After lunching at little cafe today (Friday 8/2) on western
side of National Rose Garden walking across boundary of Aboriginal Tent
Embassy in front of Old Parliament House on way to John Gorton Building when attention
was taken by Red-Rumped Parrot female that flew up into deciduous tree (Acer
Spp?) where it was noisy but too well camouflaged for my companion to see. As
we walked forward under a close-by Cedar saw a Satin Bowerbird (green version
so presumably female and/or juvenile) hopping about in the lower branches which
much easier to see.
In adjacent rose bushes were large number of starlings (more
than a hundred with juveniles). Would make a nice picture, if you like “rats
of the air”...
At cafe, juvenile Raven calling in semi-aark fashion and
juvenile Red Wattlebird squeaking away, both fallen prey to fast food desires of
contemporary Australia. At least the Magpie-Larks disdained the ham they were
offered while the Choughs were amazingly unobservant of where the patrons were disposing
of their high fat diet.
Shaun Bagley
