The Coorong at Goolwa

The Coorong is one my favourite places in South Australia but I'd never visited the Goolwa end until today. So, part tourist and part birder, I drove to Goolwa following a great morning at the mouth of the Onkaparinga River (see previous posts: Reflections on the Onkaparinga River and Hanging at the Beach).

Goolwa is located at the 'armpit' of the Fleurieu Peninsula (see map) and is home to the Barrage and last lock on the Murray River (there is a bird in this shot!)

Murray River Barrage, Goolwa SA

The Coorong is the system of estuarine lakes, islands and the sand dune spits that hold back the Southern Ocean for more than 100 km between Kingston and Goolwa.

Coorong National Park starts downstream of the Murray River Barrage

As I was still an 8 hour drive from home, I didn't have time to search for many birds but did manage to find an interesting collection making the most of the old fence posts at Beacon 19 Boat Ramp. As I drove into the car park at the ramp, a pelican and this Silver Gull were jostling for the roost on the last fence post. I'm not sure how the gull managed to displace the pelican and I wasn't quick enough to get a photograph of the battle but I did capture the smug victor (OK so just a little anthropomorphising...sorry).

Silver Gull, Coorong National Park, Goolwa, SA

This Crested Tern remained, unperturbed, only a few metres away on the next post.

Crested Tern, Coorong NP, Goolwa, SA

The Welcome Swallows were particularly tame, allowing me to get very close. As the light was getting quite dull, I tried fill flash for a few shots.

Welcome Swallow, Coorong National Park, Goolwa, SA

The 'technical' mouth of the Murray River is a break through the dune barrier approximately 10 km east of Goolwa and can only be reached by driving along the beach. As I was by myself and hadn't brought any sand recovery gear, I was reluctant to do the drive this time so opted to take the view of the mouth from Hindmarsh Island.

Mouth of the Murray River, Coorong National Park, Goolwa, SA

By now the weather was turning for the worse with a strong westerly wind and an approaching storm. The birdlife on the beach in front of the lookout was sparse (I suspect the avian locals were more sensible than the tourists) but there were a few Australian Pied Oystercatchers getting buffeted by the wind blowing down the sand banks.

Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Coorong NP, Hindmarsh Island, SA

Hanging at the Beach (Onkaparinga River, Part 2)

In addition to the birds feeding in the estuary of the Onkaparinga River, there were many birds fishing and otherwise occupying themselves on the beach and rocks at the river mouth.

Island Sandbank, mouth of the Onkaparinga River, SA

Cormorants are always a favourite

Little Black Cormormorant, mouth of the Onkaparinga River, SA

Little Pied Cormorant, mouth of the Onkaparinga River, SA

but highlight of the morning was this Eastern Reef Egret, initially spotted from the steps down the cliff

Eastern Reef Egret
mouth of the Onkaparinga River, SA

but it allowed me to get amazingly close (these are nearly full frame shots (just cropped a little to tidy them up). Herons and egrets are usually fairly flighty but when they are concentrating on finding a meal...

Eastern Reef Egret, mouth of the Onkaparinga River, SA

Reflections on the Onkaparinga River

I spent Friday and Saturday at a seminar in Adelaide and took the opportunity of doing some sightseeing and birding on a slight detour via the Fleurieu Peninsula on the way home. 

The Onkaparinga River drains into St Vincent's Gulf at Port Noarlunga about 30 km south of Adelaide so it was not too early a start to get there as the sun was breaking over the hills that run down the spine of the peninsula.

Mouth of the Onkaparinga River, South Australia

There are several places along River Road, Commercial Road and the Esplanade that provide easy access to the estuary (see map).

The combination of the early morning sunlight and still air made for some great reflections of many of the birds feeding in the shallow side stream of the estuary.

Black-winged Stilt, Onkaparinga River, SA

Eastern Great Egret, Onkaparinga River, SA

Little Egret, Onkaparinga River, SA

Royal Spoonbill, Onkaparinga River, SA

Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Onkaparinga River, SA

along with a couple of close fly-bys

Australian Pelican, Onkaparinga River, SA

Royal Spoonbill, Onkaparinga River, SA

Part 2: On the beach