Looking down on the birds
Today we were invited to have lunch at the home of friends of ours. We are always delighted to visit them as their house is built on a cliff top overlooking the River Murray. From the balcony outside their lounge room one has a 180 degree panoramic view over the river and associated dairy farm flats on the other side of the river. The passing river traffic, including several large touring boats, is fascinating to watch.
Birding at Cliff Top Level
An added bonus is watching the abundant bird life on, along and near the river. Several Australian Pelicans lazily glided upstream before landing to paddle sedately on the river. Welcome Swallows skimmed low over the water, occasionally swooping high up over the cliffs and past where we sat. Two Whistling Kites soared past just a few metres blow us ; it was interesting to see their lovely plumage from above, rather than the usual view from below. Silver Gulls were seen flying upstream, this time only in singles rather than a flock. I have seen Caspian Terns and Crested Terns in this locality but none were seen today. I also failed to see any of the Cormorant species usually seen around here, nor did I see any Darters.
Garden Birds
In the garden below the balcony we saw many House Sparrows, New Holland Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebirds and several Singing Honeyeaters. Two Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrikes came to pay a brief visit as the passed through the garden. Below us a small family of Superb Blue Wrens was hopping around on the ground and in a nearby bush. Unfortunately they didn’t approach close to us. I didn’t get a glimpse of any males in full colourful plumage.
Relaxing Afternoon
It was a relaxing afternoon with a wonderful view. The morning had been very frosty but we were able to enjoy some warming winter sun on the balcony in the afternoon.
Next time I must remember my camera!
Opportunistic Birds
No Comments »15th June, 2006; Category: General
Yesterday I commented on the Rock Doves, Crested Pigeons and House Sparrows taking advantage of the spilled grain on the road and the car park of the local flour mill. Today as I was passing by I noticed two species I would not have thought would be seen doing the same thing. There were several Pacific Black Ducks and five or six Purple Swamphens busily joining the pigeons and sparrows. How out of place the swamphens seemed, strutting long-legged around on the road eating up the grain.
Mind you, when I think about the situation, it is to be expected because the River Murray is about 200 metres from the flour mill. Then there is a small swampy wetlands area right next to the mill, so it is merely a few small steps for a swamphen, but one giant leap for birdkind – or, at the very least, a large leap of understanding for this little duck’s brain.
Sparrows by the Bushful
Late this aftenoon I was in the main street of Murray Bridge, my home town. I was waiting to cross the street at the lights. It was almost on sunset, the last rays of the sun just visible. My attention was drawn to a nearby bush, part of the tree and bush plantings along the footpaths.
This bush – I’m not sure what species it was – had a roar of bird twitterings coming from it. Even above the noise of homeward bound traffic, the call was unmistakeable: House Sparrows. And not just a couple. It seemed like there were several hundred sheltering in the single bush, getting ready to settle down to another frosty night.
I didn’t see any birds – just heard them. And around the base of the bush the footpath was painted white with their droppings.
John Gould’s Birds of Australia
1 Comment »11th June, 2006; Category: General
To buy the complete set of the seven volumes of the quintessential work on Australian birds would set one back many thousands of Australian dollars – if you can find copies for sale.
John Gould, 1804-1881, one of our earliest ornithologists and a brilliant artist, produced his amazing work called “The Birds of Australia” which has been unavailable to most people until recently. It was first published in 1848.
It is now available to view electronically here. This includes not only scanned copies of all of the text pages, but also all of his wonderful coloured plates. These are fine examples of the exquisite skills of this wonderful artist.
Pangarinda Arboretum, Wellington, South Australia
Yesterday we had another visit to the arboretum at Wellington in South Australia. I had been contacted via email by several birders nearby and one from interstate wanting directions to see the Spotted Nightjar roosting in the open.
Still There
The nightjar was still there and we were able to show a birding couple from Victor Harbor this amazing and cryptic bird. I also took along my wife and mother-in-law who also thought it was fascinating. My mother-in-law throught at first I was showing her a lizard, such was the camouflage of the feathers. It melded in beautifully with the sand, twigs, leaves and grass.
Other Birds
Although it had been a cold night and morning, by the time we arrived in the early afternoon the sun was shining, the clouds had cleared and the temperature had risen to a bearable 15 or 16 degrees. The sunshine also brought the birds out. I had good views of the male Red Capped Robin, a Grey Fantail, one Silvereye, many New Holland Honeyeaters, a small family of White Browed Babblers, Zebra Finches coming to a dripping tap to drink, Crested Pigeons sitting on the fence and powerlines nearby and a Whistling Kite soaring gracefully overhead. We also saw several hundred Straw Necked Ibis flying over a nearby farm and a single White Ibis as we left the arboretum.