Birdwatching & Wildlife - Stockman's Ridge Wines

At Stockman's Ridge we have noticed over the years a wide range of Birdlife and would encourage you, when you next visit, to keep your eyes open for some of our more common visitors.

	Crimson Rosella Size: 35cm Habitat: Distributed from South East QLD south through Eastern NSW, VIC and parts of SA, the Crimson Rosella prefers parks, gardens, farmland and rainforests. Feeds on seeds and grain. Appearance: Crimson and blue bird, crimson head, belly and parts of wing, blue throat, wings and tail. Notes: Breeds Spring-Summer.
	Galah Size: 36cm Habitat: Very common through out most of Australia, the Galah inhabits grasslands, woodlands and pastoral land, feeding on cereal grains, seeds, fruits and even insects. Appearance: Pink body, whitish crown and grey wings. Notes: Breeds Winter-Spring.
	House Sparrow Size: 15cm Habitat: Distributed across the Eastern half of Australia, this introduced species can be found where there is human habitation. Feeds on scraps left by humans as well seeds and insects. Appearance: Grey crown, dark bill, brown/white/black wings, off white chest, belly and cheeks. Notes: Breeds Spring-Summer.
	Flame Robin - Male Size: 12cm Habitat: Summer: Forests, woodlands, scrub. Autumn-Winter: open woodlands, plains, Paddocks, orachards, Parks. Appearance: Bright orange breast and throat and are white on the lower belly and undertail. The top of their head and back is dark slate grey and there is a clear white stripe on the folded wing. The bill is black and the legs dark brown. Notes: Breeds Spring-Summer
	Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo Size: 45-50cm Habitat: Sulphur-crested Cockatoos can be found widely in the north and east, ranging as far south as Tasmania, but avoiding arid inland areas with few trees. They are numerous in suburban habitats in cities such as Adelaide and Sydney. Appearance: The plumage is overall white, while the underwing and -tail are tinged yellow. The expressive crest is yellow. The bill is black, the legs are grey, and the eye-ring is whitish. Notes: Breeds Winter-Spring. The are long living and can live upto 70years. A 2009 study has found that Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are capable of synchronizing movements to a musical beat.
	Laughing Kookaburra Size: 46cm Habitat: Located on the eastern coast from Cape York to Southern SA, introduced in southern WA and TAS. Inhabiting open forest and urban areas, tall wooded forests. eats snakes, lizards, rodents and insects. Appearance: Head white with brown front, dark brown stripe over eyes. Wings brown with blue patches. Notes: Breeds Spring-Summer.
	Wedge Tailed Eagle Size: 87-104cm Habitat: Found across Australia excluding closed forests, This is Australia's largest raptor with a huge wing span of almost 2.5 meters the Wedge tail feeds on a diet of rabbits, marsupials, reptiles and birds, often seen on the side of roads feeding on carrion. Adult birds become darker with age. Appearance: Head and body black to brown depending on age, Distinctive wedge shaped tail in flight. Fully feathered legs. Notes: Can soar to a height of 2000 meters. Breeds Winter - Spring.
		Australian Wood Duck Size: 45-50cm Habitat: Found throughout Australia except dry areas. It prefers being on land close to lakes, ponds and dams. Feeds on plants and grass. Appearance: Head and top of neck brown, body grey with black under tail. Notes: Breeds spring.
		Masked Lapwig Size: 35cm Habitat: Masked Lapwings are most common around the edges of wetlands and in other moist, open environments, but are adaptable and can often be found in surprisingly arid areas. Appearance: An all-white neck and large yellow wattles with the male having a distinctive mask and larger wattles. Notes: There is a much-believed but incorrect myth that the spur can inject venom.
		Superb Fairywren (Blue Wren) Size: 14cm Habitat: Common throughout most of the relatively wet and fertile south-eastern corner of the continent, from the south-east of South Australia. Appearance: Males adopting a highly visible breeding plumage of brilliant iridescent blue contrasting with black and grey-brown. Notes: The Superb Fairywren is used as an emblem by the Bird Observation & Conservation Australia.
		Australian Crested Pigeon Size: 30-34cm Habitat: Found widely throughout mainland Australia except for the far tropical north areas. Appearance: Colouration is grey with tinges of brown. It has a feathered but slender, black spike on top of head. Notes: While they breed throughout the year, it is more common in the warmer months. Males approach females and begin an elaborate mating dance; they bob their bodies up and down, while opening and closing their wings like a fan with each bob..
Wildlife
		Eastern Grey Kangaroo Size: 2 metres Habitat: Found across southern and eastern Australia. The Eastern Grey can travel very fast over land with this species holding the fastest record of any kangaroo at 64 kilometres per hour. Appearance: It is easy to recognise by its soft grey coat. Notes: Numbers in the several millions, and continue to grow due to improved pastures through out Australia.
		Echidna Size: Echidnas are 30 cm to 45 cm in length and weigh between 2 kg and 5 kg Habitat: The echidna is common throughout most of temperate Australia and lowland New Guinea. Appearance: The body, with the exception of the underside, face and legs, is covered with cream coloured spines. These spines, which reach 50 mm in length, are in fact modified hairs. Insulation is provided by fur between the spines which ranges in colour from honey to a dark reddish-brown and even black. Notes: When it's in danger the echidna pulls its head in and curls up into a ball to protect its tummy.
		Shingle Back Lizard Size: 45-64cm Habitat: The species is widely distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of southern, eastern and western Australia. It prefers scrubland and desert grassland to sandy dunes. They are commonly seen sun basking in open areas and are often seen along roadsides. Appearance: Has a heavily armoured body and can found in various colours, ranging from dark brown to cream. Its short stumpy tail is similar in shape to its head which is a defensive mechanism. Notes: Their short tail contains fat reserves, which the lizard lives upon during hibernation in winter. Its tail is autotomous.
		Wallaby Size: 80cm - 1 metre Habitat: Wallabies are widely distributed across Australia, particularly in more remote, heavily timbered, or rugged areas. Appearance: Typical wallabies are most closely related to the kangaroos and wallaroos and, size aside, look very similar. Notes: A wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod.
		Cabbage White Butterfly Size: An adult's wingspan is roughly 32–47 mm Habitat: Plants that contain mustard oils that are sensed by the female to deposit the eggs so that the larvae will be able to feed when they hatch. Appearance: The upperside is creamy white with black tips to the forewings. Females also have two black spots in the center of the forewings. Its underwings are yellowish with black speckles. Notes: Is prolific in January.