It's really starting to feel like autumn here in Katoomba, in the
upper Blue Mountains NSW. Beautiful clear days are typical of this
time of year here and it's easy to be enthused about simply being
outdoors.
For the past three mornings there have been small numbers of
White-throated Needletails overhead between 8.30 and 9.15am, the
first time this season I've seen them at Katoomba. Where I live they
seem to be associated with fine weather at least as often as with
storms.
Yesterday and this morning the first flocks of migrating Spotted
Pardalotes started moving through, with occasional groups of about 20
passing over my street and their soft contact calls being heard at
times throughout the day. So far I've had no migrating honeyeaters at
all (not surprising as they usually don't get going until late March,
although sometimes there are a few restless flocks moving around as
early as February). However, the first passing Noisy Friarbird did
make an appearance today.
Also today, I watched a Collared Sparrowhawk soaring amongst a mixed
flock of swallows and martins. This bird provided a good example of
the way tail moult can confuse identification. The outer tail
feathers were regrowing after moult and were shorter than the central
ones, making the tail appear rounded. Closer observation revealed
that the actual corners were indeed square; this combined with the
wing shape betrayed its identity as a sparrowhawk rather than a
goshawk. I've often told beginners to be aware that feather moult can
play tricks with tail shape, but this was the best and clearest
example of this effect that I've ever seen.
cheers
Carol
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