| Goolwa and Crested Tern |
| Written by Richard |
| Monday, 21 February 2011 15:12 |
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Marianne and I spent the day at Goolwa looking for waders but didn’t have a great deal of success save for a few sightings of Bar-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Stint and a few Common Greenshank. On the way down there we detoured via Point Sturt and along a back road, where we came across 50-80 or so juvenile Welcome Swallow resting on the fence line or in the middle of the track itself. It was odd to see a single Tree Martin and a lone Fairy Martin mixed in amongst them. Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena) at Point Sturt, South Australia
There was very little to see at the actual barrage itself at Goolwa, however at the end Barrage Road, we found a boat launch where several pylons were occupied by juvenile Crested Terns (Sterna bergii), with the adults hovering alongside to feed them. They made for entertaining subjects, particularly when evicting Silver Gulls from ‘their’ perches.
Crested Tern (Sterna bergii) and Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) at Goolwa, South Australia
I was able to edge myself close to the nearest pylon and before long had adult Crested Terns landing just a few metres from me. Crested Tern (Sterna bergii) at Goolwa, South Australia
All lined up awaiting their parents return, or catching up on some sleep! Crested Tern (Sterna bergii) at Goolwa, South Australia
Crested Tern (Sterna bergii) in juvenile plumage, quite lovely at this stage I think.
Crested Tern (Sterna bergii) at Goolwa, South Australia
Crested Tern (Sterna bergii) at Goolwa, South Australia
As a distraction at one point, this Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) landed nearby, so I snuck up close for a few frames. Handsome birds! Not a bad days outing and I was chuffed to get some nice images of Crested Terns for the collection.
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) at Goolwa, South Australia |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 05 November 2011 21:06 |