Frog question + Azure kingfisher

["Geoffrey Dabb" <>]

Last year Beth (and later Steve) identified my ‘glok’ as a Striped Marsh-frog -  in a shallow water feature in the back yard.  At the same time the next-door neighbour also had one, duetting.  Curiously we have had the same call again this year and I wonder if it could be the same chap still there all year.  The calling seems to be prompted by temperature rather than rain.  We have even speculated that it might be stimulated by the glok, glok, glok of the Australian Open.  I have once had a koel call in response to a koel at Coolum during the golf.  Sealed houses with air-conditioning miss all this kind of fun.

 

From: Beth Mantle [
Sent: Wednesday, 17 February 2010 10:26 PM
To: Paul T.
Cc:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Frog question + Azure kingfisher

 

Hi Paul,

 

The frog is probably a Brown-striped frog (NSW lingo) or Striped Marsh-frog (Qld lingo) - Limnodynastes peronii.  Here is a recording of the call and other species information: http://frogs.org.au/frogs/species/Limnodynastes/peroni/

 

Cheers,

Beth

 

Beth Mantle
H: 02 6287 7860

M: 0407 174 427

E: 

 

On 17/02/2010, at 10:13 PM, Paul T. wrote:

Howdy All,

Off topic I know, but in the past there has been some frog knowledge exhibited here on the list.... tonight we have a new frog apparently in one of our back ponds.  It is a call unlike any I have heard before, just a single "tok" or "kuk" type sound.  There is never a repetitive sound, just the single call each time.  It is not a "bonk" (before anyone suggests the eastern banjo frog), and it is one I don't recall ever hearing about the place before. Any ideas anyone?

Also of note ... this morning we had a visit from what I think is an Azure Kingfisher.  Not as strong a colouration as in the books, but otherwise about right I think.  It came and had a drink and bath in one of our birdbaths out in front of my office here at home.  Very, very, VERY cool to see one.  I've certainly never seen one here in the 14 years I've been living here.  I do have pictures if anyone is interested, through a dirty window in most cases. <grin>  I mentioned it to a neighbour and they said that sounded like the bird that sat on their washing line for ages yesterday.  I do hope it comes back, as it was so beautiful.

Cheers.

Paul T.
Higgins, ACT


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