Birds in the heat
Juvenile Striated Pardalote
Over the last three days we have had a severe burst of extremely hot days. On Friday the temperature reached 45C (113F) under our front veranda. It was no better on Saturday when it again reached 45C. Yesterday was a little “cooler” as it only reached 40C (104F). Much cooler weather moved through the state last night and today’s forecast is for 22C (72F). What a contrast!
Juvenile Striated Pardalote
Probably the most frequent visitors to our garden bird baths were the pardalotes, both the Striated (as shown in the photos) and the Spotted. At times there were five or six of them. When I took the hose to replenish the water supply, several of them waited politely not more than a metre away. Pity I didn’t have the camera on me. The above photos were taken a few minutes later. I sat in the shade of the veranda, but the oppressive heat in the wind was too much and I retreated to air-conditioned comfort after about five minutes.
All during the heat there was a constant parade of birds taking advantage of the water I supplied. These include:
- Striated Pardalote
- Spotted Pardalote
- House Sparrow
- Red Wattlebird
- New Holland Honeyeater
- Brown Headed Honeyeater
- White Plumed Honeyeater
- Spiny Cheeked Honeyeater
- Singing Honeyeater
- Crested Pigeon
- Spotted Turtledove
- Australian Magpie
- Australian Magpie Lark
- Willie Wagtail
Despite the oppressive heat we had very few bushfires in South Australia over the last few days, in stark contrast to the situation in Victoria (click here and here).
Great Birding Moments # 26 Red Browed Finch
Red Browed Finch
The Red Browed Finch is one of many beautiful species of finch found in Australia. It is always a delight to find a group of finches feeding on the grass, drinking from a pond or bird bath or visiting one’s garden. This species is found along the east coast through to much of Victoria and south eastern South Australia.
Red Browed Finch
Locally, we do not have them here in Murray Bridge but they are widespread in the nearby Adelaide Hills and part of the Adelaide metropolitan area. My most recent sighting of this delightful species was on a visit to the Cleland Wildlife Park. As I was about to enter one of the walk through aviaries I was entranced by a large group, perhaps as many as 30, Red Brows coming to a feeding tray. There was much excitement, because the feeding tray had just been replenished by the keeper.
On entering the aviary there were many more inside the cage. These were also quite used to people visiting their home so is was quite easy to take some good photos.
Related articles:
- Cleland Wildlife Park – photos of a visit to this lovely place in the Adelaide Hills.
Update: this photo above – and many other photos featured on this site – can now be purchased on a range of merchandise such as T-shirts, aprons, wall plaques, clocks and mugs. Go to my Trevor’s Photos site here.
More Cape Barren Geese
No Comments »9th December, 2006; Category: Ducks Geese and Swans
Cape Barren Geese
I have previously written about Cape Barren Geese near to Murray Bridge. On a trip to Meningie recently we saw several more flocks of this species. They too were grazing in dairy pastures. This was near the shores of Lake Albert. These flocks were not as large as that previously seen. Nevertheless, it is good to see that this species is doing quite well despite its relatively small numbers.
Related article:
- Cape Barren Geese – this flock was near Murray Bridge
You are welcome little swallow
Welcome Swallow
On a recent birding trip we saw several Welcome Swallows sitting on a barbed wire fence quite close to the road. I didn’t even have to get out of the car for these shots. I like this kind of photography.
It was a very windy day and these swallows were sheltering from the cold blasts of the wind. This spot was just behind an acacia (wattle) bush on the side of the road. Normally you see them gliding in the air for insects. At rest, they tend to head for power lines or phone lines but these were absent on this stretch of road. So they used the next best thing, a fence behind a bush.
Welcome Swallow
Bird Word: Coverts
No Comments »7th December, 2006; Category: Bird Word
- Coverts: the smaller feathers that cover the bases of the tail feathers or wing feathers.
Birds have many different kinds of feathers. These include:
- wing feathers
- wing coverts
- tail feathers
- tail coverts
- ear coverts.
The coverts are smaller feathers covering the base of larger feathers or, in the case of the ear coverts, covering the ears. In the photo of the Zebra Finch below, the orange cheek patch of feathers are the ear coverts covering the ears.
Zebra Finch