May 2, 2005
Early on Monday, Vicky and I took the kids to Cleland Wildlife Park. It was FANTASTIC! We saw loads of great animals, and were able to hold a Koala, although in this entry I’ve journaled almost exclusively wild birds and animals that we saw in the park. New species for me included White-throated Treecreeper.
In addition to the obviously wild birds, we also saw some waterfowl we hadn’t seen elsewhere, and in speaking with the fellow who feeds the pelicans, he assured me that most of the waterbirds in the outside enclosures are wild birds who live in the park because of the easy food. So, I got a few new lifers at the park, too, including Royal Spoonbill. We also saw Long-nosed Potoroo and Southern Brown Bandicoot that were free-ranging in the park, so I am counting those, as well.
We also fed lots of Kangaroo and even an Emu (I thought Eclipse was very brave to let the Emu eat out of their hand. It was a big bird, and even I was a bit intimidated when it ate out of my hand – that’s a big strong beak, and the emu did not move slowly). 🙂
Species List
Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis), Australian Shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa superciliosa), Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae novaehollandiae), Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), Australasian Coot (Fulica atra australis), Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus), Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Eastern Great Egret (Ardea alba modesta), Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia), Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea castanea), Hardhead (Aythya australis), Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa tenebrosa), Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris), Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos melanoleucos), Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae novaehollandiae), Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides coronoides), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Black-shouldered Lapwing (Vanellus miles novaehollandiae), Little Raven (Corvus mellori), Australian Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius hypoleucos), Musk Duck (Biziura lobata menziesi), Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata clelandi), Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris halmaturinus), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus), Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus), Adelaide Rosella (Platycercus elegans subadelaidae), White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea), Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata)
Let me know what you think!