Lawrie,
I also witnessed a mixed flock of Flame (mostly), Scarlett (some) and
Yellow-rumped Thornbills feeding in a farm paddock in Tassie recently
(probably 15-30 birds total).
Many of the robins were fully coloured males which were using fence posts as
vantage points to dart down on to prey on the ground - an impressive sight!
Cheers,
Greg
From: Lawrie Conole <>
To: Birding Aus <>
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Flame Robins grouping &/or moving?
Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 10:04:27 +1000
I spent yesterday investigating a site in the Quarry Hills near Wollert on
the very northern fringe of Melbourne towards Whittlesea. I was last there
in January 2003, and reported on some interesting records then (Speckled
Warbler, Barking Owl, etc.).
Yesterday the main point of interest for me was a large group of Flame
Robins (circa 30 birds; mostly brown birds, but including 2 fully & 1
partially coloured males) feeding on the ground adjacent to woodland in a
mixed flock with White-fronted Chats (5), European Greenfinches (2),
Yellow-rumped Thornbills (10), House Sparrows (2) and a Willie Wagtail. I
couldn't see what they were eating, but there appeared to be an abundance
of it! Some kind of invertebrate hatching after the copious rain and then
spring-like sunshine perhaps???
I photographed the site for work purposes, and later looking at the image I
was struck by the relatively clear line of sight across the plain to the
real hills around Kinglake and Healesville. I'm speculating that this
large group of Flame Robins might have been passing through, fuelling up,
on its way back to the hills to breed. An impressive sight in any case
....
--
=================================
Lawrie Conole
Senior Ecologist
Ornithology & Terrestrial Ecology
Ecology Australia Pty. Ltd.
Flora and Fauna Consultants
88B Station Street
FAIRFIELD VIC 3078 Australia
E-mail:
Internet: http://www.ecologyaustralia.com.au/
Ph: (03) 9489 4191; Mob: (0419) 588 993
Fax: (03) 9481 7679
ABN 83 006 757 142
NOTE: This message may contain privileged and/or confidential information
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