Kay Parkin Birding: Price Saltfields Yorke Peninsula

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Price Saltfields Yorke Peninsula - South Australia Birding

Today I enjoyed a lovely morning birding with my friend Teresa in the Cheetham Salt fields in Price, Yorke Peninsula.

To be able to enter Cheetham Salt you must be a member of Birds SA and have successfully completed the induction program for Cheetham Salt.

4 hours of birding resulted in lovely views of a variety of waders.

Marsh Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpiper

Red-capped Plover

Red-necked Avocet

Little Egret

There were thousands of Banded Stilts.

Fairy Terns were observed mating and I was happy to see at least 20 of them during the morning.

We observed a flock of 80 Banded Lapwing before heading back to Adelaide. Yorke Peninsula has great birding and is only 2 hours from Adelaide. Well worth the trip!

Do you want to start bird watching?

Birding is a great hobby and can be done easily and without much expense. You can simply go for a walk and take note of the birds you see! If you are new to birding you may not know what the birds are called so I'd suggest carrying a note book so you can make some notes on their colour, size and markings so you can then identify them when you get home.

To identify them you can use an Australian Bird Field Guide - I'd suggest Pizzey, otherwise you can use a website which has photos of Australian birds such as www.bushpea.com

You can start listing every species of bird that you see. You will be surprised at how quickly your total increases. It is so much fun and you could encourage your family and friends to join you.

You will need a pair of binoculars - 10 x 40 is a good size. I use Nikon Monarch but try them out in the shop to get a light pair that suits you.

BIRDER

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Price Saltfields Yorke Peninsula - South Australia Birding