Probably only another 8 weeks of summer to
go!
This summer has been particularly hot, and for
weeks on end.However, I remarked to someone a while ago, that if you could put
up with the heat, now would be the time to come out here to see the
birds.
So many congregate around the homestead surrounds
because of the sprinklers which are on the gardens most of the time, and on very
hot days you don't need to use binoculars as you can get within a few yards of
lots of birds.One day Ian counted approx. 40 species in 15 mins. all within 20
metres of the house.
While the Warrego River was flooding in December we
went down to check our creek, as the Warrego floods into it in a big flood, we
knew that the water was just coming down as we saw 8 Wedge-tailed Eagles
cruising at a very low height on the look-out for the animals getting out
of the way of the water.
We've had a lot of Raptors about in the last few
months. Last Saturday we saw a Little Eagle on the way back from our
son's place just S.W. of Cunnamulla. Ian sees Nankeen Kestrels nearly
every day.
The Black-breasted Buzzard,Peregrine
Falcon,Australian Hobby and Brown Falcon are seen on a regular
basis.He's seen the Grey Falcon a few times in the last couple of
months and I've sighted the Letter-winged Kite on several
occasions.Mind you, we don't go out to specifically look for them.
There are lots of Variegated and Splendid
Fairy-wrens around the house and cottage and the Crimson-wing
Parrots are increasing in numbers daily. They seem to gradually increase in
numbers from December on and then start to decline in numbers about May. I have
a photograph[somewhere] of approx.200 of them having a drink at dusk just
outside the house and I think that was in December..
There were a few birds here making use of the
sprinklers on a couple of the very hot days which Ian couldn't identify, even
armed with P.and K., how we wished for an expert close by, he seems to think
that they were juveniles of some species.
The Mallee Ringnecks are making lots of
noise outside this window in their favourite gum tree at the
moment.
Every morning and afternoon a Red-backed
Kingfisher comes and sits on a post right near the pool before flying
off in the same direction every time, he also comes from the same direction
every day.
We have just planted about 30 acres of forage
sorghum and there are 4 Banded Lapwings who don't appear to leave that
little cultivation area.
The Rainbow Bee-eaters are still
here,which is quite late for them. They also arrived a bit earlier than
usual.Their young are just starting to fly.
The last of the Dollarbirds left the
Warrego River here at Cunnamulla last week.
We have 6 varieties of Woodswallows around
the homestead at the moment.The White-breasted are on the power lines
every afternoon when I go over to move hoses at the cottage and mainly
don't fly away. Aren't they neat looking little birds?
I haven't been down to the creek since the flood,
but there would be a wealth of our water birds there, I'm sure.I know there are
Yellow-belly in the creek, we had one for dinner last night along with a Cray-
fish entree[there are some compensations for living out here!]
Cheers,
Julie.
Julie McLaren. "Bowra",
Cunnamulla,Qld.4490
PH. O746551238 FAX
0746552368
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