Black Fronted Dotterel
The Black Fronted Dotterel is quite small and very quick. You will see it in wetlands running around on its little legs. this one was seen at the Western Treatment Plant near Weribee.
Great Crested Grebe
I had been looking for this bird for ages, ages I tell you. Finally caught a good glimpse of him at the Western Treatment Plant on the 1st of Jan this year. Photos aren't the best, but you can definitely see his crest.
Great Egret
The Great Egret was at the western treatment plant. Very large white birds, from a distance people may have trouble telling the difference between the Little Egret, Intermediate Egret and the Great Egret. To me (from a distance) they all look the same, it's only when you realise how big (or small) they are, that I can tell them apart. The Great Egret stands76cm-1m tall where as the Intermediate Egret stands between 56-70cm tall (so a big Intermediate Egret can look just like a very small Great Egret), The Little Egret is 56-65cm tall, which is only slightly smaller than the Intermediate Egret, but at least the Little Egret always has a black bill and has some yellow on its face to be a little bit different.
Little Grebe
Little Grebe, the photos taken here were also at Serindip (Lara), this is a great place for water birds. The Little Grebe here is showing its breeding plumage. the second is with its hatchling (you know what, for a bird watcher, I have no idea what you would call a baby Grebe). The can be found throughout Australia excluding the very top of the country and accross the Nulaboar.
Little Black Cormorant
I never realised that cormorants can be seen almost Australia Wide (as well as New Zealand - though they tend to call them all Shags). The Little Black Cormorant is... well, little compared to your standard cormorants and especially the Greater Cormorant. Note that they're all black, except a slight bit of white under the chin.
You'll find these generally close to water. Often I'll see them in the morning, wings open as they warm up.
You'll find these generally close to water. Often I'll see them in the morning, wings open as they warm up.
Little Pied Cormorant
Cormorants are many and varied. The Little Pied Cormorant can be found internationally including NZ, Malaysia, Indonesia, Solomon Islands and even further abroad. In Australia, it is nation wide, the only area it can't be found seems to be inland WA and where SA, WA and the Northern Teritory meets. They seem to like to dry their wings (as seen in the photo), regardless of the time of day. This is the smallest of the Cormorants and though it looks very similar to the Pied Cormorant, the largest Little Pied Cormorant is smaller than the smallest Pied Cormorant, it also tends to have more of a fuzzy fringe where as its bigger cousin has a smooth brow. These were seen at Karkarok in a Melbourne suburb but they can be found everywhere there is water - including Roxberg Park off Roxberg Park Blvd, on my daily drive to work.
Pelecan
One of the biggest water birds Pelecans are generally found near water though the water can be fresh or salty. In Point Cook, you'll often see them flying around, gliding on their big wings in formation. In an instant you could be forgiven for thinkign they're planes from the RAFF base they can be so graceful.
Not so graceful on teh ground, these close up photos were actually taken at Healsville Sanctuary where these birds aren't actually held at the zoo, but they fly in of their own accord (to be fed daily, they're not stupid). Waddling from side to side the'll walk up to you to see what you have and often they scare little children simply because of their size.
Not so graceful on teh ground, these close up photos were actually taken at Healsville Sanctuary where these birds aren't actually held at the zoo, but they fly in of their own accord (to be fed daily, they're not stupid). Waddling from side to side the'll walk up to you to see what you have and often they scare little children simply because of their size.
Pink Eared Duck
For Pink Eared Ducks I'm afraid I didn't get close enough to actually see their pink ears. But at least with these photos you can see their long bill and their 'zebra' striped underbelly. There were plenty of these out on lake Borrie, it's just unfortunate that the sun was in the wrong spot for the photos.
Purple Swamphen
The Purple Swamphen is very common on the east coast of Australia. I see them almost on a daily basis - whether it is in Roxburg Park, in the various small wetlands, on my way to work, or it could be in Point Cook where wetlands throughout the suburb and surrounds are abundant. For me I have found them not particularly afraid of people (though not quite as friendly as some ducks and swans). You can tell them apart from similar species by the obvious purple on the front and the hard looking almost helmet like crest that continues from the beak to the forehead.
Royal Albatross
I cheated a little for these photos. They're actually from New Zealand on a peninsula near Duneiden. We were fortunate enough to get some photos as they glided around the point. The one in the middle is actually sitting on an egg.
The photos themselves don't do them justice, but these birds are BIG. Their wingspan can be up to 6m!
The photos themselves don't do them justice, but these birds are BIG. Their wingspan can be up to 6m!
Royal Spoonbill
Named I presume because of the shape of their bill (it's like a long spoon), the Royal Spoonbill is different to the Yellow Spoonbill in two major ways. Firstly, the bill is grey instead of yellow, and secondly, they can often be seen with a bit of a mop of feathers around their head - I like to think of it as part of a crown, adding a bit of Royalty to this wader.
White-Faced Heron
This is another common water bird. It can be found Australia wide in most areas other than deserts. This photo was taken in Point Cook in one of the estate wetlands. It can be found in shallow wetlands; fresh, brackish or salt. It can be found in farm dams, pastures, grasslands, saltmarshes, tital mud flats, harbours, beaches, golf courses and even in your garden fishpond trying to eat your pet fish!
Yellow Spoonbill
Spoonbills often wade through water, shifting their spoon-shaped bill from side to side as they eat their fill. Similar to the Royal Spoonbill, the main difference between the two is that the Yellow Spoonbill has a yellow beak where as the Royal Spoonbill has a grey beak. So when you see the Yellow Spoonbill - it's pretty obvious which one it is.
© Michelle Evans 2012, all rights reserved.