Apex Park Wetland

Post

Subscribe

A Walk and Wildlife

A small flock of Short-billed Corellas lands in one of the many gum trees surrounding the park. Not as frenetic as usual, the birds seem more intent on preening than squawking.



Apex Park Wetlands is on Burbridge Road just over Tapleys Hill Road about a fifteen-minute drive from Adelaide’s CBD. It lies alongside the Torrens Linear Park and can be accessed by a gently sloping boardwalk.



Numerous bird species use the shallow ponds and reed beds, which are the centrepiece of the wetland display. Even more species can be found along the nearby Torrens River.



Leaving the corellas to their ablutions, I focus my camera on a group of Australian White Ibises and Royal Spoonbills that are gathered on a mud flat at the edge of a pond. They successfully forage for food together due to their different beak shapes and sizes. Ibises probe the muddy bottom for food while spoonbills sift the water for their prey.



Even larger than these two birds are the Australian Pelicans which often fly into the ponds; landing like seaplanes on the water. Their beaks employ yet another hunting technique as they balloon out underwater, scooping up small fish and invertebrates.




Apart from the species mentioned there are also: dabbling ducks, swallows hawking for insects, honeyeaters feeding on blossoms and both Crested Pigeons as well as Spotted Doves, searching the ground for seeds and berries.



Having completed my circuit around Apex Park and the adjacent section of Linear Park , my next stop is the nearby Harbour Town complex for lunch and a little retail therapy. However, if Ikea for lunch and some homewares shopping is more to your taste, that centre is also just a few minutes away.

Additional notes
All images were taken with a Nikon Coolpix P900.
This is an easy walk and drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, parking, barbecues, a playground, a BMX track and other facilities nearby. It is dog-friendly.

For more of my Weekend Notes Articles please click on the link below:
More Weekend Notes Articles


#adelaide
#torrens
#outdoor
#animals_and_wildlife
#nature
#walks
#photgraphy
%wnadelaide