Welcome back, John. I’m sure you’ll be back in the saddle in no
time. 2 examples of SFWs in moult g
From: John Layton
[
Sent: Tuesday, 5 August 2008 9:09 PM
To: Canberrabirds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Wrens put bounce into backyard birding
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.
