Swanport Reserve, Murray Bridge

Picnic at Swanport Reserve, Murray Bridge

We are fortunate here in Murray Bridge to have a number of delightful parks and reserves to enjoy. One of my favourites is Swanport Reserve about 5km south of the CBD. This reserve is right next to the River Murray (in the background of the above photo) and provides a safe lawned area for the children to play, plenty of shady trees for those warmer days and a safe beach for swimming. One section of the beach is reserved for fishing.

Abundant bird life
This reserve is just downstream from the Swanport Bridge which was opened in 1979. It is also opposite the Swanport Wetlands, a haven for water birds. One of the things I like about having picnics at this reserve is for the bird life. Pelicans, cormorants, swamphens, moorhens, swallows, terns, gulls abound, while in the gum trees (eucalypts) of the picnic grounds one can see Peaceful Doves, honeyeaters, Magpies, Magpie Larks, parrots and kingfishers. In nearby bushes I have sometimes been lucky and seen some Superb Blue Wrens, the bright blue of the males shining brilliantly in the Australian sunshine. More often than not I only hear them.

For more about birds check out my birding blog (click here)

River traffic

One of the relaxing aspects of spending a relaxing few hours at this reserve is the passing river traffic. On any given day there are fishing boats, speed boats towing water-skiers, canoes, small yachts,houseboats and large tourist boats, like the one shown in the photo below.

Boat on the River Murray at Swanport Reserve