Howdy,
Yesterday afternoon a male Painted Button-Quail (bird 113 for the
home list) was discovered by Mad wandering across the backyard across
to the mulched area under the citrus trees / elm tree where it
commenced 'plateletting' in the leaf mulch. Over the years we've seen
the odd platelette across the road in the bush (Blue Mtns escarpment)
& only one bird crossing the road at the bottom of the hill. Didn't
think of one turning up in the backyard. We've expanded the mulched
area & put in a small pond (needs attention) & have had Bassian
Thrush (& sadly Common Blackbirds), Eastern Whipbird & Lyrebirds
feeding there.
This reminds me of an amusing episode in that patch of the back yard.
I went down to weed the bottom terrace which backs onto a 'wet' gully
& noticed weeds on the upper terrace. I though I'd better clear them
1st to stop them seeding & spreading to the bush & headed up &
started weeding when I noticed a rake had been left under the leaves.
Going over to get the rake I had the feeling I was being watched.
Very close to me & where I had stepped over was a Red-bellied Black
Snake half submerged in the leaf litter with it's head 'coiled'
back. I thought it odd that it didn't scoot away. I bolted up to the
house & called the children down as an educational / safety awareness
exercise ( the sand pit & cubby house is nearby) to see if they could
spot the snake. Ryley & Aly had no probs finding it but Mad came &
said he couldn't find the snake but could see the Lyrebird & sure
enough there was a Lyrebird it in the branches of the Golden Elm tree
overhead (we called WIRES who found the snake to be injured & kindly
informed us that if you want to have a poisonous snake in your
backyard the RBB was the one to have as it wasn't aggressive &
generally meant Browns & Tigers weren't likely to be about).
I suppose if you sit in a spot long enough something interesting will
turn up.
Matt
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