Birds Calling
No Comments »1st April, 2006; Category: Birds, Flowers, General, Honeyeaters, Murray Bridge, Photos, Ravens and Crows
Grevillea flowers
Nursery
This afternoon I helped my wife Corinne in her nursery for about three hours. This included taking about 60 photos of the flowers of plants in the stock plant area and some in the nursery itself. Most of these photos turned out really well. Corinne needs some of these photos for the coming plant sale in Adelaide at the end of the month.
Bird Calls
I also did some more tidying up and weeding in the nursery. While I was doing that I was aware of the bird life calling all around. The White Plumed Honeyeater was very prominent, calling loudly and persistently. Little Ravens often passed overhead, their mournful calls cannot be missed. At one point two of them were in a tree nearby calling in turn, like they were having a conversation. Red Wattlebirds and their harsh ‘kok-karock†calls interrupted the ravens’ talkfest.
Spotted Pardalote with nesting material in beak
Pardalotes
In the moments of quietness after the departure of the noisy ravens the gentle Spotted Pardalotes’ contact calls filled the air around me as they searched the mallee trees for sustenance. The Striated Pardalotes seemed absent today; their far reaching call was noted yesterday. Perhaps they were just being discrete – or shy – today.
Grey Shrike Thrush
The sudden strident whistling of the Grey Shrike Thrush just above my head shattered my dreaming. Its strong melodious voice is far reaching in the mallee woodland around here; often it is the first bird I identify when out walking. Its call is hard to miss. A noisy cloud of pink Galahs squawks overhead, bringing a splash of colour to the drab grey sky. A Magpie adds to the chorus, chortling happily over near the shed.
Choughs
My attention is drawn to a family of nine White Winged Choughs flying secretively and quietly through the garden. Normally their mournful calls can be heard from a distance. Their silence is puzzling.
Welcome Swallows
Birding while doing the washing
I was hanging up the washing this morning and was aware of the many garden birds we enjoy here in Murray Bridge, South Australia. Often I have stopped and listened to the birds calling. More than once I have been distracted from the task at hand and followed a bird or two – or raced inside for the camera.
Stubble Quail
Possibly one of the best sightings I’ve ever had while doing the washing was a single Stubble Quail. This is a common and widespread species in this region, but it was the only time I’ve seen one in our garden.
Swallows
This morning I was suddenly aware of twittering in the sky above. Two Welcome Swallows (Hirundo neoxena) hawking for insects above. Again – this is a widespread and very common species in this area. It is not unusual to see 100s swooping low over the water of the nearby River Murray, or dozens lined up resting on power lines. What is unusual is the occurrence of this species above our garden and five acre (2 hectare) property. For some reason we only see or hear them once or twice a week, sometimes even less often. I have rarely seen more than 5 or 6 here at a time. I can’t give a reason for this.
Yellow Billed Spoonbill
Today I needed to visit someone in a part of the city I don’t normally frequent. This was quite close to Long Island Reserve, so I took five minutes out of my busy schedule to check out the birds there, seeing I hadn’t visited that reserve for about a year – maybe more.
Long Island Reserve
Long Island is a long island (funny about that) in the middle of the River Murray just down stream from the CBD of Murray Bridge, South Australia. It has extensive lawned areas for picnics, a small sandy beach, a jetty and a boat ramp. It is a popular place for water skiers and boating enthusiasts. The car park has been deliberately widened to cater for boat trailers.
Birdwise there was nothing much to report. Several Magpie Larks feeding on the lawn, a flock of about 40 Silver Gulls sheltering from the wind and about 6 Straw Necked Ibis feeding in an adjacent grassy area. Wasn’t even worth getting out of the car.
Rocky Gully Wetlands revisited
On my way home I made a slight deter past the Rocky Gully Wetlands. Last week I observed Royal Spoonbills there for the first time. Today it was a solitary Yellow Billed Spoonbill next to a White Faced Heron. Always nice to see spoonbills – and so funny the way they feed, swishing that odd-shaped bill through the mud.
Sadly – I didn’t have my camera with me. (Sigh)
Birds After Rain
Hot, dry summers
We have not had any significant rain here in Murray Bridge, South Australia for the last four months – since mid-December. This is quite typical of our hot, dry summers. We either get nothing for most of summer or torrential downpours over several hours. The previous summer of 2004-05 saw much flooding in many areas of the city. Over the intervening twelve months the local council has been very busy correcting the lack of adequate drainage in some areas.
Significant Rain
Overnight and during this morning we have had steady rain amounting to 25mm (1 inch) which amounts to 7% of our annual average rainfall (344mm). The weather forecast is for heavy rain later in the day. A check of the radar on the Bureau of Meteorology website showed heavy rain heading our way. There are currently in place flood warnings in our area.
Birds after the rain
While it was still raining the birds around our garden were quiet and inconspicuous. When it stopped there was much activity. The Grey Shrike Thrushes began singing as did the Spiny Cheeked Honeyeaters. Our resident family of White Winged Choughs came patrolling through the garden and scrub at the front of the house. Flocks of noisy Galahs are wheeling through the trees as I write. White Plumed Honeyeaters and New Holland Honeyeaters are also calling.
Brown Headed Honeyeaters
While having breakfast this morning a flock of Brown Headed Honeyeaters flew past. This species is a regular visitor to our garden here in Murray Bridge, South Australia. I love hearing their “chip, chip, chip” contact calls as they swarm from tree to tree. They are not often seen alone; usually they come through the garden in waves of anything from 5 or 6 through to 15 or more.
So far I have been unable to get a photo of these rather plain yet delightful little honeyeaters. It is a challenge because they seem to be constantly on the move. My best chance will be when they visit our bird bath. Here they line up on the branch above, or on the edge of the bird bath, ready for their turn to bathe. On occasions I have observed 5 or 6 in the water at one time, water splashing in all directions.
Related Article:
- Great Birding Moments #9 Brown Headed Honeyeaters – with a photo.
UPDATE: I can now add the photo below.
Brown-headed Honeyeater