-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Carol
Probets
Sent: Friday, 23 December 2005 8:00 AM
To:
Subject: Summer solstice in the Capertee Valley
Hi all,
Two Plum-headed Finches were the latest addition to my property list
yesterday morning. When I saw them sitting on the fence I was so
excited that I momentarily forgot that I had just whacked my finger
with a sledgehammer. This was done accidentally of course, as I was
bashing in star posts to protect my young trees while the driveway
was being slashed. Good recent rain has seen the grass and thistles
rocket skywards, engulfing everything else, and suddenly there are
finches, doves, pigeons and Red-rumped Parrots everywhere. Somewhere
among all that grass are my fledgeling ironbarks and they are doing
very well.
The Plum-heads flew off across my front paddock and the excrutiating
pain in my finger returned.
The mature trees dotted around the paddock were full of small birds -
Zebra Finches, Southern Whitefaces and Yellow-rumped Thornbills -
while the metallic calls of Brown Songlarks filled the air as several
males performed their song-flights. The Rufous Songlarks has
obviously had a successful season with numerous juveniles perched on
fences and branches looking deceptively like more Brown Songlarks.
On a walk partway up the more rocky and wooded hill up the back I
found Turquoise Parrots, Cicadabird and Painted Button-quail, among
other things.
A sudden infestation of lerps a few weeks ago attracted large numbers
of honeyeaters but this was short-lived. It appears to have left a
legacy of increased Noisy Miners, their territory greatly expanded
from the small patch they used to inhabit. Now they dominate the
birdbath in front of the cabin, having driven away all the other
honeyeaters such as Fuscous, White-plumed, Black-chinned,
Yellow-tufted and Striped. I hope this imbalance is temporary.
The miners do have their uses though. Not long after I arrived on
Wednesday afternoon they had alerted me to an indignant Tawny
Frogmouth. Who else but Noisy Miners would rudely awaken a frogmouth
in the afternoon and then shout about it? And who else but a birder
would rush through a burr-laden field with sandals only half on in
response to a flurry of alarm calls?
Now at last I have a new cabin with a verandah from which to enjoy
the birds and the view. At night I tiptoe around so as not to disturb
the Welcome Swallow who sleeps under the verandah awning, while an
army of flying insects swarm around the oil lantern, three species of
gecko emerge from their hiding places, and an Owlet-nightjar calls
nearby.
Cheers
Carol
Carol Probets
Blue Mountains/Capertee Valley, NSW
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