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Hi everyone
Hope you all enjoyed Australia Day. I celebrated by
paying a visit to Roebuck Plains. There was a nice cooling breeze blowing across
the now very green plains and Barn Swallows are providing a marvellous display
of high speed acrobatic flight, both at higher and very low (ankle height at
times) altitudes over the plain and between the taller grass tussocks. I
can't imagine how their brains and reflexes can deal with such acrobatic and
high speed flight.
Of late, however, I feel that they are being
outshone by other aerial acrobats, such as the Red-backed Fairy-wrens.
These tiny wrens are still engaged in courtship and the males are
putting on fine displays of "sea-horse" flight. Their beautifully ruffled,
bright red mantle feathers almost overwhelm the remainder of their bodies and,
with their head feathers raised high, they take on an almost surreal
appearance. However, it's when they perform their "sea-horse" flight that they
become trully eye-rivetting. These tiniest of the wrens hover about or move
forward slowly with body erect, tail pointing to the ground and their heads
high, taking on the appearance of a sea-horse as they attempt to show off their
plumage to maximum effect.
Now and again, button quail demonstrate their high
speed departure abilities as they flush from near my feet. One has to be very
careful about where to place one's feet so as not to trample any nests at the
moment. I follow the cattle trails through the grassy plains and keep an eye out
for the quail in the hope that I can ID them before they disappear. So far, I
wouldn't be brave enough to define all the species, except for two Red-backed
Button-Quail. As for the rest. . . who knows?
Spotted Harriers were performing their usual low
level "grass-disturbing" flight in several patches across the plains. Their
almost hovering flight is impressive enough, but when viewed close-up
through a scope, the beauty of these raptors is revealed and one catches the
breath.
The best flyer award for the day has to go to the
Golden-headed Cisticolas. The males are in a courtship frenzy on the plains and
everywhere you turn several have taken to the air, making their
"cork-turning-in-a-bottle" squeeking call as they rise higher and higher. Some
float up gently and others in a rapid series of loops and spirals. After
hovering into the wind and calling for some time they descend extremely rapidly
back to the clumps of tall grass on the plains below with another series of
loops, spirals and finally, a stalled, almost comical drop into the grass.
This display is played out all across the massive plains as far as the eye can
see and the show completely steals my heart. However, my "Romeo" award for
the day goes to one charming little cisticola who climbed well over 20
metres into the air before spiralling back down: A splendid display of fitness.
Now if I was a female cisticola, he'd be my man!
And next, the Yellow Chats!
Ricki
Broome Bird Observatory WA
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