Lake Colac Serenity

Having taken the scenic route to Colac this afternoon (with stops at Breamlea and Wurdiboluc Reservoir), I arrived to find the Lake as calm as I have ever seen it.

Australian Pelican, Lake Colac

Black Swan, Silver Gull, Pacific Black Duck
Lake Colac

While Silver Gulls are common and frequently annoying, they are beautiful birds and usually photographically cooperative, so I couldn't resist this one...

Silver Gull, Lake Colac

A flotilla of Australian Pelicans, cruised past,

Australian Pelican, Lake Colac

the backlighting showed off the wake and bow wave

Australian Pelican, Lake Colac

and one flew in for some party tricks

Australian Pelican, Lake Colac

Black Swans hung out among the reeds,

Black Swan, Lake Colac

while an odd pair of spoonbills was feeding close to shore

Yellow-billed Spoonbill + Royal Spoonbill
Lake Colac

Royal Spoonbill, Lake Colac

Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Lake Colac

and a Magpie Lark was stalking the shoreline.

Magpie Lark, Lake Colac

There's a small swampy wetland just next to the lake (accessible by car from the end of Church St or by walking east along the track around the south shore of the lake) designated as the Lake Colac Bird Sanctuary. By the time I got there it was getting quite dark but I did manage to find this lone Cattle Egret.

Cattle Egret, Lake Colac Bird Sanctuary

but then a few of its mates flew in

Cattle Egret, Lake Colac Bird Sanctuary

to join the party.

Cattle Egret, Lake Colac Bird Sanctuary

On the return walk to the car, a family of Superb Fairy-wrens was hanging around the track but only this female sat still long enough for a photograph.

Superb Fairy-wren, Lake Colac Bird Sanctuary

but the photographic highlight for the day was this fox. I have rarely seen them this brazen in broad daylight - it was feeding on something in a paddock as I drove by and stayed long enough for me to stop, reverse, park, get out and grab the camera.

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

Mungalla Station (Part 2)

Last night at Mungalla Station we spotted the rear ends of several Australian Pratincole disppearing into the distance as the bus past by on its way to the wetlands so we were keen to get back there tonight for a more serious attempt at finding them. Jake, the manager at Mungalla, suggested another location where the pratincoles were more common so we were dropped there for another pre-dinner birding session.

As we arrived, we spotted an Australian Bustard and there were frantic gropings for cameras and opening of windows to get a shot or two as the bird walked past us about 100 metres away but seemingly not particularly concerned about the bus.

Australian Bustard, Mungalla Station Qld

As soon as we arrived at the new location, it was evident that Jake knew his property well as we could see at least 20 pratincoles distributed across the paddocks feeding among the grass. Four of them remained close enough to the bus to tempt us into photographing them but no matter how slowly or stealthily an approach was made, they refused to let us any closer than 40 metres so we all had lots of shots like this heavily cropped example

Australian Pratincole, Mungalla Station Qld

 and all too frequently this was the view we got of them

Australian Pratincole, Mungalla Station Qld

but 5 minutes and two new species photographed was a good start to the evening.

Once again there were lots of waders to be seen at the wetlands but they were too far away for good photographs. One intriguing bird was seen by several of us but remains unidentified. No-one got good shots of it and this is the best I have:

Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper + ?, Mungalla Station Qld

I am assuming the bird on the far left is a Red-necked Stint and the three larger birds on the right are Sharp-tailed Sandpipers but the smaller bird on the left remains a mystery. It looked like a Red-necked Stint but was distinctly smaller. Any suggestions are welcome.

Another interesting (but not quite as intriguing) sight was the synchronised feeding of three spoonbills, which is not particularly unusual but there are two Yellow-billed Spoonbill and a Royal Spoonbill here.

Yellow-billed Spoonbill + Royal Spoonbill, Mungalla Station Qld

As we walked back to the bus pick-up location, I couldn't help another landscape shot of this beautiful property.

Mungalla Station, Qld

and again, as last night, the Nankeen Night-Herons were flying around their rosting trees, presumably readying themselves for a night out.

Nankeen Night-Heron, Mungalla Station Qld

More at the WTP

Following the Pratincole encounter and the Glossy Ibis, I headed further along the beach track to the Lake Borrie outlet where I found a pair of Cape Barren Geese at the location at which I photographed (what I presume is) the same pair 18 months ago. The larger bird posed nicely for a portrait shot

before charging its mate...

but a bit of butt sniffing...

and it all ended happily

Cape Barren Goose, Western Treatment Plant

under the watchful eye of this Nankeen Kestrel.

Nankeen Kestrel, Lake Borrie Outlet, Western Treatment Plant

It was high tide by the time I got to the bird hide so there was not a lot of activity there but I did manage to get a good view of some pelicans flying over the bay against dark clouds but lit by a bit of sunlight that broke through the overcast behind me.

Australian Pelican, Western Treatment Plant

One last stop at Paradise Ponds on the way out yielded a close-up of a lone Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Western Treatment Plant

and a large mixed flock of Red-necked Avocets and Banded Stilts, mostly feeding in the shallow water

Red-necked Avocet, Western Treatment Plant

Banded Stilt, Western Treatment Plant

but some roosting on the mudflats on the northern side of the pond.

Red-necked Avocet + Banded Stilt, Western Treatment Plant