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Thanks to all who have told me they have seen a Rufous Fantail
in the Wattle Flat area of Royal National Park. It would seem that one is around
and that is good but still of concern to me. The site used to be a regular
breeding location. One does not seem to be the odds I like for successful
breeding.
Today I did see two Rufous Fantails together! But not there. I
was at the Sea Acres Nature Reserve at Port Macquarie. It was hard birding. The
boardwalk does not open till 9.00am in in the heat the birds were very quiet and
still quite early in the morning. Even the White Headed Pigeons were sitting in
stillness.
Three incidents of note to report. We observed a Green Catbird
take out a large praying mantis and virtually wrestle it to the ground before it
began to devour its rather impressive meal. We also observed two Black Faced
Monarchs mob a small Lace Monitor as it climbed up and into a liana thicket. The
birds were calling and diving, fluttering around its head. I did not see the
final result. At that point a Sacred Kingfisher was disturbed from the same
location and came hurtling out. The goanna disappeared into the lianas. And
third, I spotted on the floor of the rainforest what at first look
appeared to be a canary. It hopped after a male Yellow Throated Scrub Wren and
took food from the Scrub Wren. Closer looks at the bird and there were all the
markings of a Scrub Wren but pale. I presume this was albinism in operation.
This bird was most visible and I can but wonder how long it will survive there
on the rainforest floor.
Brian Everingham
PO Box 269
Engadine
NSW
2233
Australia
+61 2 95209341
0419260236
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