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Visited: winter
Recommendation: This reserve is primarily a family destination but the area is lovely to wander around and if you need photos of some more common water birds, then this is a great place to do it.
The Oaklands Wetland and Reserve is a 12-hectare park located in Oaklands Park, South Australia, right next to the City of Marion . It's a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, offering a variety of recreational activities and environmental benefits. The centerpiece of the park is the 2.2-hectare wetland, which provides a habitat for a variety of birds, aquatic life, and plants. The wetland is an important part of Marion's water recycling system, helping to treat stormwater and reduce the use of mains water for irrigation. There are also open wooded areas, small grape vines and family areas within the reserve.
While you might not see lots of uncommon or really exciting birds here (although a bittern was spotted a couple of years ago), there is a good variety and it is an opportunity to get close to some familiar species and photograph them. It is also a lovely place to walk and spend time.
One of my favourite waterbirds are grebes and they are here in good numbers and the layout of the lakes makes it easy to get good angles on them. They are one of the smallest members of the grebe family, measuring only around 25-27 centimeters.
Australasian Grebes are excellent swimmers and divers. When threatened, their first instinct is to dive underwater and flee, sometimes resurfacing far away from the perceived danger. They are built for aquatic life with lobed feet that act like paddles and waterproof feathers that allow them to stay buoyant.
Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
The Crested Pigeon is a common and widespread bird found throughout mainland Australia, except for the far northern tropical areas. They are highly adaptable when it comes to habitat and can thrive in a variety of environments, including lightly wooded grasslands, which provde them with open spaces for foraging and scattered trees for nesting and roosting.
They have also adapted well to human settlements and can be frequently seen in parks, gardens, and even golf courses. Since they need to drink daily, they are often found near rivers, creeks, and other permanent water sources.
Their ability to adapt to different habitats is a major reason for their success and widespread distribution across mainland Australia.
Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
There was also a good number of rails at the reserve. It is a little disappointing when there are lots of Eurasian Coot present. However, they and the other rails here are actually native to Australia. They all found their way here independently of humans. Once you realise this, these common waterbirds become a little more attractive.
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus)
Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)
Of course, there are also ducks here but, again it is kind of nice to be closer to them and really get a good look at them. The most common is always the Pacific Black Duck. There were also Grey and Chestnut Teal around too.
Grey Teal (Anas gracilis)
Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
Best of all on my last visit was a large flock of Little Corella. We heard them screaming as they flew into a single gum tree and from there descended onto the open grassed area next to the lakes and began to socialise and play. It was just wonderful to watch them.
Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea)
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