Trevor's Birding

Interesting Garden Visitor

No Comments »8th June, 2006; Category: Garden birds

This morning we had an interesting visitor to our garden and orchard. A single Straw Necked Ibis decided that the snail population on our five acre block of land was worth a visit. It hung around for about an hour before heading off elsewhere.

The Straw Necked Ibis is a common and widespread species throughout many parts of Australia. Flocks of many hundreds can often be seen flying over different parts of the Murray Bridge district. This is a familiar sight in many parts of the country. We’ve even had large flocks – as many as 300 at a time – fly over head.

So why the fuss over a single individual?

This is the first time in the 22 years we have lived here that we have seen a Straw Necked Ibis actually land on our property. This is strange because one section is open paddock and ideal for a small flock to land and feed. I felt like going up to it and asking it to invite all its friends to come pay a visit.

I felt tempted to ask it to invite its cousin, the Glossy Ibis to come pay a visit. You see, the Glossy is one of my “bogey birds” – no matter how hard I try in suitable habitat, I don’t seem to be able to find even one!

(Sigh)

And when I do eventually get to see one, what are the chances of seeing dozens everywhere I go? It seems to be an unofficial birding law.

Birding S.A.

No Comments »7th June, 2006; Category: General

There are many active birders in the state of South Australia where I live. We have an interesting cross section of Australia’s birdlife present in our state. We have a diverse range of habitats in South Australia too, which accounts for why we have well over 400 species.

In his website Birding South Australia Peter Waanders says this about our state and its birds:

South Australia contains a variety of landscapes ranging from the dry red interior deserts to the lush and green Mt Lofty Ranges. Wetlands and mangroves around Adelaide and estuaries in the Coorong, floodplains along the Murray River and vast expanses of mallee provide habitat to many interesting bird species, some of which are only found in this state. Over 430 species have been recorded here, and vagrants turn up regularly. Due to the small human population (1.5 million), large size (three times the size of Texas), and distance from the more populated centres in the eastern states, birding is generally low-key. Over recent years however an increasing number of Australian and international visitors have discovered the birding secrets SA has to offer.

Peter’s site offers a wealth of information about the birds of South Australia, including recent sightings, a checklist of the birds of South Australia, a very comprehensive list of good birding sites throughout the state, trip reports, a photo gallery and many links to other birding sites throughout Australia and some international sites.

Spotted Nightjar

8 Comments »6th June, 2006; Category: Bush birds, Nocturnal birds, Owls Frogmouths and Nightjars

Spotted Nightjar

Yesterday I visited the Pangarinda Arboretum at Wellington East. This arboretum is about 30km south of Murray Bridge South Australia (or about 90km SE of Adelaide). For the last four weeks a single Spotted Nightjar has been roosting in the one location within the arboretum. It has been observed close up by quite a few people in that time.

Yesterday we were able to approach to within 2 metres to take photos without disturbing the bird. It was amazing to observe the cryptic markings on the feathers making it very hard to see as it roosted in a little hollow it had made next to several tufts of grass. Several days ago one of the volunteers received a shock when he disturbed the bird while weeding around some of the plants growing there. The bird puffed itself up and hissed at him. He thought he was about to be attacked by some strange reptilian creature!

This is one species that I had dismissed as being able to get a good close up photo of. One should never say never.

This post updated on 12th October 2015.

Spotted Nightjar

Red Capped Robin

8 Comments »5th June, 2006; Category: Robins

Red Capped Robin

One of the delights of birding is to have close up views of some of the brilliant birds we have here in Australia. Today it was a male Red Capped Robin that caught my attention. I was quick to whip out the digital camera and begin stalking this brilliant bird. To be able to photograph this species showing its stunning red, white and black feathers in full sunlight is a sheer delight.

After ten minutes of trying to get close enough for a reasonable shot, the bird in question gave in and had pity on me. Either that or it was curious about this odd fellow with the funny thing in his hand. It came and sat on a branch about 2 metres from me! Wonderful.

The location of this close encounter was at the Pangarinda Arboretum at Wellington East, about 30km south of where I live in Murray Bridge. (The arboretum is about 90km SE of Adelaide.) Volunteers at the arboretum have never recorded this species there over the last 10 years of observations. The neighbours over the fence had never seen the species there either.

Red Capped Robin

Ben Cruachan – a blog about birds and nature

1 Comment »4th June, 2006; Category: Blogs, General

This is something I meant to do ages ago. Duncan on his blog called Ben Cruachan has a brilliant site that I visit regularly – usually every day now. Duncan lives in eastern Victoria on the south eastern coast of Australia. He must have a great camera and he shares his photographic skills with his readers. He must also have a great garden going by some of the flower photos he has posted.

To visit his blog click here.