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Acrobatic feeders and Romeos over Roebuck Plains

To: "Birding Aus" <>
Subject: Acrobatic feeders and Romeos over Roebuck Plains
From: "Ricki Coughlan" <>
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2005 18:35:51 +1100
Hi everyone
 
Hope you all enjoyed Australia Day. I celebrated by paying a visit to Roebuck Plains. There was a nice cooling breeze blowing across the now very green plains and Barn Swallows are providing a marvellous display of high speed acrobatic flight, both at higher and very low (ankle height at times) altitudes over the plain and between the taller grass tussocks. I can't imagine how their brains and reflexes can deal with such acrobatic and high speed flight.
 
Of late, however, I feel that they are being outshone by other aerial acrobats, such as the Red-backed Fairy-wrens. These tiny wrens are still engaged in courtship and the males are putting on fine displays of "sea-horse" flight. Their beautifully ruffled, bright red mantle feathers almost overwhelm the remainder of their bodies and, with their head feathers raised high, they take on an almost surreal appearance. However, it's when they perform their "sea-horse" flight that they become trully eye-rivetting. These tiniest of the wrens hover about or move forward slowly with body erect, tail pointing to the ground and their heads high, taking on the appearance of a sea-horse as they attempt to show off their plumage to maximum effect.
 
Now and again, button quail demonstrate their high speed departure abilities as they flush from near my feet. One has to be very careful about where to place one's feet so as not to trample any nests at the moment. I follow the cattle trails through the grassy plains and keep an eye out for the quail in the hope that I can ID them before they disappear. So far, I wouldn't be brave enough to define all the species, except for two Red-backed Button-Quail. As for the rest. . . who knows?
 
Spotted Harriers were performing their usual low level "grass-disturbing" flight in several patches across the plains. Their almost hovering flight is impressive enough, but when viewed close-up through a scope, the beauty of these raptors is revealed and one catches the breath.
 
The best flyer award for the day has to go to the Golden-headed Cisticolas. The males are in a courtship frenzy on the plains and everywhere you turn several have taken to the air, making their "cork-turning-in-a-bottle" squeeking call as they rise higher and higher. Some float up gently and others in a rapid series of loops and spirals. After hovering into the wind and calling for some time they descend extremely rapidly back to the clumps of tall grass on the plains below with another series of loops, spirals and finally, a stalled, almost comical drop into the grass. This display is played out all across the massive plains as far as the eye can see and the show completely steals my heart. However, my "Romeo" award for the day goes to one charming little cisticola who climbed well over 20 metres into the air before spiralling back down: A splendid display of fitness. Now if I was a female cisticola, he'd be my man!
 
And next, the Yellow Chats!
 
 
Ricki
Broome Bird Observatory WA
 
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