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A less glamorous bird is hard to imagine,
actually. Not that they are ugly, just really "plain".
I recall the very first time my father
caught one (at Uriarra Crossing), we found it in a Mist Net, and had no idea of
what we had caught. Honeyeater? No. Female Whistler? No - beak and head not
right. No distinguishing markings at all. Very odd.
We decided to band it anyway, and let it go,
at which point it flew to the river, sat in a bush and called. Recognition
was immediate, and we fell around laughing, for we realised that we had
never really had a close look at this common bird, which we identify so readily
by its call.
So, its "plainness" is fixed in my memory
for ever.
Lovely photo of its tongue, Geoffrey. One
seldom sees that, except with a bird in the hand. But if any bird is going to
give you that view it would be this species.
Perhaps it should be the "Garrulous Reed
Warbler"?
Cheers
Love to Grow: Grow to
Love
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