Unexpected Bird Visitors
As I was working on my computer a little while ago I thought I heard a Grey Fantail outside in the garden. This species is common and widespread throughout our district here in the Murraylands area of South Australia. Despite that, it is only an occasional visitor to our garden. This is a shame, because it happens to be one of my favourite birds. The Rufous Fantail is just up the list a little, but is only a vagrant in South Australia.
Adelaide Rosella
I didn’t find any fantail but I did manage to get good views of several unexpected birds. The Adelaide Rosella (a sub-species of the Crimson Rosella) is an occasional visitor to our garden. This is about as far east as this species occurs. Just a few minutes ago I saw about 6 near the house. As I approached they flew off. I went inside to get the camera but they had gone when I returned outside.
Whistling Kite
I also heard and then saw two Whistling Kites gliding overhead. Again, they are common and widespread in this area, especially along the river and its environs. From time to time they stray this far from the river. For about three or four minutes I watched as they soared on high, dipping and slipping on the air in a wonderful display of synchronised flying. They were too high to get a photo.
Mammal Sightings
To complete the good sightings I disturbed one of our resident Brown Hares. Over recent years we have had two or three of these lovely creatures frequent our five acre block we call our garden. When they nip off the tops of young plants we don’t like them quite as much. I’ve also see quite a few rabbit scratchings in a number of places. This species is less desirable as they can do much damage. The hare was too quick for me to get a photo.
Live Osprey Web Cam
The keepers at the Calgary Zoo have a pair of Osprey nesting on a platform on a pole in the grounds of the zoo. This is the 13th time the Ospreys have successfully nested there. The keepers have recently installed a live web cam so that we can watch the rearing of their young. From what I can gather two of the three egs have already hatched.
To view the action click here – but remember to take into account time zone differences!
To look at the Calgary Zoo Web page click here
The Hawk Conservancy UK
No Comments »1st June, 2006; Category: Eagles Hawks and Kites, Owls Frogmouths and Nightjars, Raptors
In 2005 my daughter went to the UK on a teaching exchange. While there she took many opportunities to see the countryside and the many historical sites there. During her travels she drove past The Hawk Conservancy in Andover. She stopped and spent some time there, knowing her father’s interest in birds.
On her return she gave us each a mug from the conservancy. It sits on the table next to my computer as I write this post. A beautiful mug indeed with pictures of owls on it.
Web Site
Out of curiosity I checked the web site of the conservancy. I found it to be quite brilliant, with many photos of raptors from around the world. There was also a great deal of information about many of the species featured. Well worth a visit.
Click here to visit the website.
Kites and Kestrels
No Comments »19th May, 2006; Category: Eagles Hawks and Kites
On our recent trip to Clare I was interested to note the large number of Black Shouldered Kites and Nankeen Kestrels near the road as we drove along. Normally on the two hour trip we see one or two of each of these two species of raptor. On this trip, however, I must have seen at least a dozen of each species. This is an estimate – I didn’t do an exact count as I drove along.
Both species are common and widespread throughout the rural areas of South Australia. They are frequently encountered along country roads. From time to time they are very numerous, often in response to mice plagues which occur every so often in the Australian farming areas. Another species, the Letter Winged Kite, which looks very similar to the Black Shouldered Kite, is also known to breed very quickly in response to a mouse plague, and irruptions of this species occur in southern regions which are not normally part of their range.
Birds of Geranium
No Comments »13th May, 2006; Category: Birds, Eagles Hawks and Kites, Honeyeaters, Pardalotes, Parrots and Lorikeets, Pigeons and Doves, Ravens and Crows, Thornbills, Whistlers, Wrens
Last weekend we attended a native plant sale at Geranium. This is a small town of only about 80 residents. It is about an hour drive from Murray Bridge and is situated in the heart of the Murray Mallee. It is set in a wheat and sheep farming district and so much of the land has been cleared for this purpose. Along the road sides, however, there is a rich remnant vegetation strip and this provides a reasonably adequate habitat for a range of mallee loving birds, especially when it is in flower.
Honeyeaters
The area is dominated by honeyeaters. Over the last decade I have recorded the following honeyeater species in or near Geranium:
Red Wattlebird
Brown Headed Honeyeater
New Holland Honeyeater
Singing Honeyeater
White Plumed Honeyeater
White Eared Honeyeater
Yellow Plumed Honeyeater
Spiny Cheeked Honeyeater
Purple Gaped Honeyeater (rare)
Raptors
The common birds of prey include the Black Shouldered Kite, Nankeen Kestral, Little Eagle and Australian Hobby. I am not sure of the status of the magnificent Wedge Tailed Eagle in this district. Down through the years since settlement this species has been seen in a negative light by many farmers who have shot them to prevent loss of lambs from their sheep flocks.
Pigeons
The Crested Pigeon is very common throughout the region as is the Common Bronzewing Pigeon where the habitat is suitable. The delightful tiny Peaceful Dove must also occur in this region but I have not personally recorded it. Around the town, especially the wheat storage silos, the introduced feral Rock Pigeon is present in the hundreds. They are also present around farm sheds.
Parrots
The most common parrot in this area would have to be the Galah. Flocks of hundreds can often be observed throughout the Murray Mallee districts. Little Corellas may also be present though I have not seen any near Geranium. The large Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo may also be a vagrant but not resident due to a lack of suitable food trees. Sulpher Crested Cockatoos may also occur in this district but I haven’t seen any. Purple Crowned Lorikeets are common, and Rainbow Lorikeets have been recorded. Other parrots resident in or near Geranium include:
Mallee Ringnecks
Red Rumped Parrots
Cockatiel
Blue Bonnets
Blue Winged Parrots
Budgerigars
Mulga Parrots
Other Birds
My total number of species for this area stands at 56 species. Here is a list of some other birds I have recorded in the district:
Willie Wagtail
Grey Fantail
Restless Flycatcher
Hooded Robin
Golden Whistler
Rufous Whistler
Grey Shrike-thrush
White-browed Babbler
Superb Fairy-wren
Variegated Fairy-wren
Brown Thornbill
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Yellow Thornbill
Weebill
Southern Whiteface
White-fronted Chat
Spotted Pardalote
Striated Pardalote
Silvereye
Magpie-lark
White-winged Chough
Dusky Woodswallow
Grey Butcherbird
Australian Magpie
Grey Currawong
Australian Raven
Little Raven
Common Starling
House Sparrow
Unusual Sighting
The most unusual sighting I have made in Geranium is a single Cattle Egret feeding on the school oval.