G’day
Barbara and I are not dead or worse but very much
alive. We have not been able to access our home computer for some time
and I have changed jobs. Because of the economic climate and us both
having jobs here we decided to stay for a while longer. Bought a house on
Katherine so there is room for guests. To all of our friends we have not
forgotten you it is just our electronic communication failed.
Went to the USA for a while back in August and saw lots of
good things including Sandhill Cranes.
Lots has been happening here with the change in seasons as
elsewhere.
Am presently in Kalkaringi (of from little things big things
grow fame) for the week and have tallied 47 species today. Got my last of
the finch type birds for up here today on the way out, the Pictorella Mannikin
so I was excited about that..There are Dollar Birds here but no Koels
etc. Have not heard or seen a Channel-billed Cuckoo up here yet.
Two weeks ago I spent some days in Lajamanu at the top end
of the Tanami Desert. I always try and have look at the sewerage area
there. This time there were Australian Pratincoles which are the first I
have seen up here this year. There were also around 13 Oriental
Plovers. There were some that flew in and landed while I was there.
So this added to the total number. Given that I have only seen
three of these together before, I was excited.
On the way home I came across three Whistling Kites and two
Black-breasted Buzzards at a road kill. This is interesting because it is
the first time a have seen more than one Black-breasted Buzzard in the same
area and certainly the first time I have seen them at a road kill. Got
great views of them too. Usually only see them soaring with their upswept
wings and wobbly flight.
Some dates
27-9-09 first Sacred Kingfisher seen for the season.
It was another two weeks before I heard one call.
20-9-09 first Dollar Bird seen. 13-9-09 first Koel
heard. 23-8-09 first Pallid Cuckoo heard.
8-9-09 Two Black Bitterns observed hunting in the Victoria
River from the bridge at Kalkaringi.
I have also discovered a spot where I can reliably see
Purple-crowned Fairy-wrens on the Victoria River upstream from
Kalkaringi. Just me, the wrens, and 50 billion flies.
The Rainbow Bee-eaters e back in their hundreds, most of the
White-winged Trillers have gone. It was amazing to watch them moult into
their breeding plumage. The Great Bowerbirds are busy courting. The
is one in the yard here who has a collection of white and green objects on the
ground but no bower. See lots of these birds but have yet to see a bower
up here. Any way this one certainly has plenty of inquisitive female
visitors and the occasion spate with what I presume is a rival who wants to
take some of the objects in the collection.
The Little Friarbirds seem to have finished breeding as I no
longer see the young ones with the yellow on the chest and the front of the
folded primaries.
The Pied Imperial-Pigeons are all courting and carrying on
in the trees as are the other dove species.
Any way I am sure you are all enjoying the spring arrivals
in Canberra. I am glad to see that your maximum is finally creeping up
towards our minimum.
For those who think we have forgotten you it is not
true. Please send us an email at this address so we can get back in
touch.
Cheers from the north.
John Cummings
ITEC Employment
Katherine NT
Ph: 08 8971 9600
Email:
