I know everyone is aware by now that there are Regent Honeyeaters by the
hatful at Glen Davis but no one seems to be highlighting just what a
delightful day's birdwatching is to be had there just now besides seeing the
Regents so easily. One interesting aspect of the Regent observable just now
is the interesting way they were calling. It was their soft, warbly call
(best described in Pizzey) interspersed with bill-clapping and lots of
bobbing up and down (this is also described in Pizzey, but not the
bill-clapping). Does anyone know the significance of this?
Yesterday (Monday) was a perfect winter's day in Glen Davis. As much
variety as a spring/summer day but no flies and no wind. Enough strength in
the sun to warm the back while standing there getting eyeful after eyeful of
honeyeaters. The second stretch of bitumen from the beginning seems to be
the spot where there is the most blossom and therefore the most species of
honeyeaters - regent, fuscous, white-plumed, white-naped, yellow-faced,
black-chinned (heard), red wattle-bird. One female turquoise parrot was
seen here, too. Little lorrikeets flew over. A little bit further on,
yellow-tufted was added to the list and noisy friarbird.
The other very rewarding spot was the Glen Alice road which was very
productive adding peregrine falcon devouring something resembling a domestic
pigeon/dove (all white feathers anyway and one leg and a bit of mangled
flesh was all that was left to identify) and a large flock of double-barred
finch. The area behind the church opposite the picnic tables is the best
spot to put down your rug and have lunch while looking at olive-backed
orioles, dusky woodswallows, brown treecreepers, white-bellied cuckoo
shrike, white-browed babbler, jacky winter as well as little lorrikeets and
regent honeyeaters and some others of the honeyeaters listed above.
Other species seen in Glen Davis on Monday: spotted pardalote, striated
pardalote, yellow robin, wonga pigeon, red-rumped parrot, restless
flycatcher, diamond firetail, hooded robin, mistletoe bird, common
bronzewing, wedge-tailed eagle, brown falcon. Altogether a terrific day
and worth the long drive.
Cilla Rose
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