Rain brought a lot of insects for birds. A large number of Striated Pardalote substriatus along the Murray, 10cm long of tiny birds with loud calls. It forages in foliage taking insects, especially leaps and other tiny creatures in the leaves.
Then you hear this unique call of Restless Flycatchers, white and satin black bird flying among the deep forest catching spiders, insects. They are heard everywhere we go this year. It must be a good year for Flycatchers in wet winter.
Then you hear this unique call of Restless Flycatchers, white and satin black bird flying among the deep forest catching spiders, insects. They are heard everywhere we go this year. It must be a good year for Flycatchers in wet winter.
Bushfire has been on front page of news paper since the summer came. Hot weather and animal welfare draws attention with lost of human lives in the bushfire. Unusual sightings are often published on facebook and ebird website. Crimson Chat and Yellow Chat led the trend in Oct being seen in hundreds on Aird Road. Australian Pratincole appears in Patho area accompanied by Banded Lapwing on bare earth with a lot of cow dungs to provide lookouts for these birds. Nearby farm dam became the vital water source to birds in this hot and dry summer. Over 10 Australian Pratincoles were counted on the ground nearby dam. Later a group of 70-80 Australian Pratincoles flew over our heads. The birds on the ground joined the group for a short while before they returned back to their own spot. An estimate 30 Banded Lapwing came to the dam for drinks when we visited the area on first Saturday of 2020 in 41 degree weather.
People say if there is a long hot summer, it will be followed by a cold winter. Cold in deed accompanied by lots of overcast days and wet season this winter. Here it is, the first sunny weekend in August, we are out and about. Trillers in a group of 10 in the newly ploughed paddock busying eating caterpillars. Interestingly Red-rumped Parrots were in the same land searching for different things, seeds. So did Crested Pigeons.
A very long hot summer is over. Rain and water have become expensive. Water rights became a precious commodity. A lot of wetland and lakes are dry. Thanks to people who made their properties available as land for wildlife, set up bird box and provided water & habitat for animal to live. The March outing at Mt Black is a successful story for increased population of Australian Owlet Nightjar around the property. Total of 50 species were recorded on the day. It is impressive numbers comparing to total sighting of 55 for the month by the property owner. There were 5 species,Grey Fantail, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Mistletoebird etc added onto the list. Raptor was missing from the list except Brown Falcon. Gilbert's Whistler was seen last year but not on the day. Keen birdwatchers were delighted to see Southern Whiteface near the water in front of house drinking and bathing.
Humid, shower or two, 29 Celsius, an overcast day it was before the Melbourne Cup day. Rains, the country needs a lot of rains. The reserve and creek were dry. The land cracks with a big gap. Murray River became more significant for animal lives. Spring is here. Birds are producing. Dollarbird perched on top of dead tree in the dry lagoon which used to have water in it all year round. A family of three, Little Raven,are foraging along the Horseshoe bend lagoon near the bridge. Then red-bellied black snake comes into sight. At least two meters long it was among fallen tree branches.
The AFL Grand Final was an exciting day for West Coast Eagle. It was a public holiday. Annual Terrick Terrick National Park campout was again attracting people who love and study natures. The night presentation on Plains Wanderer was practical, informative, knowledgable. The Plains Wanderers are rare, vulnerable. To see one in wild becomes a desire. A Southern Boobook was determined not to move when a group of birders spotted it. A Tree Goanna was traced to its tree hole.The sun was warm. A Bearded Dragon wouldn't care less people were around it.
The annual Superb Parrot survey has been run into its 26th year in Picola. Everyone who lives in Picola is proud of having this endangered species in their territory. The local residents have been planting native vegetations over 20 years to keep Superb Parrot as part of their community. As our first participation since settled in the district, it has been proving our involvement is worthwhile. Of course as new volunteers we were assigned to an area we might see the birds. Due to no strange to the bird, we, with Keith S as an navigator, managed to see three Superb Parrots, two males and one female near one of house, which has two barking dogs on the chain. The birds seemed doesn't mind at all. Obviously they are used to the area where has their favoured vegetations. When driving along the track, we spotted four birds flying from front of us and made continued fly towards the house behind us. I have observed the interesting eating behaviour of the bird when I was editing my photos. As you can see the photo below, the parrot was actually gathering the seeds from this native seedpod and managed to stuck them on its lower bill. As it is breading season in November, the female is incubating the eggs for 20-21 days. The male visits the nest several times each dat to feed the female. I gather this male Superb Parrot is collecting food to feed female on the nest.
Incredible details of the Moon captured in my camera just a few minutes before sunset in the middle of winter. The warmth of the Sun starts shine on earth. It has been a beautiful day at the second last day of July, 2017.
The calls of Pied Currawong can be heard along Murray River when the winter starts to settle in. There are about thirty of them hanging around the sides of Campaspe River in the winter months. Riberry from Lilly Pilly tree is one of their food sources. They become quiet after securing their territories despite getting attacked from Magpies, Noisy Miners. You can see them flying from tree to trees searching for food. They are such graceful birds, big but gentle.
