Magpie lark

This bird is concpicuous Australian bird of small to medium size, also known as the Mudlark in Western Australia and Victoria, the Murray magpie in South Australia, and as the Peewee in New South Wales and Queensland.
It spends most of time foraging for insects on the ground.

Photos taken 1,2, Tomato lake, Perth W.A.

Australian Pelican

In addition to coastal lagoons, this bird can be found almost anywhere in Australia where sufficient water exist to support fish and crustaceans.
It's easily identifiable, whether soaring in the air, or floating on water.
Pelicans like a free feed and often wait for handouts near boat ramps.

Photos taken 1,2, Swan river, Belmont. W.A. 3,4,5 Penguin Island

Australian Raven

Last updates:

02.07.2014. photo 4,5.

The Australian Raven is one of five Australian species commonly knows as crows. It is a more slender bird then the Common Raven, but is otherwise simmilar.

The birds can be found in wide range of natural and modified habitats. It requires available water and trees to roost in or perch on. Preferred habitats include eucalypt-dominated sclerophyll forests, and farmland adjacant to trees.

In rural areas a single breading pair and their brood will occupy about a square kilometre territory, whilst in in urban areas over ten times as many ravens can cearch for food in the same square kilometras.

Food consist of carrion, insects, seeds, small reptiles, nestlings and eggs.

The Australian Raven is frequently blamed for the loss of young lambs.   

Photo: Jozef Skubin. 1,2, Victoria Park, Perth W.A. 3, Point heathcote reserve.
4,5, Walter Point 29.03.2014      

African Sacred Ibis

The bird has been introduced from Africa.
The bald head and neck, thick curved bill and legs are black. The white wings show a black rear border in flight.
Its feeds on various, fish, frogs,small mammals and insects, as well as smaller birds.
More common in Australia is Straw-necked Ibis its colors are oposites, black body and wings and white neck.
The African Sacred Ibis has been often mummified by ancient Egyptians as a symbol of the God Thoth. It's seen in Egyptians hyroglifies.

Photos taken 1,2, Tomato Lake Perth W.A. 3 Herdmann lake

Purple Swamp Hen

Also known locally as the Pukeko, African Purple Swamphen, Purple Moorhen.
This chicken size bird with its huge feet, bring plumage, red bill and frontal shield is easily recognisible in its native range.
But there are 13 or more subspecies of Purple Swamphen.
The species prefers wet areas with high rainfall, swamps, lake edges and dump pastures.
The birds often lives in pairs and larger comunities.
It clambers trough the reeds, eating the tender shots and vegetables like matter. They have been known to eat eggs, duckling and small fish.
They use one of its huge foot to bring food to their mouth.

Photos taken 1,2,3, Tomato lake, Perth W.A.

Willie Wagtail

One of the most common birds in urban areas across Australia, this black and white fantail is usually observed singly or in pairs.
It moves constantly in search of insects, worms, spiders and flies, whilst wagging its tail and maintaining a constant repetitive chatter of  "sweet pretty creature".
It is one of the most easily approached Australian birds.

Photos taken 1,2, Tomato Lake, Perth W.A.

Red wattlebird

The Red Wattlebird also known as Barkingbird or Gillbird is a large, noisy honeyeater. Is among the largest of the Australian honeyeaters. The common name refers to the fleshy reddish wattle on the side of the neck.
The wattles are used for compressing nectar from the flowers, when the bill is closed.
The plumage is gray-brown on the body, with prominent white streaks and yellow on the belly. The face is pale and the tail is long whit a white-tip.
Young Red Wattlebirds are duller then the adult and have a brown, rather then reddish, aye. The wattle is also very small and pale.
Its main food is nectar, which is obtains by probing flowers with its thin curved bill. Some insects are also eaten, taken either from foliage or caught in mid-air. Berries and the honeydew produced by some insects add to the bird's diet.
Its range extends throughout the southern areas of the Australian mainland and occurs in forests and woodlands, where it aggressively protect food-bearing plants from the other honeyeater species.

Photos taken 1,2,3,4, Tomato lake, Perth W.A.
                     5,6        Withman national park W.A. 7 Herdsman Lake

Red Wattlebird je pogosto znan pod imenom Barkingbird ali lajajoč ptič zaradi njegovega značilnega oglašanja. Je zelo glasna ptica vrste medojedcev in je ena izmed največjih, te vrste. Ime se nanaša na mesnata, rdečkasta jezička, ki jim visita ob straneh vrata in služita za stiskanje medu iz cveta kadar je kljun zaprt.
Po večjem delu telesa je perje sivo-rjavo, z vidnimi belimi progami in rumeno po trebuhu. Ima bled obraz in dolg rep z belimi odtenki na koncu.
Perje mladičev je bolj pustih barv kot odraslih ptičev, oči pa imajo pogosteje rjave kot rdečkaste. Prav tako imajo zelo blede in majne jezičke na vratu.
V glavnem se prehranjujejo z cvetnim nektarjem katerega črpa iz cvetov z rahlo ukrivljenim tenkim kljunom in nekaterimi insekti ki jih najde na listju ali ulovi v zraku. Na jedilniku pa so tudi gozdne jagode in ostanki medu drugih insektov.
Njegov habitat sega čez vsa južna področja Avstralske celine, nahaja pa se v gozdovih in širših gozdnih pokrajinah, kjer agresivno brani svoje položaje s hrano pred drugimi medojedimi vrstami.