birds watched at Woodlake

It was a cold breezy overcast day for our bird walk last week at Woodlake.  Despite that, a keen group gathered for a one-hour stroll around the lake perimeter.  The cold weather didn't deter the birds.

Here's a list of what we saw, with links for more information on each species.

Australian Magpies

Silvereyes
 

Western Wattlebirds (sometimes called Little Wattlebird)

"Twenty-eights" (Port Lincoln Parrots or Australian Ringnecks)

Galahs

White-cheeked Honeyeaters

Singing Honeyeaters

Brown Honeyeater

Eurasian Coots

Pacific Black Duck

Australasian Grebes

Spotted Turtledoves (an introduced species)

The bird highlight of the day, for me, though, occurred when returning to the carpark.  There in the shrubs was a Splendid Fairy-wren, shining out in his iridescent blue feathers.  We watched for a couple of minutes, then a female appeared and the pair descended to the ground to forage for insects. 

birdwatching at Woodlake

Our next event is a Bird Walk around Woodlake Park, on Sunday 10th July.

We will meet at the carpark next to the Woodlake Community Centre, in Highpoint Boulevard, at 9 am. 

The walk will be an easy stroll around the lake-side path, with frequent stops to look at waterfowl, honeyeaters, and perhaps many other kinds of birds.  We expect to be back at the carpark around 10 am.

Australian Wood Ducks, female on the left, male on the right

Bring binoculars and a camera.  Remember to wear a hat.  Children are welcome (with their parents or carers, of course), but pets are not.  If there is heavy rain, we may need to postpone to another day (or bring an umbrella!)

Here's a link to this event on Facebook, if you wish to share the details with friends.

The Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) is just one kind of bird that can be seen at Woodlake Park.  The smart grey wings and chocolate head and neck are distinctive.  It is also known as the Maned Goose, because of long feathers on the back of the head and neck of the male.  This duck foregoes the usual duck habit of nesting amongst reeds on the ground; it nests in tree hollows near water.  It has a peculiar un-duck-like call, too; to me, it sounds like "meoooow"!  Although usually seen swimming around on the surface of the lake, they can also be spotted out on the lawns around the water's edge, nibbling the grass.

a load of rubbish (and a big smile)

It was smiles all around on Saturday 23rd October, when we had completed our first Big Spring Clean Up.  Some of our bushland and parks are now a lot tidier.

Seven volunteers at Moulton Wetland Park worked tirelessly for over an hour and a half to collect this modest haul of rubbish (photo below).  Don't be deceived - there are a lot of bottle caps and tiny pieces of paper and plastic in those bags!  And some weeds...

Here's what they collected from Woodlake Park.  There were twice as many volunteers at this site, so naturally they collected twice as much rubbish...or did they actually work twice as hard for half the time??  But they certainly found some interesting litter, including a cheque book and an electric drill.

Not to be outdone, the volunteers at The Vines decided to clean up their whole neighbourhood...I heard that Ailsa Park became a rubbish collection depot rather than a mere clean up site.  

Volunteers enjoyed a sausage sizzle afterwards, and there were various awards and prizes given out for their wonderful cleaning work.  A good effort, everyone!  I'm looking forward to the Big Spring Clean Up in 2011. (Keep your eye on this website!)