The heavy fog on the way to Boort did not lift until the afternoon. The twelve of us came to July Outing despite the overcast weather and cold winter sat upon us. Seventy-four bird species we spotted cheered everyone who came to the outing. It was nice to see a family of five Nankeen Night-Heron including 3 juveniles. a lot ducks in the lakes we visited. Grey Teals were in their thousands, about 500 Pelicans in various lakes, fifty Australian Shelducks, some Pink-eared duck, Australian shovelers, Pacific Black Ducks, Black Swans, hundreds of Eurasian Coot, Little Black Cormorants, Black Cormorants, Little Pied Cormorants, Darters, Royal Spoonbills, Yellow Spoonbills, Great Egrets, Purple Swamphens, Dusky Moorhens, etc. Raptors, of course, would not miss their opportunities to catch some of their preys. A White-bellied Sea-Eagle, a Wedge-tailed Eagle, a Swamp Harrier, twenty Whistling Kites, 10 Black Kites were among them.
The second survey on Lake Cooper, Green Lake and Racecourse Lake at Corop turned out a quite nice day. Three Black-tailed Godwits on the lake was highlight of the day. Red-Kneed Dotterel numbers were down. We counted around 240 comparing to 700+ back in March. A young Swamp Harrier above puzzled us for a while due to redish brown chest, naked face patch, bright yellow feet. It was beautiful. The bird count will be posted onto eBird.
A perfect example of "if I can't see you, you can't see me". It is how animal thinks I think. It is a Yellow Footed Antechinus. The photo was taken at No 7 Reservoir Kangaroo Flat near Bendigo on 8 April 2017
This photo of Eastern Great Egret was taken at Crusoe Reservoir on 8 April 2017. It is common near the water. I posted it for its perfect flying feathers.
Australia has a long wet winter in 2016 - our first winter back in Victoria.Murray River has reached its full capacity. Now every rivers and its branches are full. Some areas were flooded. The cold and wet season remained into October. Despite the wet weather, plenty of new life appears everywhere...
Gunbower Island - Autumn
"In North-Central Victoria lies a flood plain located between the banks of the Murray River and Gunbower Creek. This 26,400ha flood plain is Gunbower Island, internationally recognised as a wetland of significance for its importance to birdlife, native mammals and amphibians. Located within its confines is the 17,622 ha Gunbower State Forest. The Department of Sustainability and Environment through its Public Land Division, manages State Forests to conserve plant and animal life, and also provide the community with timber, water and recreational opportunities." "These wetlands are a haven for rare species such as the Broad-Shelled Tortoise and the Barking Marsh Frog. The White-Bellied Sea-Eagle, a large bird of prey, can also be found in these wetlands. The sea eagle mates for life and
will only take another partner upon the death of its mate. They will often use the same nest for several years, usually near water. The sanctuary of the Gunbower State Forest offers a secure habitat for some of the 100 breeding pairs remaining in Victoria. When a nest is found, the department’s foresters record its location and ensure it is protected." - extracted from http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/101967/FS0086_-_Gunbower_Forest_Walks_and_Drives.pdf
will only take another partner upon the death of its mate. They will often use the same nest for several years, usually near water. The sanctuary of the Gunbower State Forest offers a secure habitat for some of the 100 breeding pairs remaining in Victoria. When a nest is found, the department’s foresters record its location and ensure it is protected." - extracted from http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/101967/FS0086_-_Gunbower_Forest_Walks_and_Drives.pdf
On 29-31 May 2013, Between the Annual Gala Ball at Barham, we were able to fit a bird watching trip to Gunbower Island. It was raining most of time except Friday. It did not rain but was over clouded on the day. Occasionally sunlight came out for a short while. Despite the weather conditions, we were happy to spot a long-necked turtle digging at the bank of the Murray River. Was she laying eggs? In early winter? Maybe not. We were happy to see it regardless.
Well, a Male Gilbert's Whistler suddenly appeared and was caught on my camera. Yes I have seen them in different places before but never successfully capture them on my camera. It was not the best but it was clear enough to post on the site. I love them.
The rest of birds we saw on the day were: Emu, Pacific Black Ducks, Australasian Grebes, Common Bronzewing, Crested Pigeon, Australasian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican,White-necked Heron, White-faced Heron, Eastern Great Egret, Australian White Ibis, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Whistling Kites, Spotted Harrier, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Purple Swamphen, Buff-banded Rail, Black-tailed Native-hen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Gilbert's Whistler, Brown Treecreeper, Red-rumped parrot, and White-throated Treecreeper etc.
Well, a Male Gilbert's Whistler suddenly appeared and was caught on my camera. Yes I have seen them in different places before but never successfully capture them on my camera. It was not the best but it was clear enough to post on the site. I love them.
The rest of birds we saw on the day were: Emu, Pacific Black Ducks, Australasian Grebes, Common Bronzewing, Crested Pigeon, Australasian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican,White-necked Heron, White-faced Heron, Eastern Great Egret, Australian White Ibis, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Whistling Kites, Spotted Harrier, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Purple Swamphen, Buff-banded Rail, Black-tailed Native-hen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Gilbert's Whistler, Brown Treecreeper, Red-rumped parrot, and White-throated Treecreeper etc.
Most of the photos below were shot with 400mm lens and Canon EOS 7D at f/5.6 ISO 400-800, AV priority. For action, TV Priority was used. Sacred Kingfisher, Australian Reed-Warbler, Superb Fairy-wren and some water birds were spotted but not on camera. I were pleased with what I saw for a change after two days dance at Moama.