Dromaius novaehollandiae novaehollandiae

April 26, 2005: Scottie’s Billabong, Victoria, Australia

This was one of the birds I’d most hoped to see in Australia, but on the first half of our Murray River trip, they eluded me. The previous day, we’d found this small lake slightly offset from the river: Scottie’s Billabong. I thought that the lake might have a different variety of birds than we’d seen along the river, so we stopped for a look. Almost immediately, I found some footprints in the mud. HUGE footprints, and since dinosaurs are generally accepted as being extinct, I knew they had to belong to emus. A walk around the billabong didn’t reveal these birds, however, but we decided to spend the night here, so I could look for them again in the morning.

Psephotellus varius

April 26, 2005: Scottie’s Billabong, Victoria, Australia

This bird was a surprise . . . I thought it was a red-rumped parrot until I took a look at the photos. I wish I’d paid more attention and gotten a better photo!

Barnardius zonarius barnardi

April 24, 2005: Murray River, Paringa, South Australia

I didn’t realize at the time that these weren’t Red-rumped Parrots, until I looked at the photos and noticed that the coloring wasn’t quite right. Gorgeous birds – I think these are my favorite of the green parrots we’ve seen. They’re noisy and like to fly around, plus they’re less skittish than some of the others, so easier to get a better look.

Platycercus elegans flaveolus

April 23, 2005: Murray River, Paringa, South Australia

This was a quick sighting, but the photo I snapped was good enough for the ID. While on the boat before we left the dock, I saw this bird flying into a tree, and took a quick photo of the tree, hoping for the best. This looks like a very beautiful bird, and I saw a second one from the boat, but also a very quick glance as it flew across in front of the boat.

Psephotus haematonotus haematonotus

April 23, 2005: Murray River, Paringa, South Australia

Spotted a pair of these as we drove through Renmark – although I only had a quick glance, I was able to ID these birds based on the red rump on the male. The other bird was very dull-colored in comparison, consistent with a female, or perhaps immature. So far, the only species seen on the trip which I have not managed to photograph. Hopefully I’ll see another and remedy this. 🙂

Glossopsitta concinna

April 22, 2005: Wittunga Botanic Garden, Mitcham, South Australia

I spotted these small parrots flying around and quickly realized they weren’t Rainbow Lorikeets – too small, and too much green. Took a while to get a good look at one of them. They tended to fly very fast and then go into the foliage near the tops of the trees, rather than perching on exposed branches. I did get a couple of good looks, though. Very pretty. I love these wild parrots!

Platycercus elegans melanopterus

April 21, 2005: Kangaroo Island, South Australia

This subspecies is only present on Kangaroo Island, and is larger and darker than birds on the mainland. These photos do not do this bird justice – they are so bright and gorgeous.

Phalacrocorax fuscescens

April 20, 2005: Kangaroo Island, South Australia

I was hoping to spot one of these birds on the island, thinking it would be my last chance to see them on this trip, and I wasn’t disappointed. After looking at a LOT of pied cormorants, I finally spotted at least one of these birds, flying across the bay. Saw a few of these cormorants along the coast, although the larger Pied Cormorants were more abundant.

Cereopsis novaehollandiae novaehollandiae

April 20, 2005: Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Spotted a few of these from the bus – fortunately, they’re big enough and distinctive enough to be able to ID on the fly. Also saw several at the Parndana Wildlife Park. I’m not entirely sure whether they were wild or part of the collection, but they were foraging around in with the kangaroos. Introduced to the island but established, so countable.

Platycercus eximius eximius

April 19, 2005: Flagstaff Hill, Onkaparinga, South Australia

Spotted two of these gorgeous birds in a tree in the yard of one of the homes in Mark and Vicky’s neighborhood.

Platycercus elegans subadelaidae

April 18, 2005: Flagstaff Hill, Onkaparinga, South Australia

First spotted this Crimson Rosella subspecies in the yard of Mark and Vicky’s home.

Cacatua sanguinea

April 18, 2005: Subiaco Park, Subiaco, Western Australia

Spotted from the window of H & D’s home, on our last morning in town. I was happy to see these birds, having missed a flock of some sort of black-cockatoo only a few minutes earlier. The photos aren’t great, and I originally called them Western based on the size of the bill, but in retrospect (and trusting iNaturalist), I think they’re actually Little. Either way, YAY! I love cockatoos.

Spatula rhynchotis

April 17, 2005: Lake Monger Reserve, Western Australia

These are wonderfully colored birds, similar in profile to our NA shoveler, but completely different plumage. Very pretty.

Falco cenchroides

April 17, 2005: Swan Valley, Western Australia

Spotted this bird while waiting outside one of the wineries. As with the kite, I never got a close look at this bird, but suspected it was a kestrel when it started kiting over the nearby field (from a high altitude). Again, my photos were good enough to make the ID, but I hope to see another at closer range.

Scientific name

Threskiornis spinicollis

April 17, 2005: Swan Valley, Western Australia

Spotted these birds from the car while we were driving around to visit wineries in Swan Valley (only Kevin and Helen were actually doing any wine tasting). Fortunately, I was able to hop out and get some decent photos. They almost look like the negative of the Sacred Ibis – dark bodies and light-colored necks. Very cool birds.