Great Birding Moments # 22 Scarlet Robin
1 Comment »22nd November, 2006; Category: Bird Behaviour, Flycatchers, Great Birding Moments, Robins
Australian Robins are beautiful birds. I especially like to see the male Red Capped Robin sitting patiently on an exposed branch or a fence post waiting for an insect to fly past. Another spectacular species is the Scarlet Robin.
Male Scarlet Robin
On a recent visit to Cromer Conservation Park my whole morning of birding was highlighted by the sighting of both a male and a female. The male was rather shy, and although he posed nicely for me, he wouldn’t allow me to get too close. The above photo is the best I could manage. One day, when I have more patience, I will return for another photo shoot. I know where he lives now.
Female Scarlet Robin
The female was far more obliging and came quite close. She posed beautifully for me at reasonably close quarters, but turned her head at the crucial moment. Then she flew off not to be seen again that morning.
Oh the delights – and frustrations – of bird photography!
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.
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A Quick Visit – Grey Fantail
A Grey Fantail paid us a quick visit yesterday.
I have been on the lookout for this over recent weeks. I even thought I heard one in the garden on several occasions, but every time I go out to check, it is nowhere to been seen. Yesterday was almost the same. I glimpsed it briefly in the garden through the lounge room door. By the time I’d gathered my camera, it had disappeared. The photo below was taken a few weeks ago at the Pangarinda Arboretum. It’s not a good photo as it doesn’t show its face. This should be a relatively easy bird to photograph, but I’ll have to be patient with this one.
Grey Fantail
Grey Fantails are reasonably common and widespread in the Murray Bridge area. They are also common and widespread throughout much of Australia. It always delights us when one or two come to visit our garden. Strangely, I have never recorded this species breeding in our garden. This is despite them being resident just up the road from us.
Its cousin, the Rufous Fantail would have to be one of my favourite Australian birds. Unfortunately, this species lives a long way from our home.
Great Birding Moments #4 Willie Wagtail
Willie Wagtail
The Willie Wagtail is a resident of our garden here in Murray Bridge. Our house is situated amongst 5 acres (2 hectares) of a mixture of garden plants, orchard, mallee scrub (mallee is a species of eucalypt) and open paddock.
Camera shy
Our resident Willie Wagtails seem to be rather camera shy. I’ve been trying for many months to get a good photo of this species here at home. Whenever I’d try to get close enough they’d be high in the foliage of the tree – or behind a bush – or they’d flit away before I could focus. Eventually I did manage to get a nice shot; the bird is good but the setting is horrible. I wish there was some way of masking out the rubbishy looking drum it has perched on. And look at all those weeds in the background!
Breeding
The Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys, a member of the flycatcher family of birds, is one of Australia’s best known and well-loved birds. They are common throughout Australia and northern Tasmania. They are easily recognised as they flit around looking for a feed, tail wagging and fanning out disturbing insects. “Our” Willie Wagtails are a resident breeding pair. They usually have at least one and sometimes two broods each year, usually in spring and summer.
The Nest
The nest is a cup-shaped bowl about 5-6cm wide and deep. It is usually made from cobwebs, fine grass, feathers, wool, bark and other soft materials. It can be situated as low as a metre from the ground to 10 or even 15 metres high up in a tree. It is often located on horizontal branch but I have seen nests made on a metal strut inside a farm shed. They most often lay 2 or 3 eggs, but occasionally lay 4. To see four almost fledged baby Willie Wagtails in a small nest all reaching out to mum or dad begging for food, one wonders how the nest survives – and how they don’t topple out! The nest seems just right for one baby – three or four is definitely overcrowded. The interesting thing about “our” WWs is that they always nest very close to the house, usually within 15 metres.
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A Battlefield in the Garden
While out in the garden today I was suddenly aware of a noisy scuffle nearby. They were at it again. The interloper New Holland Honeyeater trying to snatch insects from the resident Willie Wagtail’s favourite patch. This time they actually came to blows!
After a few seconds of screaming at each other, many ruffled feathers and a clash of claws they both retreated to nearby trees. After that there was an uneasy peace. The battle may be over but I feel that the war has just begun.
For details of the previous battle click here.
Willie Wagtail