Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Lake Alford

I had an extra trip in to Gympie yesterday. (Gympie is my nearest bigger town and a bit over 50kms away.) I would much rather have been out looking for birds but decided to take my camera in with me and make a quick stop at Lake Alford before I came home. Lake Alford is a well maintained park on the highway just south of the business district in Gympie.  The water in the lake/pond is kept moving and aerated with fountains.

I didn't see any new birds but these are not ones that I see out where I live at the coast
Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)

Male Hardhead (Aythya australis) 

Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)

While I was there a father with a very young daughter came and sat down at the edge of the pond with a loaf of bread. The birds knew what to expect and before he even had the packet open they started to make a rush for that area of the pond. Even the Black Swan joined the rush! I do occasionally see Black Swans on the Bay.

Australian White Ibis are very common everywhere!

This juvenile even came into my back yard the other day when it was raining.

For more scenes of our world visit Our World Tuesday

and for more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

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30 comments:

  1. Gemma WisemanJune 18, 2013 at 6:22 AM

    So love the first view with the touch of mountain in the background! And it looks like a sunny day! Great photos of the birds, especially the one highlighting the curve of the black swan's neck!

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  2. UnknownJune 18, 2013 at 6:32 AM

    That black duck is a beauty!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  3. Fun60June 18, 2013 at 6:42 AM

    Fascinated by the shots of the ibis as we don't see them here in England.

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  4. eileeninmdJune 18, 2013 at 7:00 AM

    Looks like a pretty day to be out, the lake and fountain are pretty. I love the Black swan and the cool looking Ibis. Great post and photos, have a happy week!

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  5. TexWisGirlJune 18, 2013 at 7:07 AM

    loved all of these! the first two ducks are smashing!

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  6. Carole M.June 18, 2013 at 5:56 PM

    you picked up some lovely water-birds Mick; great shots!

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  7. BeppanJune 18, 2013 at 6:09 PM

    Beautiful landscape - especially with the fountains!
    And those birds.... I like that Ibis - not common where I live.

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  8. Stewart MJune 18, 2013 at 9:33 PM

    Its amazing how quickly the birds tune in to the rustle of a bird food bag!

    Nice post - and thanks for the early link to WBW.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  9. HansHBJune 19, 2013 at 4:15 AM

    A great serie of photos!
    Nice to see!

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  10. FABJune 19, 2013 at 5:26 AM

    Nice series and great to be able to get up close to these species.

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  11. i stora dragJune 19, 2013 at 5:38 AM

    Very nice photos, Mick!
    I would like to see a black Swan too!
    Ibis we don't have here in Sweden.
    Greetings Pia

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  12. sunshineJune 19, 2013 at 6:23 AM

    Wonderful series of photos and nice birds in this area.

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  13. Hootin AnniJune 19, 2013 at 7:16 AM

    Okay...at first I thought I was seeing a wood stork...I'm sure glad you told us it was a White Ibis. Now that I read it, and looked a 2nd time, I realized they ARE ibises. Geez.

    And sorry, I can't help myself, I have a Male Hardhead at my house...he's goes by "Husband". LOL [just had to get that out of the way]

    Excellent post and incredible, new to me, birds!!

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  14. NatureFootstepJune 19, 2013 at 8:02 AM

    your park has more birds then I see in one month in my area. Enjoyed the beautiful ducks and ibises.

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  15. CarlettaJune 19, 2013 at 8:49 AM

    Your stopover paid off in some wonderful shots!
    I especially like seeing the ibis.
    Lovely post Mick!

    I was going to say I didn't know there was something really named a Male Hardhead but I see Anni covered it.:)

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  16. mickJune 19, 2013 at 10:32 AM

    Oops! Sorry! I just lost a couple of comments. Now I wonder which button I clicked on that I shouldn't have.
    Sallie just asked if these are the Ibis that people do not like out here - Yes! They are real pests when they congregate in large flocks in public places. Also you will frequently see hundreds of them around land fill areas.

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  17. JenniferJune 19, 2013 at 12:43 PM

    What a beautiful place! Love that first duck shot especially...what beautiful detail in its feathers! :)

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  18. SaunJune 19, 2013 at 12:48 PM

    Great Photos love the duck shots too.

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  19. RajeshJune 19, 2013 at 2:37 PM

    Wow! wonderful shots of the birds.

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  20. Jill HarrisonJune 19, 2013 at 4:48 PM

    I would love to be down at the lake right now strolling with the birds. Of course black swans are native to WA. We have lots of them on our Estuary.
    Have a wonderful week, and thank you for stopping by my blog today.

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  21. Phil SladeJune 19, 2013 at 5:14 PM

    I noted your lovely sunny day Mick. Those urban parks can be so good for photography with birds used to humans coming close to them. All those ibis - common! If only. I like picture of the aythya hardhead, so alike our Pochard (soft headed though).

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  22. IrmaJune 19, 2013 at 6:26 PM

    Beautiful park, the black swan is totally awesome.
    Kind regards, Irma

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  23. ArijaJune 19, 2013 at 9:27 PM

    So nice to see the black swan. I seldom see them up our way.

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  24. RebeccaJune 19, 2013 at 9:49 PM

    Looks like a relaxing day :) Love the black swan!

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  25. UnknownJune 20, 2013 at 2:24 AM

    Beautiful birds! I love the black swan.

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  26. Sharon WagnerJune 20, 2013 at 2:39 AM

    Nice bird combos. Especially the swan.

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  27. AnonymousJune 20, 2013 at 9:08 AM

    Great shots of the birds you saw at that beautiful lake.

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  28. grammie gJune 20, 2013 at 11:07 PM

    HI Mick....I like those Ibis,one I won't see wondering my back yard : )
    That's also a beautiful Black Swan!!
    Grace

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  29. EG CameraGirlJune 25, 2013 at 4:32 AM

    It certainly is a well-maintained park! Glad you took your camera!

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  30. Liz NeedleJune 25, 2013 at 10:53 PM

    Love your photos, especially the bird ones. My favourite is the one of the terns. A very cute row of birds.

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