Hi Judith,
Your photo is not a Western Gerygone, but to me it looks more like a female Rufous Whistler or possibly a Grey Shrike-thrush. The only other possibility, and I am pretty sure it is not, is a Speckled Warbler but the “jizz” is wrong for that species.
Your description of the bird call sounds suspiciously like a White-throated Treecreeper. It is generally a bird of the denser forests and woodlands but will enter established revegetation sites if the trees are big enough and close to woodland patches. They are generally seen climbing up the trunks of trees looking for insects in the back, especially on the more rough barked Eucalypts, e.g. stringybarks.
Hope this is of some help.
Cheers,
Mark
From: jude hopwood [
Sent: Monday, 2 May 2011 9:24 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] silvereyes and mystery bird
I live northeast of Lake George. Silvereyes pass through for about three days each year, but usually later than this. They arrived May 1, yesterday, with much calling to one another. Much bigger flocks than seen before, but our new plantings are now nine years old and providing far greater protection and food.
Could anyone help me identify a bird I cannot spot no matter how hard I try? Its call is one note repeated at the same volume and speed, neither rising nor falling. Occasionally it may be repeated as many as 20 times but mostly 7 or 8. It can't be a big nor colourful bird as I've come close to it and seen nothing but a rustle of leaves. Usually in eucalypts as opposed to wattles.
Additionally, could anyone confirm the attached photo as a Western Gerygone?
Unfortunately, our pied currawong free status has now been breached by firstly a pair two weeks ago, to now a small flock. All resident birds on the alert, except the unwanted myna.
