This afternoon I was on the southern
end of Shaw’s Ridge, Winmalee (80km west of Sydney) watching a male Leaden
Flycatcher moving through a patch of forest that was burnt as a hazard
reduction last spring. The male was being followed by two fledglings begging
for food. On the other side of the track in an unburnt section a male Stain
Flycatcher presumably on early northern migration was calling and wagging its
tail from side to side. It occasionally bowed its head showing off its bluish/black
crown and prominent crest. The whole of the upper body and upper breast, throat
and head was black. The Satin flew across the track and landed close to the
Leaden male which then started to chase the Satin from tree to tree. The
contrast between the two birds in the diffused light was amazing. The Leaden
was dark only on the upper breast, throat, head and back of neck. The rest of
the upper body was grey. There was no crest visible on the Leaden. The Satin
was eventually chased from the area and the Leaden continued hunting insects
for its fledglings.
Neil Kirby
Winmalee (80km west of Sydney)
