Beautiful Bronzewing Pigeons
No Comments »1st September, 2015; Category: Bird Behaviour, Bush birds, Good Birding Sites, Pigeons and Doves
Common Bronzewing, Laratinga Wetlands
Common Bronzewing Pigeons are, on first appearance, a reasonably plain bird. It is only when one gets an individual sitting quietly in a sunny position that you get a full appreciation of the subtle and quite beautiful colours in the plumage of this species. This is what happened to me recently on a visit to the Laratinga Wetlands in Mt Barker, South Australia. I seem to recall seeing at least three birds on that visit; there may have been more that I didn’t see.
In my experience Common Bronzewings are very flighty, nervous birds and will fly off rapidly as you approach. This can make them sometimes hard to photograph in the bush. At Laratinga they have obviously become accustomed to the hundreds of local people and tourists who visit this site every day. Walkers, joggers, photographers and cyclists frequently use the many good paths around the dozen or so ponds making up the wetlands, so it is not surprising that the local bronzewings will tolerate a person coming to within a few metres.
The birds in today’s photos were only about three metres from me so I was able to get some close up shots. The early morning sun shining on their feathers shows off some of the beautiful colours.
Further reading:
- Laratinga wetlands – articles from my archives
- Bronzewing Pigeons at the Australian Reptile Park
- Flock Bronzewing Pigeon
- Speeding Bronzewing Pigeon
Common Bronzewing, Laratinga Wetlands
Common Bronzewing, Laratinga Wetlands
Common Bronzewing, Laratinga Wetlands
Hey Duck! Look here!
Pacific Black Duck, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker
The Pacific Black Duck is a common bird in many parts of Australia. Wherever there is a dam, pond, lake, wetland, swamp, river, estuary or other body of water the observant birder will often see this species, frequently in large numbers. Many tend to overlook this species because they are so common, but I love to photograph them whenever I get the chance. I guess, to be honest, I just like taking photographs of birds.
On a recent birding visit to the Laratinga Wetlands in Mt Barker, South Australia, this Pacific Black Duck was resting on the wooden walkway over one of the ponds. I zoomed my camera lens in to get a good shot but it kept looking the other way. I tried asking it to turn my way but it generally ignored me. Eventually it sort of looked towards me – see the photo below – but wasn’t really interested in becoming the next big photographic star on the web.
Can’t say I blame it. It was freezing cold that morning. It was probably just trying to get warm in the early morning sun.
I will post more photos from from this site of more cooperative birds in the coming days.
Good Birding.
Trevor
Pacific Black Duck, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker
Preening his feathers
Purple Swamphen, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
On my visit to the Laratinga Wetlands last week I saw several Purple Swamphens.
The individual featured in today’s photos show one that was quite unafraid of me and allowed me to approach to within a few metres. These wetlands attract many visitors daily: walkers, cyclists, runners, picnickers, photographers and avid birders like myself. So, taking that into account the birds are quite used to the human traffic on the paths around the wetlands.
It the photo above the bird is busy doing his early morning preening. In the subsequent photo shown below the bird seems to be asking whether his feathers look okay. I love getting special bird poses like this one.
Good birding.
Purple Swamphen, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
How’s the serenity?
1 Comment »27th July, 2015; Category: Favourite Birding Spots, Good Birding Sites, Photos, Waterbirds
Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
How’s the serenity?
Most Australians will recognise that quote from the laconic Aussie movie “The Castle“.
It sure is a scene filled with serenity, early one frosty morning last week. The photos in today’s post were taken at the Laratinga Wetlands just east of Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills. A series of ponds make up this wonderful birding and picnic spot. While one could perhaps buy a lovely home overlooking this spot, or within a few minutes’ walk, I really have to burst your bubble or shatter your dream.
The ponds make up the local town’s sewage works!
In reality, it is far, far better than it sounds. First, there is no smell. None. Second, the environment has been wonderfully landscaped with Australian native trees, bushes and ground cover plants. Third, the local authorities have created a lawned picnic area complete with shelter sheds – it rains quite often in Mt Barker – and well kept, clean toilets. The tracks around each of the ponds are used daily by hundreds of locals and visitors like myself for photography, walking, cycling, running or just birding. The birdlife is always abundant and interesting.
The photo below shows just one of the many birds I saw there last week, a Eurasian Coot. The other photos below show one of the ponds shrouded in early morning misty fog.
Eurasian Coot, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker
Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
Australian Bird Week
We celebrate all kinds of special days and special weeks, so why not a special week just to celebrate the wonderful birds of Australia?
In a way – that is what this site is all about – celebrating the fact that we have an abundance of wonderful birds in this land of ours.
This celebration runs from today until the 25th October 2013. You can find out more about Australian Bird Week by clicking here.
As a part of the week, organisers are asking Australians to vote for their favourite bird (click here).
Which species will you vote for? Below is a photo of my favourite bird.
Crested Pigeon, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia