On a warm January night, we were sitting in the lounge room watching TV when a loud bang on the screen door startled us. Initially, we couldn’t see anything outside, so Richard grabbed a torch and shone it into a nearby tree. We saw a bundle of grey feathers and thought it was a solitary … Continue reading Tawny Frogmouth
Tag: Australian birds
Two Kookaburra Chicks
I thought I would start off 2018 with a happy story about Kookie, the kookaburra without tail feathers. Looking back through my posts, I can see mentions of Kookie “the tailless Kookaburra” since late 2012, but we first really began to observe her in 2014. Back then, we didn’t know if she was male or … Continue reading Two Kookaburra Chicks
A Mixed Flock
Last Monday was a good bird day. We often have birds sitting on the jetty railing. Usually, Australian Wood Ducks; often Little Pied Cormorants; rarely, a White Necked Heron. On Monday, all three species were sharing the space. The Little Pied Cormorants have been here every morning since then, diving for food and airing … Continue reading A Mixed Flock
Duckling Story 3
Duckling Story 3 may be a continuation of Duckling Story 2 – it is a bit difficult to interpret these events. An hour or two after the seven ducklings disappeared into the long grass, we saw a female duck with two ducklings grazing in that green spot all of the ducks seem to love. We … Continue reading Duckling Story 3
Duckling Story 2
For some reason I associated the disappearance of the seven ducklings with the first sighting of the Swamp Harrier. When I check back through the photographs, I note that the single duckling disappeared on that date. The seven ducklings made their first appearance a week after that date. As is common, the adult Australian … Continue reading Duckling Story 2
Swamp Harrier (Circus Approximans)
It has been a very long time since I was able to add another bird to the list of species found on our property. Usually this is a cause of celebration. However, I am not sure if I am pleased to have spotted this small raptor. A few days before it appeared, a pair of … Continue reading Swamp Harrier (Circus Approximans)
White-Eared Honeyeater Hunting
Some days, I’m fortunate to come across an unfazed honeyeater just going about its business of collecting food, like this White-Eared Honeyeater. I stood and watched for several minutes before I took photographs. These birds seem very shy, and I was certain if I moved, it would fly off. Obviously searching for insects and other tasty … Continue reading White-Eared Honeyeater Hunting
Eastern Rosella: A closer look
At the unfinished end of the Honeyeater Garden, an Eremophila Maculata plant is about to burst into flower and this Eastern Rosella was very interested in the bush. One of three Eastern’s, presumably a family group, the bird in my photographs happened to be right outside the window, giving me a chance to get … Continue reading Eastern Rosella: A closer look
Wings
With wings raised, it seemed to be a case of “I’m bigger than you!” and “Oh no, you’re not!” on the bird feeder this week. We have seen more Cockatoos than usual. They squabble among themselves for best position, squeezing out the regular feeders, such as this Common Bronzewing Pigeon. The Pigeon decided to … Continue reading Wings
White-Winged Chough – Our 45th Bird Species
I wish I could display a close-up of these birds for the 45th bird species found on our property, but the flock of White-Winged Choughs were very shy. It is the second time I have seen them in two weeks, but I don’t recall seeing or hearing them prior to this. Their voice is very … Continue reading White-Winged Chough – Our 45th Bird Species
Archive Photos: Welcome Swallow
One of the reasons the Welcome Swallow images are in an ‘Archive Photos’ post is that I was hoping to get better photos of them. On a cold August day a pair arrived and began constructing a nest of mud on top of a high beam beneath the tin roof of our deck. As it was … Continue reading Archive Photos: Welcome Swallow
Crimson Rosella Bathing
Crimson Rosella have claimed the water feature we placed in the middle of our new garden. They use it to bathe in each morning, and it has become their source of drinking water as well. The water feature is the centre of a new garden we are planting, just outside the study window. We’ve chosen … Continue reading Crimson Rosella Bathing
Do Magpies Play?
