Australia - SA - Coorong National Park - Loaded Bays!

I spent the morning in Goolwa, on Hindmarsh Island and down to the Murray Mouth before making my way to the East side of the Coorong National Park.

My task for the day was to find Cape Barren Goose. Geese do not normally feature in the category of bird of the day but the combination of the lime green bill grey body pink legs and the black wing tips qualified this species by a clear mile! It did not take too long to find a small group in a field by the road down to Murray Mouth. Another group flew in to join the grazing making the sighting a memorable one.

A close second was Royal Spoonbill which I saw a group gathered in a line against the reed-bed opposite the Signal point bird hide. These birds could have been missed with the majority having their bills tucked in for long periods of time.

The river mouth was littered with swans, ducks and plenty of shorebirds feeding in the sand including Curlew Sandpiper. A guy sent his dog out for a swim in the thick of the action and I expected everything to take flight but surprisingly it didn’t. A subtle “V” formed allowing the dog to pass closing behind it. The dog had the last laugh with its owner as it ventured further out committing the guy to swim out in after him. The wildfowl must be used to these antics!

Masked Lapwing who also occupied areas of grass. 

Sharpe Tailed Sandpiper was also present mixed in with the numerous peeps that were busy pacing and snatching and prodding for tasty morsals. There does not seem to be much variation in shorebird species but many are out of range occupying sand bars and shallower areas spread across the mouth. 

I caught up with a couple of Emu drinking at a lakes edge they moved off into the bush having drank their fill. 

The Australian Kite or Black Shouldered Kite was also captured whilst on a hunting expedition with a Nankeen Kestrel following its every move!

I have been pleasantly surprised at the number of ducks and shorebirds present during the summer month’s. There is an array of habitat to hold the wildlife out here!