Frank, et al
I followed Chip's Hot tip for the Black-eared Cuckoo this morning and
looked for it between 0915-1115 in the area described.
I didn't find one.....I found two! There were Horsfield's Bronze in the area
also and a very curious Tawny Frogmouth. The 'Cuckoos' all seemed to be
feeding on the same item, a grub which i deduce is the larvae for a small
orange moth which I discovered throughout the River Oaks (Casuarina
Cunninghamiana) there. The Cuckoos were actively feeding in the smaller
River Oaks close to the carpark, not the giant old ones towards the river.
The Black-eared Cuckoos were quite feisty, making photography difficult but i
managed to get a few reasonable shots, some of which are posted to my Flickr
site:
m("N00/?saved","//www.flickr.com/photos/50364443");=1" target="_blank">http:=1
The Black-eareds seemed to have an insatiable appetite for the grubs and
flitted between brranches, flying or hopping no more than one metre at a
time. Sometimes they would invert. They did not seem to be to
troubled by my presence or that of a large mower in the area. No calls
were heard in the two hours there (other than one call from an immature Horsfield's
toward the end). On a few occasions the two Black-eareds would perch
together on a branch and chitter though no 'breeding nor courting-like
behaviour was noted.
Once again, thanks to Chip Scialfa for his diligence and awareness in
percieving this uncommon species to our area. Hopefully a few more
COGsters will have the opportunity to see the Black-eared before they move on
(if indeed they do).
Regards
Stuart Harris
"Everything is relative, everything is valid!"
> Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 09:34:55 +1000
> From:
> To: ;
> Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] black-eared cuckoo at uriarra picnic area
>
> I went out to Uriarra this morning at 5.30am for an hour and a half but,
unfortunately, no sign of your cuckoo. Both Horsfield's and Shining were in the
area, though. I would be interested to see your photos, Chip, if you'd like to
send them to me?
>
> Regards
> Frank Antram
>
> -----Original message-----
> From: Chip
> Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2007 21:06:41 +1000
> To:
> Subject: [canberrabirds] black-eared cuckoo at uriarra picnic area
>
> > I would like to report what I believe to have been a Black-eared
cuckoo
> > at the Uriarra picnic area today. The details are below. Although I
> > didn't have my camera, as I was watching the bird a visiting Japanese
> > professor walked by. I asked if he had a camera with a zoom lens and
he
> > did. Unfortunately, the two images he sent only show the body and
> > undertail feathers. There is no face. They may still be useful but
are
> > rather large images so I won't attach them now.
> >
> > Oh, other birds of note were Brown falcon, Gray currawong, Satin
> > flycatcher (singing).
> >
> > Here are the details.
> >
> > Date: October 9, 2007
> > Time: 12:30 13:15 pm
> > Location: Uriarra picnic area parking lot, near the bathrooms, in the
> > causarinas (sp?) between the parking lot and the river.
> > Lighting: Sun with partial cloud
> > Weather: 20 C, Fine with negligible wind
> >
> > Closest viewing distance: 4 meters at 30 deg gaze angle
> > Average viewing distance: 6 meters at 60 deg gaze angle
> > Optics: B&L 7X36 Elites
> >
> > Details
> >
> > Size: The size of a bronze cuckoo. Comparison species was YFHE in
same
> > tree. This bird was larger and seemed proportionately more chunky
> > Tail: About the length of the body.
> > Primary projection: Considerably shorter than tail.
> > Bill: black, slightly decurved and slender. In fact, almost delicate
and
> > not at all conical.
> > Upper parts: Gray, including crown. Some downy feathers on scapulars.
> > Lower parts: White. No steaking or barring on breast, belly or
flanks.
> > Face: Black eye stripe extending from base of bill to auricular area
and
> > slightly decurved. Rather dirty border with a white supercilium that
was
> > of equal width.
> > Undertail feathers: Edged white with white barring on gray ground
> > Underwing pattern: Not observed.
> >
> > Why not either likely cuckoo-shrike? Size, white supercilium, thin
bill,
> > lack of barring on breast and barring on undertail feathers.
> >
> > Chip Scialfa
> > Calgary and Canberra
> >
> >
> >
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