Ed. Vella's note on the WHITE-THROATED NIGHTJAR at the Tarrant's place
at Samsonvale, an hour north of the city, prompted a quick exit from my
contiuing education course in Brisbane last Saturday afternoon to try for
one of our unticked mainland birds.
The bird flew low over their house three times, on schedule, at dusk,
calling once in response to Tom's call. Larger than the Large-tailed and
Spotted Nightjars, wings more rounded than the Spotted. Great. Thankyou Tom
and Marie.
Bonus points; ORIENTAL CUCKOO north of Samsonvale, Tom's three PAINTED
SNIPE, near the Cemetery, acting like wind-up toys moving with
Chameleon-like deliberation to the waters' edge, then feeding unconcernedly,
thigh-deep alongside a Little Egret and Black-winged Stilt. The female
Snipe was not particularly colourful, but the males were nicely spangled. In
the background, two tortoises on a log in the sun, the larger about a foot
long and with a white/yellow line through its eye, and a grey/green snake
swimming.
While waiting for the Nightjar, FORK-TAILED SWIFTS and WHITE-THROATED
NEEDLETAILS flew around under the overhead cumulus clouds.
Cheers
Michael
Michael Hunter
Mulgoa Valley
50km west of Sydney Harbour Bridge
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