G’day Martin (and Frances) and
welcome back,
The beastie is indeed a juvenile Hooded
Robin as identified by Alastair. Gee, it’s nice to be typing this out
listening to the clear whistle of the local Australian King-Parrots, the lovely
rolling croak of the numerous Superb Parrots as they are flying past my window
and the glorious……GLORIOUS??????.... begging calls of all the baby
Galahs in the street trees, and even the “chollop!, chollop!!” of the
local Pied Currawongs – pity about those other Flying Rats though. Still,
I am looking forward to my overseas visits this year just to get something a
little different!!
Cheers,
Mark
From: martin
butterfield [
Sent: Sunday, 7 January 2007 7:00
PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Go South
young folks
This morning started fairly early with a twitch to Kingston lookng for the drongo. The
only one in evidence was in a tinnie yelling at her rowing charges on the
river. Back home to run round Mt Taylor where few birds were recognised
due to pain.
Then, at Frances
excellent suggestion, we headed South.
First to the Namadgi Visitors Centre for a stroll to the Cypress lookout.
Very windy so not a lot of action in the higher parts. However there was
an immature grey butcherbird in the bit before the road and in the last paddock
visible from the trail a LOT of action. Highlights here were 2 flame
robins; 3 white winged-trillers and a male hooded robin.
Because we were so close we swung by Tharwa Sandwash to look for
rainbow-bee eaters. We found at least 4 of them. Other highlights
were a collared sparrowhawk scaring the daylights out of the local parrots; a
pair of hooded robins (OK - 1 male and 1 female very close together, I didn't
check if they actually were 'an item') aq flock of about 100 (they didn't stay
still long enough to count accurately but certainly >90) and the attached
mystery bird.
The mystery bird was very close to a silvereye (about 50% larger we
thought) but the bill doesn't look right for a cuckoo. Nearly all my
reference books are in shipping containers in Fushwick or Los Angeles so if someone can ID this beast
I'd appreciate it.
As we were about to leave the Sandwash carpark Frances spotted
an echidna wandering about on the sand where the river should be: I have attached
a piccie of this egg-layer. If any monotreme enthusiasts want a larger
pixcel-count shot please let me know.
Gee, it's good to be back!
