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I conducted blitz surveys at Newline Quarry
Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Great birding.. Definitely the
battleground of the hollow nesters.
This morning (Sunday), I had long looks at a male
Cicadabird foraging in adjacent Blakelys Redgums (?) on the southern boundary of
the main paddock. Although I have not seen a Cicadabird before - at least
not close enough to identify, I have it on good authority that I have not made a
mistake because HANZAB says that "adult males [are]
unmistakable". The only characters that don't quite fit the various
descriptions and pictures I have are (1) it is a bulkier bird than I thought
(although with endemic obesity, it might be a lifestyle thing) and (2) the
ventral plumage was distinctly darker than the dorsal - almost charcoal grey
with a bluish tinge. The black on the face was also more spread than the
simple "mask" depicted in some books.
The other great observation (where is Geoffery Dabb
when you want him?) was a prolonged (ten minutes or more) aerial battle between
four Dollarbirds, making a hell of a row, and a collection of Psitticaforms -
mainly Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and rosellas of both species. The aerial
dogfights (??) would have challenged the Red Baron. I scored the cockies
and rosellas a clear winner.
Blitzing is good fun,
David Rosalky
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