Monday, December 21, 2009

River Torrens Linear Park

Yesterday I walked part of the River Torrens Linear Park. This park stretches from Gulf St. Vincent right through the City of Adelaide to the hills, and apart from a couple of short stretches is continuous. It has a footpath and cycleway running its complete length. There is a weir close to the sea designed to maintain the water level in the river. In the summer the river can dry out in places. There is also a boom to stop rubbish and debris flowing into the Gulf which the birds find convenient to rest on. The sea end is being redeveloped and now has a stretch of the coastal path and cycleway and some new pelican sculptures. There were also lots of real pelicans there as well. There were plenty of flowering eucalypts along the walk, some with very interesting bark. One species of eucalypt with white flowers was very popular with the birds and had lots of Rainbow and Musk Lorikeets and also Little Wattlebirds feeding on the nectar. Amongst the many birds along the river bank were Maned Ducks, Masked Lapwings and Spotted Doves. Finally, back at the beach there were a group of Silver Gulls squabbling over a baby octopus.

10 comments:

  1. That opening photo is a real stunner, Tony. Love your pelicans, including the sculpture. Poor little octopus. Looks like it is being drawn and quartered, uh -- octupled ...

    cheers,
    Wilma

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  2. I think that octopus has caught two gulls for lunch!

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  3. Hi Wilma, so glad you enjoyed them. I didn't realise it was an octopus until I looked at the full size photo!.

    Hi Richard, now that would be a pic to get!!

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  4. WOW Tony, that first sky shot it really stunning! I think I prefer the real deal Pelicans! (-: I always like unusual bark and that Eucalyptus is beautiful. Glad you had such a lovey bird-filled walk.

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  5. Hi Jen, Thanks - I have another one for my next Skywatch posting. Me too on the pelicans - I have 100's of pelican pics!!
    Yes, eucalyptus bark is so variable. Did you get to any stringybarks when you were here?

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  6. Its always a pleasure to stop by here. In case I don’t have a chance to say it later, Merry Christmas.

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  7. Thanks Steve, I am really amazed that people around the globe are interested enough to follow my blog. Please enjoy the holiday season, and I look forward to viewing your blog in 2010. cheers mate!!

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  8. Great show Tony.
    Happy Christmas Mate.
    John.

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  9. Don't think I did see any stringybark Tony. Not as far as I know anyway. I'm sooooooo glad you took up this blogging milarky. Makes me feel you're not so far away! (-: Take care.

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  10. Hi John, Thanks, the same to you
    Hi Jen. Well, you're to blame....er or is that thank?? happy birding in 2010!!

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