Let’s walk ‘n’ talk about birds – with Neil Fraser
By Nigel Dique, one of the walkers (and talkers). Photos by Colin Sheringham.
What is most surprising about bushwalking in Salamander Bay is the number and variety of birds you can encounter, if you’re prepared to have a close look.
But even then, you need an expert to identify the types of birds.
And that is why EcoNetwork’s Walk ‘n’ Talk through bushland and wetlands near the Salamander Sports Centre was so interesting and enjoyable.
Experienced bird watcher Neil Fraser took a group of 12 people on the two-hour walk on 16 October as part of Aussie Bird Count Week.
The walk took everyone through Graeme Stevens’ ‘backyard’ – he is co-author of ‘Salamander Waters Estate: biodiversity of a highly modified environment’ published in The Whistler Volume 18, 2023.
The walkers included newcomers to bird watching as well as those with professional cameras and obviously very experienced in the field.
One thing everyone learned was to be patient. While it was easy to identify ducks, lorikeets and Ibis, there was a whole lot more to be seen as Neil Fraser revealed with his expert eye and hearing. We saw the following species:
- Hardhead
- Pacific Black Duck
- Chestnut Teal
- Australian Wood Duck
- Australasian Grebe
- Crested Pigeon
- Spotted Dove
- Bar-shouldered Dove
- Fan-tailed Cuckoo
- Dusky Moorhen
- Eurasian Coot
- Masked Lapwing
- Nankeen Night-Heron
- Great Egret
- White-faced Heron
- Australian White Ibis
- Royal Spoonbill – one displaying breeding plumage (nuchal crest). See image below.
- Great Cormorant
- Australasian Darter
- Osprey
- Dollarbird
- Sacred Kingfisher
- Laughing Kookaburra
- Eastern Rosella
- Rainbow Lorikeet
- Superb Fairy-wren
- Scarlet Honeyeater
- Striped Honeyeater
- Noisy Friarbird
- Lewin’s Honeyeater
- Red Wattlebird
- Noisy Miner
- Golden Whistler
- Australasian Figbird
- Olive-backed Oriole
- Australian Magpie
- Pied Butcherbird
- Welcome Swallow
Everyone agreed the walk was worthwhile and that they would keep an eye (and a keen ear) out for birdlife when walking through the bush in future.
It’s hoped there will be more walk ’n’ talk sessions in the bay.