Cheeky finches and a lifer
2007 New South Wales trip report #19
For the fifth day in a row on our trip the day dawned sunny and clear of clouds. We had breakfast and packed the car. We were just about to leave when we struck up a conversation with a permanent resident of the caravan park in Cowra. She occupied the cabin next to us and had lived there for several years since the death of her husband.
She had established a small native plant garden around her cabin and she was quite knowledgeable about the birds of the area as well. On the front porch she had two pet Cockatiels that had been injured and rescued some years before. We were amused by the Red-browed Finches that would come in, land on the cage of the parrots and then proceed straight through the bars, into the cage and help themselves to a free feed. This was another new species to add to my trip list.
Red-browed Finch
This friendly woman also commented that Double-barred Finches also came into her little garden. I’ve only ever seen this species once before so I was keen to hang around for a while. Alas, they didn’t show up. Nor did the Crested Shrike-tits and the Azure Kingfishers she said were regular visitors. [Postscript: I didn’t see any of these three species on the rest of the trip. You get that. It merely illustrates the sometimes hit and miss aspect of birding.]
But there were several major bonuses to spending about a half hour talking to her. Two Superb Parrots flew overhead. This was a lifer* for me and one of the species I was keen to see on this trip. I also added Noisy Friarbird in the trees in the caravan park. Yet another Brown Songlark was calling nearby and Eastern Rosellas flew through the park. Crested Pigeons came into to drink from the bird bath and White-plumed Honeyeaters were busy feeding in the tree foliage overhead.
Earlier in the morning I was delighted to hear a Peaceful Dove calling nearby. I tired a little with its call as it went on and on while I was trying to get a few extra minutes of sleep.
*Lifer: a bird seen for the first time in my life. (For a better explanation click here).
Sounds like a great spot! Love those finches.
We found many great birding spots on our recent holiday. It almost makes us want to be on the road all the time – so many birds, so little time!
And it has been over thirty years since our last visit to WA – far, far too long. Only last night we talked about planning a 6-8 week trip over there next year.