New species for our bird bath
Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike
We have several bird baths in our garden. These are placed where we can see the bird baths from the house, usually in rooms where we spend quite a deal of time. We delight in watching the birds come to drink, especially on those hot summer days like we’ve been having this year. We also enjoy watching the birds bathing and squabbling over the water.
Over the last few years I have kept an unofficial list of the species that have visited to bird baths, either to bathe or to drink. A few days ago we noticed that a single Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike came to drink. This is the first time we have noticed this species drinking there. This species is more often seen flying overhead on its way somewhere else. We are pleased that this one decided to stop long enough for a drink. Even better – it stopped long enough to pose for my camera.
Further reading
- Bird baths – more articles on this subject from my archives.
- Time for a bath – a complete list of species – both birds and other creatures – that have visited our bird baths.
Large flock of Galahs
6 Comments »31st January, 2008; Category: Bird baths, Bird Behaviour, Garden birds, Parrots and Lorikeets
Galah
We had a visit from over a hundred Galahs this morning. A visiting flock of this size (or bigger) happens every few weeks. Most of them tried unsuccessfully to access water from the swimming pool. This one in the photo above shows the only one that tried to drink from the bird bath. It got to within a metre before taking fright and flying off. So far I have not been able to record this species actually drinking from one of our bird baths. It must happen sometime.
There is one downside to having such a large company of this beautiful Australian species in our garden.
The noise can be deafening.
The following photo was taken last summer.
Galahs
Further reading:
- Galahs come for a swim
- Parrots and Lorikeets – articles from my archives
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters
Spiny Cheeked Honeyeater
While having a relaxing breakfast a few mornings ago, several Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters came to drink at the bird bath in our garden. Next thing a baby Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater came along begging to be fed. It was just able to fly and its tail was only half grown. Here is an example of another instance where some birds have nested in our garden and remained unobserved. They are so secretive and sneaky that this happens far too often. Never mind; it was good to see the baby getting around.
I commented to my wife that this was one species I didn’t have a photo of yet; I was wrong. I don’t have many, and the one featured above is probably the best.
Birding in the heat
It is hot.
Really hot.
The last week here in South Australia has seen us enduring some really torrid heat. Most days have been over the 40C mark with yesterday the temperature reaching 44C (that’s 111.2F) under the shade of our front veranda. It certainly doesn’t encourage one to go out birding in that kind of heat. Possibly the best spot in the house is near the air conditioner watching the endless parade of birds coming to our bird baths in the garden. On days like this they really appreciate the ready supply of water. It’s a lazy way of birding, but forgive me. It’s the best I can do at present. I don’t feel like going out birding anyway because I have a heavy head cold at present. Colds are bad enough in winter, but in summer they are doubly uncomfortable because you cannot curl up in bed and wrap yourself up in all your miseries.
Just to keep all my readers happy, here are some articles from my archives about birds, heat, water and bird baths:
- White-browed Babblers and water
- Diamond Firetail Finch
- Birds and communal bathing
- Rufous Whistler
- Time for a bath
Mallee Ringneck Parrot
White Browed Babblers and water
Some time ago I wrote about White Browed Babblers and water. In that article I stated I’d never seen this species coming to drink:
White Browed Babblers are frequent visitors to our garden. They come in their family group, scuttling through the low bushes, scurrying up the branches of the mallee trees searching for insects and spiders and filling the air with their cat like calls.
From time to time their foraging antics bring them close to the bird bath. Sometimes they get as close as a metre away. I have never seen them land on the bird bath, let alone take a drink or bathe.
Proved wrong:
I have been proved wrong.
A few days ago a group of babblers came to the part of the garden near the bird baths. One of them landed on one of the bird baths and briefly stopped for a drink. I was fortunate to have the camera ready for this shot. It’s not a great photo but is it made more interesting by having caught a House Sparrow in flight and about to land on the bird bath too.
White Browed Babbler
Related articles:
- Birds at our bird baths – a collection of articles from my archives where I have written about the birds that come to the bird baths in our garden.