The SAOA held its December mid month outing at Tolderol Game Reserve. In
recent times this reserve has suffered from a lack water being pumped in
from Lake Alexandrina and is only now starting to recover as a haven for
migratory waders and other waterfowl. Yesterday's visit revealed that not
only is the area being refilled with water, but at the moment there is too
much, leaving only small areas at a suitable level for waders. It is
expected that once pumping ceases the water level will fall somewhat
leaving larger areas of exposed mud, and that January / February will be
good times to visit.
It was an overcast and cool morning, temperature around 15 celsius, with
scattered showers increasing as the morning progressed. A stronger than
fresh breeze was blowing from the South. Central location was 35 22 21 s,
139 08 08e, all observations being made within a 500m radius. Atlas report
completed.
Species observed were:- best birds :-)
Australian Shelduck
Mallard
Pacific Black Duck
Grey Teal
Hoary-headed Grebe
Lt Pied Cormorant
Pied Cormorant
Lt Black Cormorant
Gt Cormorant
Australian Pelican
White-faced Heron
Gt Egret
Australian White Ibis
Straw-necked Ibis
Royal Spoonbill
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Black-shouldered Kite
Whistling Kite
Swamp Harrier
Nankeen Kestrel
Baillon's Crake :-)
Purple Swamphen
Dusky Moorhen
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Common Sandpiper
Red-necked Stint
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Black-winged Stilt
Red-capped Plover
Red-kneed Dotterel
Masked Lapwing
Caspian Tern
Whiskered Tern ( thousands of these)
Crested Pigeon
Superb Fairy-wren
Singing Honeyeater
Orange Chat :-)
White-fronted Chat
Magpie-lark
Willie Wagtail
Lt Raven
Skylark
Richard's Pipit
European Goldfinch
Welcome Swallow
Tree Martin
Clamorous Reed-Warbler
Lt Grassbird
Golden-headed Cisticola ( hundreds of these)
Silvereye
Common Starling
Following lunch sheltering behind a large shed, some members proceeded on
around Lake Alexandrina towards Goolwa, noticing that the Cape Barren Geese
which had been absent earlier in the year were back again, although not in
such large numbers, and Milang seemed devoid of the Japanese Snipe which
can sometimes be seen there. Goolwa sewage ponds had a good covering of
waterfowl: Black Swan. Shelduck, Wood Duck, Black Duck, many Aust
Shovelers, Grey Teal, Hardhead, lots of Grebes of both types, and a number
of very obliging Spotted Crakes in the overflow areas.
:-) :-) :-)
I have been informed that the Short-billed Dowitcher was still at Price
Saltfields on 11/12, excellent views being had by some 15 interstate and
local birdos.
Cheers all.
Tony Russell for SAOA.
Tony Russell,
Adelaide, South Australia
08 8337 5959
There's nothing quite like the feeling of seeing a new bird is there?
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