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Back home again after a stay in hospital I wanted to go birding again
but am restricted as to where I can travel for a while yet , so chose my own
backyard which can be pleasingly productive particularly if you raise your gaze
skywards as all washday birders know. Went to a far corner of the yard where
(weed warriors may wish to leave off here) I've let a clump of Canary Grass
Phalaris minor go to seed in the hope it would attract some
Red-Browed or Double-barred Finches but the ungrateful things never even
sent an RSVP. Nearby, dandelions are allowed to survive, happily the
old-world finches demonstrated a bit more appreciation (opportunism?) and add a
dash of colorful avian multiculturalism to the scene when charms of
European Goldfinches visit the seeding dandies.
Anyhow,as I approached the Canary Grass I was greeted by a bevy of
canaries.(Didn't that grab the flagging attention!) Actually a group of Superb
Fairy Wrens came forth, demonstrating that inimitable lighter-than-air bouncing
mode of motivation they are wont to employ. Don't often see them here
probably due to the cat population. Anyhow, one female had me absolutely
nonplussed. Here was this rotund-looking little brown bird sans tail feathers
(due to altercation with Felix catus?), and my imaginative speculation
entered overdrive until the penny dropped. Also noticed three males in
eclipse and one seemingly in full breeding finery, I understand that some of the
older bulls don't molt into eclipse plumage Why is this so? After birding I
like to read up on what I've seen, even the common species. It's a good excuse
to relax and get lost in bird-bookish peregrinations. This time I noticed that
on the plate facing p.166 of Simpson & Day, Fifth Edition, there's a
picture of a male Superb Fairy Wren captioned "molt", its throat and upper chest
horizontally splotched with black. Perhaps this is a no- brainer but I assume
this particular little stud is either entering or passing out of eclipse. Oddly
enough, I've never noticed this plumage pattern in the field before.
Thus I ended my little re-entry into the world of birding happy that
as a birder I can derive welcome distraction, interest and joy from
minuscule common garden-variety critters. And, no doubt, it's grand therapy
too.
And thank you MSE for the hand-crafted card. Why, that cockatoo looks like
it's about to wing off and pig-out on my almond crop.
Bye.
John Layton
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