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9th December 2001
Hi Birdo's.
I've just come back from a visit to the local
shopping centre. On the way there I noticed the bird described below. I have no
idea what it is and would very much appreciate any suggestions by readers.
I managed to travel home, get my camera and take a photo before it
flew off, but I won't be able to post it until the film is
developed(hopefully tomorrow). I have so far eliminated White-browed Scrub-wren,
Western Gerygone and all of the fairy-wrens.
The bird was seen on Tenth Avenue Inglewood,
WA (near Beaufort Street) in a residential garden between 5:45 to 6:30pm on
09/12/2001. The vegetation of the garden consisted of exotic plants, mainly
roses, with lawned area. The bird was the size of a fairy-wren/thornbill, and
was wren-like in appearance. All over colour was dusky brown with darker
streaking. Underparts were paler with buff abdomen and under-tail coverts. Head
was streaked with lighter areas around the eyes. Light yellow-green colour was
visible on the flight feathers, when the bird flicked it's wings. Wings were
held slightly drooped. Tail was brown with cream to off-white rump. The tail was held horizontal with the body when at
rest, however upon alighting it would flick the tail upright. Tail was held
uprightwhen prey or predator was sighted. Flight was very light, "flittering"
and the bird appeared nervous when perched, flicking it's wings and tail. It
hopped from branch to branch or when on ground, did not run. The bird was observed watching for prey from a wire-framed archway, that
it was using as a look-out post. It would fly down to the ground and take prey,
sometimes striking the prey against the ground. It also perched on low rocks to
scout for prey. Most prey was taken from the lawn. No calls were
heard.
Unfortuantely I only got the one photo as the bird
flew off when I tried to shoo away the resident cat that had taken a particular
interest and was very close to striking at the bird. Hopefully it will stay in
the area, unharmed. This area has high traffic of pedestrians and cars and I
know of 6 cats that live in that part of the street. Other birds in the area are
Singing and Brown Honeyeaters, Laughing and Spotted Turtle-Doves, Magpie-Lark,
A. Raven and Willie Wagtail. I'll go for a walk tomorrow to see if I can get a
better photo.
Thanks to anyone for there help or ideas and I'll
post the photo as soon as I get it.
Claire Stevenson
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