kept flitting around on my side of the reeds, in full sun for my benefit. After many failed attempts I was able to get one reasonable shot as shown above.
I took a much closer shot of this species some years ago, and I’ve posted this at the bottom of this post. This photo was taken at Cleland Wildlife Park of a captive bird in a walk-through aviary.
Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, Sth Aust
Australian Reedwarbler
Australian Shoveller, Laratinga Wetlands
2 Comments »7th January, 2011; Category: Ducks Geese and Swans, Good Birding Sites, Plants, Waterbirds
Australian Shoveller, Laratinga Wetlands, South Australia
Last Sunday I spent about three hours birding at the Laratinga Wetlands at Mt Barker in the Mt Lofty Ranges near Adelaide. It was a pleasant summer’s day with a cooling breeze. Overall I made quite a long list of birds seen. It was the first time I’d walked around all of the ponds in this wetland. The ponds drain the nearby treatment plant, purifying the water so it can be reused for nearby irrigation.
The wetlands are usually good for a large range of water birds, but the extensive planting of native Australian tree, bushes, grasses and water plants over the last 10 years has produced an environment suitable for many bush birds like wrens, honeyeaters and parrots.
On my visit earlier this week, possibly the best sighting was a solitary Australian Shoveller, a species of duck shown in the photo above. The photo also shows two Pacific Black Ducks in the background. The Australian Shoveller (also known as the Australasian Shoveller) is found in suitable habitats throughout eastern Australia and much of southern Western Australia.
Laratinga Wetlands, South Australia
Pangarinda Arboretum, Wellington, South Australia
1 Comment »26th September, 2009; Category: Camera, Favourite Birding Spots, Flowers, Good Birding Sites, Photos
Pangarinda Arboretum, Wellington, South Australia
A few weeks ago I took off a few hours from my writing to take my wife to Pangarinda Arboretum at Wellington East, about a half hour drive south of our home in Murray Bridge, South Australia. This is one of our favourite picnic spots, so we packed a lunch and the makings for a cuppa.
The arboretum has been set up by the local residents in conjunction with the local council. Many thousands of trees and shrubs have been planted over the last decade or so. Many of these plants are now flowering. I enjoy taking photos of the native plant flowers as well as the birds. ON this occasion the birds were rather quiet and were not being very cooperative about posing for my camera, so I turned my attention to the flowers instead.
Pangarinda Arboretum, Wellington, South Australia
Pangarinda Arboretum, Wellington, South Australia
Pangarinda Arboretum, Wellington, South Australia
Birding in South Africa
Africa is one place I would love to go birding one day. Seeing all the animals would be wonderful also. Perhaps. Perhaps one day I will get there. I guess a large number of my readers would also love to go there for a visit to go birding. If you have already been there, share some of the highlights with my readers by leaving a comment or two.
Meanwhile, most of us will have to be content with seeing videos and reading books about the wonderful and exotic fauna of Africa – or we can regularly access Casper’s website called Birding in South Africa.
I’m jealous. Casper lives a short distance from the Kruger National Park!
Oh – and he offers free accommodation to all birders.
Now – where did I put my passport?
Birding brochure launched
The Mannum Bird Watching brochure I wrote
In my travels around Australia I often visit Information Centres. I usually look for pamphlets and maps about the local area, concentrating on places like national parks and reserves. We try to visit some of the places during our visit, especially those that promise good birding and an interesting array of native plants to keep my wife happy.
The Mannum Bird Watching brochure I wrote
On our many trips around the different states I particularly look for birding guides. We have come across a few, but these are not at all common. In South Australia I know of only two and both of those were published only this year. Now a third one is gracing the shelves of tourist information centres, one that I am the proud author of and which was launched in Mannum last week.
Earlier in the year I was approached by the Friends of Mannum Walking Trails to write and produce such a brochure. I readily agreed, not realising how much work was involved. Still, I am very pleased with the result and received many positive comments by the speakers at the launch and by people afterwards when we enjoyed morning tea.
The launch was reasonably informal, and was held on the banks of the River Murray at Mannum. All present were welcomed by representatives of the local Indigenous community, the Mayor and several other speakers. I was given an opportunity to also say a few words.
At the same time another brochure was launched. The second pamphlet is a guide to the walking trails around the town of Mannum. It highlights the cultural and historical heritage of the area with a particular focus on the rich paddle steamer history of the town.
The Mannum Bird Watching brochure I wrote
I took all the photos featured in the birding brochure and many of them have appeared on this blog over the last two years.
Click on the photos to enlarge the image.