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Bird Watching in South Australia
South East SA
South Australia's south east region receives the state's highest annual rainfall. A huge variety of bird species can be found throughout the area. The wetlands in the south are gathering places for waterbirds and migratory waders. The Coorong and Bool Lagoon are excellent regions to observe waders. The native forests of the south-east are thick with foliage and contain some unique species, while the coastal areas are unspoilt and rugged. Inland is Ngarkat National Park which is a remote untouched wilderness region.
South-east of Naracoorte, Bool Lagoon is one of the best wetland reserves in South Australia. During the summer months, there are huge flocks of migrating waders, but at any time of the year there are birds to watch out for in the water and the surrounding woodlands. There is a camping area, so that you can fully appreciate the dawn and dusk chorus. Watch closely at night for bats, which stream across the sky from their roosts in the Naracoorte limestone caves. A full species list is available from the information office in the reserve.
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Brolga |
Swamp Harrier |
Australian Hobby |
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Barn Owl |
Peregrine Falcon |
Cape Barren Goose |
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Magpie Goose |
Musk Duck |
Whiskered Tern |
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Black-tailed Godwit |
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper |
Golden-headed Cisticola |
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Clamorous Reed Warbler |
Little Grassbird |
Black-tailed Native-hen |
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Pied Stilt |
Banded Lapwing |
Red-necked Avocet |
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White-fronted Chat |
Red-browed Firetail |
Flame Robin |
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Crescent Honeyeater |
Little Wattlebird |
Forest Raven |
Naracoorte
Caves Conservation Park
The Naracoorte Caves are a series of decorated limestone caves which are open to the public. It is a popular place for tourists to the south-east region offering cave tours for all levels of fitness. Some of these caves are home to millions of bats which stream out after dark to feed overnight. The bushland surrounding the caves is an excellent bird watching location. There are camping sites, an information centre, and a number of walking trails to make exploring this region easy and enjoyable.
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Australian Kestrel |
Brown Falcon |
Sacred Kingfisher |
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Crimson Rosella |
Eastern Rosella |
Red-Rumped Parrot |
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Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo |
Crested Shriketit |
Restless Flycatcher |
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Eastern Yellow Robin |
Brown Treecreeper |
Black-chinned Honeyeater |
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White-eared Honeyeater |
Eastern Spinebill |
Dusky Woodswallow |
Thousands of waders and migrating birds flock to the waters of the Coorong along the south coast. The whole of the Coorong offers spectacular wild beaches, and opportunities for observing an enormous variety of wading and woodland birds.
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Pied Oystercatcher |
Sooty Oystercatcher |
Hooded Plover |
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Red-capped Plover |
Ruddy Turnstone |
Red-necked Avocet |
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Double-banded Plovers |
Greenshank |
Sanderling |
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Black-tailed Godwit |
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper |
Buff-banded Rail |
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Brush Bronzewing |
Pallid Cuckoo |
Rufous Bristlebird |
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Malleefowl |
Orange-bellied Parrot |
Southern Emu-wren |
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Swamp Harrier |
Beautiful Firetail |
Flame Robin |
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Crescent Honeyeater |
Little Wattlebird |
Forest Raven |
Canunda National Park is situated along the coast between Beachport and Carpenters Rocks in the south-east of the state. It is very popular with fishermen, since the beach fishing is superb. There are limited camping facilities, and many tracks are best travelled using a 4WD vehicle. It is a remote and peaceful place to spend a few days.
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Pacific Gull |
Pied Oystercatcher |
Singing Honeyeater |
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Southern Emu-wren |
Black-faced Shag |
Orange-bellied Parrot |
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Hooded Plover |
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater |
Red-browed Firetail |
This remote park is situated near the Victorian border and consists of mostly mallee scrubland. There are patches of taller trees and a couple of reasonable campsites. A day in this park might surprise the birdwatcher, since there are a great many species to be found which are otherwise difficult to find in South Australia.
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Malleefowl |
Emu |
Striated Grasswren |
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Red-lored Whistler |
Yellow Rosella |
Rufous-crowned Emu-wren |
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Western Whipbird |
Regent Parrot |
Yellow-throated Miner |
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Gilbert’s Whistler |
Mallee Ringneck |
Yellow-rumped Pardalote |
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Crested Bellbird |
Mulga Parrot |
White-fronted Honeyeater |
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Southern Scrub-robin |
Splendid Fairy-wren |
Striped Honeyeater |
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Chestnut Quail-thrush |
Shy Hylacola |
Varied Sittella |
Other
Parks in the South East
Other areas in the South East which are rewarding for the bird watcher include:
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Mary Seymour Conservation Park |
Fairview Conservation Park |
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Big Heath Conservation Park |
Poocher Swamp Game Reserve |
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Little Dip Conservation Park |
Mullinger Swamp Conservation Park |
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Gum Lagoon Conservation Park |
Mount Boothby Conservation Park |
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Messent Conservation Park |
Scorpion Springs Conservation Park |
