Great Birding Moments #11 Grey Fantail
No Comments »7th September, 2006; Category: Flycatchers
Grey Fantail
A few days ago we visited the St Kilda Mangrove Trail. After the walk we were standing on the balcony of the Interpretive Centre looking for wrens.
Just as I put the camera away a Grey Fantail flew up to us and landed on the rail only a metre away from me. It stayed there for only a few seconds before flitting off into the mangroves.
The photo above was of another bird taken earlier in the year. That individual was also unco-operative, turning its back on me just at the crucial moment.
One day I’ll get a good photo.
Related articles:
How to be a Birder part 19
Hint # 19 Join in Birding Forums on the Internet (eg Birding-Aus)
Birding Forums on the internet are another excellent way to learn about birds. They are also great places to find out about excellent birding spots. The exchange of information can be an excellent way to learn and expand your knowledge. I subscribe to three currently:
- Birding-Aus (birds in Australia)
- Canberra Birds (birds in the Canberra, Australia, region)
- BirdChat (birds in the USA)
I also subscribe to a number of news groups that have regular posting of bird sightings and details of upcoming excursions.
An important aspect of any kind of forums on the internet is the community that is developed over time. The wonderful thing about Birding-Aus, for example, is the willingness of various correspondents to share their knowledge of birds and birding information with others on the list of subscribers. The ability to ask for help is a powerful tool. Help is usually only a mouse-click away.
Forums are only valuable if a range of people contribute to the discussions. Some people prefer never to contribute. I would encourage new members of any forum to read the various postings for a few days or even weeks before making their first post. This is to get a feel for the types of postings relevant to that particular forum.
To learn more hints about how to be a birder click here.
Noisy Miner
Magpies behaving badly
Australian Magpie
It is now spring here in Australia. This usually means frenetic breeding activities in our bird life. Up until now I have noticed very little activity around here, which is unusual.
Reasons for this could be:
- A very cold and dry winter.
- Little food because of the drought conditions.
- I haven’t been looking carefully enough.
Whatever the reason, one very obvious sign of the breeding season is the activities of the Australian Magpie. I guess most Australians have experienced an attack from a male Magpie during breeding season. They can very aggressively defend their nest from all interlopers on their territory. And it can be painful; a peck on the scalp from an aggressive Magpie can draw copious amounts of blood, as my wife and sister-in-law can confirm.
An interesting article called “Magpies Behaving Badly” can be found on the ABC Science Online site here.
I am so pleased that our resident breeding pair of magpies do not swoop us. They let us move about the garden without any harassment. In fact, in 22 years of living here, I have only been swooped once, and that was my own fault. I tried to imitate the call of the male. I must have used a few magpie swear words!
Related articles from my archives:
Portrait of a Birder
No Comments »5th September, 2006; Category: General
Typical Pose of Husband
On our recent visit to the St Kilda Mangrove Boardwalk on Saturday my wife took a sneaky photo of me in action.
The camera bag hanging around my neck proved to be a smart move. Half way through our walk the batteries needed replacement. After a sad experience in Sydney earlier in the year I have tried to always carry fresh, fully charged batteries with me.
Birds of the Mangrove Boardwalk, St Kilda
On Saturday we had some business to attend to in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. After the business was dealt with we travelled the short distance to St Kilda. We had been intending to visit this area for many years and we were pleased to finally get there.
St Kilda Mangrove walk
After lunch in the picnic ground near the excellent Adventure Playground we went on the Mangrove Boardwalk. This boardwalk was established nearly 20 years ago, so our visit was well and truly overdue.
Mangrove boardwalk St Kilda
The Interpretive Centre is an excellent resource for visitors to the area. Leaving the centre one is immediately in the mangrove forest. This area, along with the nearby Barker Inlet tidal flats, is an excellent birding area. Over 200 species have been recorded here but I only managed about 30 in the short time there.
In the mangroves I recorded several Willie Wagtails, several very vocal whistlers, probably Rufous Whistlers, Spotted Turtle Doves, Grey Fantails and one Grey Butcherbird was heard but not seen. Near the visitor centre I saw and heard many Fairy-Wrens, but none of them were coloured males. They were most likely to have been Superb Blue Wrens, though I checked them out carefully because the beautiful White-Winged Wren has been recorded near here, a species more common much further north.
Barker Inlet, St Kilda, near Adelaide
On several occasions the boardwalk gives excellent views over the tidal flats of Barker Inlet. This is where the birding gets interesting. There seemed to be many hundreds of birds feeding or resting in the shallow water. Grey Teal were the most common bird present. Also present were Royal Spoonbills, White Ibis, Australian Pelicans, Great Egrets, Chestnut Breasted Shelducks, White-faced Herons, Black Swans and Sooty Oystercatchers. Far out over the deeper water I think I saw some Whiskered Terns.
This may have been our first visit to this area; it will not be our last.
Related articles:
- My photo gallery – photos of birds, my travels and much more
- St Kilda SA – on my wife’s blog