Dear all
The noise of birds and frogs from my back deck has increased enormously
over the last few weeks. We've had a lot of rain, the ground is
saturated, the rivers running high and overflowing into the river
flats. All this is wonderful for spring activity. Large flocks of
Cattle Egret (200c) are taking advantage no doubt eating the worms that
have been forced to come to the surface in these areas. Passerines are
busy courting and the grevilleas in my garden are full of Yellow-faced
Honeyeaters and E.Spinebills, every now and then chased out by an
aggressive Red Wattlebird. I saw a flock of 150 White-headed Pigeons in
Gloucester Park two days ago, feeding on the ground under some Camphor
Laurels, and Figbirds and Olive-backed Orioles are busy in my Mulberry
tree, despite the fruits being only 1 to 2 cm long and hard and green -
they twist the fruits off and manipulate them in their bills (maybe a
softening process) before swallowing. They also try out the loquats in
my neighbour's tree but these are still too hard and can't be twisted off.
The young Satin Bowerbird is still trying to repair his bower in my
front garden, but as soon as a few sticks are upright, they get knocked
flat again. Today, he was displaying before the female who has one eye
missing. She was crouched in front of him, watching out of her good eye
while he danced around flipping his wings and holding a leaf in his
beak. Then he jumped on her, she fell over on her back, there was quite
a scuffle and they parted without connection! I have the feeling he
needs to improve his technique!. She hung around for a bit, but he
seemed to have lost interest. Then the rain started again.
Driving to Foster and Taree last Tuesday, saw a lot of gums in flower
and could hear Scarlet Honeyeaters calling - none around Gloucester so
far but we don't seem to have any gums flowering. Spotted Pardalotes
have appeared (usually only Striated from my backyard), Fantail Cuckoos
call incessantly, and the White-throated Gerygones started calling from
26th August, although they usually overwinter in this area, but so far
I've not heard any of the expected migrants.
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
===============================
|
