Today I went to the site described below. I watched a White–throated Treecreeper in the same tree. From being about 3 metres up the tree it fluttered down towards the ground and seemingly disappeared. I walked
around and saw it nearly a metre down the wombat’s hole, well below the entrance. It fairly promptly flew out and continued walking up the same tree. I don’t know why, it could of course had dropped down to pursue an insect that had dropped down from being
disturbed. If so I did not see that was what happened.
Also worth mentioning there were clearly some Crescent Honeyeaters close to the river at
Pine Island north.
Philip
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Friday, 13 November 2015 3:51 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Update on Pine Island nests
For what it is worth, as at mid day today, the Leaden Flycatchers are still attending the nest (no doubt incubating). The site is easy to find and photograph, only a few metres from the car park (though don’t walk backwards and fall in
the wombat hole)..... A few little notes, they appear to change over incubating shifts every about 10 to 20 minutes. That is on the basis that on all the times I have been there, it has been of close to that duration, and I have always seen them change over
either once or twice. Accompanied by a lot of calling either from the bird whilst sitting or the replacer approaching. I recall many years ago watching Satin Flycatchers at their nest and was intrigued how they would have a rapid change over, one would arrive
as the other departed, looking almost as though it was one bird in one movement. The Leaden Flycatchers don’t do that. Although that is only comparing two pairs. Also whilst one is on the nest, the other has not been more than about 20 or 30 metres distant,
just foraging or calling in the adjacent trees or fussing over other birds.
The Noisy Friarbird nest and Satin Bowerbird nest in neighbouring trees are still there and presumably still occupied, although too high to see what is going on.
Philip