I often see Sulphur Crested Cockatoos at play, but Magpies always seem so serious in searching for food or defending territory. Even when caroling, they seem to scan their surrounds, just checking to make sure everything is as it should be. Lately, I’ve witnessed a young Magpie engaged in a few incidents that could be … Continue reading Do Magpies Play?
Archive Photos: Little Black Cormorant
Featuring the Little Black Cormorant, this post is the first of a series of photos from my archive. We’ve been here for two and a half years now. As I look back through the photographs I’ve taken for the blog, I notice that some of them never made it into a post. Often this was because everything … Continue reading Archive Photos: Little Black Cormorant
Little Pied Cormorant
Over the Summer months, we often have Cormorants fishing in our dam – this week it has been the Little Pied Cormorant. Previously, I’ve photographed a Darter, and a Great Cormorant, but for some reason, the Little Pied Cormorant has not been added to my A – Z Species list even though I am sure I have … Continue reading Little Pied Cormorant
Reflecting on Ducks and Dam Levels
The late afternoon sun produced beautiful reflections on the surface of the dam, today. A group of six Australian Wood Ducks were enjoying the water with one duck of a different species. It looks like a Pacific Black Duck, but the neck is paler than I recall from previous visitors. It is possible it may … Continue reading Reflecting on Ducks and Dam Levels
Eight Ducklings Are Flying Now (5 Photos)
If you have been following the story of the eight ducklings being raised by one male duck, following the disappearance of the female, you’ll be happy to know they are now flying! Two popular flight destinations are the bird feeders and the dam. Their father is still very vigilant. Today I saw him chase away … Continue reading Eight Ducklings Are Flying Now (5 Photos)
A Better View: Grey Fantail
Once again a wild bird found its way into the fernery through some trellis – this time it was a Grey Fantail. You may remember the Grey Fantail nest I found early in November. At the time I wasn’t able to get clear photographs of the bird. The nest was quite a long way … Continue reading A Better View: Grey Fantail
Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
We saw this Sacred Kingfisher emerge from a hollow in a tree in November. Unfortunately the photographs are not close enough to determine if this bird is a male, female or immature, even though they each have slightly different colouring. The bird is sitting in shadow, which means the greens and blues in the feathers are also not … Continue reading Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
Eastern Yellow Robin(Eopsaltria australis)
This Eastern Yellow Robin was one of the many birds enjoying the sunshine yesterday afternoon, following a very welcome rainy week. Many times on my walks I can hear bird calls coming from behind bushy leaves. Rarely do I see many of these tiny ‘tweety’ birds, so I was so happy to photograph this one. … Continue reading Eastern Yellow Robin(Eopsaltria australis)
Duckling Update: Growing Adult Plumage
It is now 25 days since I wrote about the female Australian Wood Duck being taken, and the male duck raising eight ducklings. In that first post I mention we had sighted the ducklings about a week before. So, give or take a few days, the ducklings are now a month old. We still have … Continue reading Duckling Update: Growing Adult Plumage
Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
It has been a long time since I’ve added a new bird to our species list, so I am very happy to share these photographs of a Grey Fantail and the nest the pair of Fantails are building. It is in a position where we can peek inside without disturbing the birds and so far … Continue reading Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
Ducklings: Still Eight, and Growing Fast
Since the loss of the female Australian Wood Duck, we’ve been hoping the male can successfully rear eight ducklings on his own. Ten days later, the eight ducklings are still alive and seem to be growing fast. The family of ducks seem to live just over our boundary fence, and come in to graze or … Continue reading Ducklings: Still Eight, and Growing Fast
Duckling Worries
Last year, the Australian Wood Duck pair first brought their brood of ducklings to our dam on 14 September, so I have been watching and waiting for ducklings since mid-September this year. Finally, this week they appeared. We first sighted nine ducklings being led by two parents at dusk about a week ago. They were on … Continue reading Duckling Worries
Fifteen Acres 