BIRDER

BIRDER

Monday, March 21, 2016

Wetlands and Waders Tolderol GR and coastal birding SA

South Australia has finally had a few cooler days and even a few drops of rain recently making it more inviting to go out on my days off work to check out some birds.




Last weekend I spent a few days south of Adelaide at Tolderol Game Reserve to check on the waders.




Apart from Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Red-necked Stints I saw a couple of Pectoral Sandpipers and a Long-toed Stint but no photos worth showing as the birds seem to favour the opposite side of the lake to where-ever I am standing!



Apart from waders the Golden-headed Cisticolas, Pipits and raptors were in good form with Black-shouldered Kites, Swamp Harrier and Australian Hobby hunting for prey.


Australasian Pipit
 





 
Australasian Pipit




Australian Hobby
 




Black-sholudered Kite
 




Elegant Parrot
 
 
 
 
 
 

Golden-headed Cisticola
 





















Singing Honeyeater




I also spent a weekend on Yorke Peninsula which resulted in good views of Eurasian Skylark in full courting displays along with plenty more Pipits and White-fronted Chats.

Grey Plovers are starting to colour up now into breeding plumage with a flock of 20  seen along with hundreds of Ruddy Turnstones. There are plenty of Ibis feeding in paddocks (along with 2 confused Royal Spoonbill) and plenty of Red-capped Plover and Red-necked Stints.

With Autumns arrival the waders will soon migrate north again. So get out and enjoy them while you still can!


Eurasian Skylark singing in flight


Eurasian Skylark


Grey Plover
 

Grey Plover showing its black armpit
 



Silver Gull enjoying a Ruby Saltbush berry feast!







Sooty Oystercatcher
 
 
 
 
 
Grey Plover

Grey Plover

Grey Plover
 

Red-bellied Black Snakes enjoy water areas and are easily seen sun baking and hunting on warm days. I found plenty of them over the past few weeks. Being an Elapid (front-fanged venomous) it is wise to keep your distance from them. They are placid and will try to get away from you if they know you are there.


Red-bellied Black Snake
 
 
 
 











 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
 
 
 

Tau Emerald