I had just tracked down a Tooth-billed Bowerbird's ginger-decorated
space and was walking back along the road to the borrow-pit when I
heard a fruit-dove calling. It sounded like the species I'd been
keeping an eye out (without joy) for a very long time. It also sounded
reasonably close, so I "answered" it and moved to a position where I
thought I might be able to find it in the canopy.
I managed to get a bead on the bird, muttering "Maroon head, scarlet
shoulders, white chest ... YOU BEAUTY". Truly a superb moment when you
finally get to see one of those elusive beggars in the field.
I was up on Mt Lewis looking for Blue-faced Parrot-finch along the
margins of the road [as you do]. Keith Fisher said to look out for
Red-browed Firetails - I saw a few groups of them, but no BFP.
A long time ago, there were tin-miners scratching around on the
mountain - the rainforest is full of tracks going in all directions,
and there are more pink ribbons leading into the forest than you can
poke a stick at. My cousin wanted to check out the Ho Chi Minh trail,
so we had a look at the old dam [a spot where I saw a Golden Bowerbird
in 2003] and then down the main track to the ecotone where we found an
old Bunya Pine.
We saw a range of birds on the mountain, including Spotted Catbirds,
Tooth-billed Bowerbirds, Chowchillas, Bower's Shrike-thrushes, Bridled
Honeyeaters, Yellow-throated Scrub-wrens, Eastern Whipbirds, Mountain
Thornbills, Grey Fantails and Grey-headed Robins etc.
While the search for the BFP had again been unsuccessful, it was nice
listening to the varied calls of the bowerbirds and shrike-thrushes.
Even better, I finally got so see the fruit-dove that is heard much
more frequently than seen.
A classic case of finding a new bird but not the one I was particularly
looking for.
Regards, Laurie.
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