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Dear birding-aussers
Am now more or less established in my new place on
the northern edge of Gloucester. After central Sydney, it is a birder's
paradise, with Satin Bowerbirds, King Parrots, Jacky Winters, Dollarbirds and
White-headed Pigeons in the backyard, amongst many others. The temptation to sit
on the back deck all day is very difficult to resist. Even though the drought
here is bad and we are on grade 3 water restrictions, there is still water in
the rivers and lots of birds around. The local wetlands are all dry but a Jabiru
flew over Wednesday last 13th November, and Pelicans, White and Straw-necked
Ibis, Cattle Egret, White-necked and White-faced Herons and various cormorants
are at local dams.
Friday 15 November I paid a visit to Seaham
Wetlands, Hunter Valley. 41 species were seen - most interesting being one
Latham's Snipe, a Nankeen Nightheron sitting in full view on a reed (like
Egyptian papyrus) and hundreds of incubating or about to lay Cattle Egret.
Watched one poor female being gang raped - she was on her nest just below the
top nest and beside another, both occupied by males. The top male jumped onto
her, quickly followed by the second male, and a third came in to join the melee.
They scrabbled and toppled about, until the one on top flew off,
the 2nd returned to his nest and the guy from the top nest carried on
trying to impregnate her, but she raised herself tail up so steeply that he
couldn't hang on and slid over her head. He then returned to his nest and all
was quiet and orderly again.
Also recently returned from a trip to South
Australia = will give highlights of this in following email.
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