Felixstow Wetland and Reserve Part 1

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Felixstow Wetland and Reserve (Part 1)



After parking my car I make my way around the perimeter of the wetland's first pond where I can see another photographer standing on a viewing area. She is zooming in on a White-faced Heron stalking prey amongst the reeds. I follow her line of sight and manage to capture an image of the bird.



Felixstow Wetland and Reserve is just a fifteen minute drive from Adelaide's CBD along the Lower North East Road. It incorporates part of the Torrens River and has numerous recreational features including: training stations, barbecues, shelter, basketball, netball and Bocce courts.



It is unusually warm and sunny for this time of the year which has brought quite a few insects out. I spot a dart butterfly, dragonfly and an intricately patterned bush cockroach species ; all perched on the strappy leafed plants near the water.



Leaving the wetland ponds, I take the path down to the River Torrens and Linear Park. There are both Pacific Black Ducks and Maned Ducks on the bank with a few Black Ducks feeding in the water. On the far bank, I catch sight of a Purple Swamp Hen close to the reeds which it uses as both a food and a nest-building resource.



There is a footbridge over the river which affords a good view both up and downstream and I catch sight of a Dusky Moorhen fossicking amongst the reeds. These ubiquitous birds are omnivores and predominantly feed on water plants, small fish as well as invertebrates such as aquatic snails and insects.





Before leaving the river, I use the telephoto capability of my camera to scan the higher branches of the tall eucalypts growing close to the bank. To my surprise I locate two classic Australian animals in the same tree; a Laughing Kookaburra and a Koala.





Along the path back to the wetland I notice an information plaque about Aboriginal culture in this area. The river Torrens and Adelaide Plains were home to the Kaurna People for tens of thousands of years. Their low-impact lifestyle and use of natural resources means that there are few traces left of the Kaurna culture as it existed prior to European settlement. Before leaving the wetlands I take a few minutes to read about an aspect of their lifestyle and photograph a 'canoe tree' near the river. A fitting way to end my day at the Felixstow Reserve and Wetlands.

Additional Notes

This is an easy walk and drive which is quite suitable for families and seniors with public toilets, sport grounds, barbecues, parking and other facilities nearby. It is dog friendly.

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