spectacular gathering of corellas (not local!) - and channel-billed cuckoo in Wanniassa yesterday

[sandra henderson <>]

I'm spending the night in Deniliquin, at my favourite motel by the river.  For the past hour there has been a huge flock of long-billed corellas settling down for the night in the adjacent tall eucs.  The person in the unit 2 doors up estimates there are 5,000 in the flock.  Every now and again they all take flight together, calling loudly, circle a few times then back into the trees - I'm guessing some trees have literally hundreds of birds in them - all within 50 metres of my room - the noise is deafening and the sight is amazing. now that its almost completely dark I suppose they'll soon decide its time to sleep.

 

As I was packing the car yesterday morning I heard a channel-billed cuckoo - raced outside but it was already about a hundred metres away, being pursued by the local magpies and noisy miners. Flying in the direction of Farrer (probably passed close to your house Chris Hastir!) and didn't stop - this was about 6.45 am and I did not get a good enough look at it to enable me to tick it off - so it remains on my "still to see" list.  I had listened to calls on the web when others reported CBC recently, so I'm certain that was what I almost got a look at!

 

sandra henderson