Saltwater Creek and Lagoon Birds

Salt Water Creek and Lagoon.

Although a relatively new comer to Salt Water Creek bird life, I get great joy from discovering birds along the creek, from the mouth to up above German Bridge. Pleasures for me include birds nesting, I have noted the Leaden Flycatcher and the Brown Honeyeater nesting, but the most joy I have experienced is to witness the flight of the Southern Emu-wren that frequents the rushes and grasses along the banks of the creek, long flowing lace like tail feathers trailing behind until it lands and the lace like feathers are then held erect. The brilliant orange and blue of the Azure Kingfisher as it darts low over the water through the dappled light from fishing perch to fishing perch also rates highly. A little while back, a juvenile Black-necked Stork, (previously called the Jabiru), took up residence for a while in the creek and stayed for a week or two and it was great to watch it fish. Egrets, Herons and Cormorants also consider the creek their home and larder, while Buff-banded Rail, Pardolotes, Sacred Kingfisher, Spangled Drongo, Silvereye, Wattlebirds, Eastern Spinebills, Thornbills, Fairy-wrens, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Scrubwrens and many species of Honeyeaters are some of the birds seen along the banks. The antics of Rainbow Lorikeets and Scaly-breasted Lorikeets noisily flying from Paper Bark to Paper Bark looking for nectar give me much amusement.

Male and female, Southern Emu-wren seen along

the banks of Saltwater Creek.

Azure Kingfisher seen along Saltwater Creek.

Local ornithologist, the late Ken Shingleton, OAM, took me under his wing, but his passing robbed me of absorbing enough of his knowledge to be able to pass it on to others. His passion and stories of Bitterns and Latham’s Snipe around the shores of the lagoon impressed me and he like me, would be first to object to development around it’s shoreline. I helped Ken make up a list of bird finding locations and these excerpts relating to the creek are as follows;

Saltwater Lagoon; Bitterns, Latham’s Snipe.

German Bridge, (Phillip Drive); Emu-wren, Bushbirds. Azure Kingfisher.

Mouth of Saltwater Creek, (near Surf Club); Sooty Oystercatchers, Striated Heron, Eastern Reef Egret, terns, raptors including; Hobby.