Four Banded Lapwings and another road trip
Banded Lapwings in Murray-Sunset National Park, NW Victoria
It has been far too long since my last post here on my birding site. Over the last two months my energy levels have been very low due to a prolonged illness but I’m almost over that now, thankfully. I’ve also been overwhelmed by my workload with my lecturing job, but I’m now getting on top of that too.
Late last week we had a quick road trip to Sydney to help out family. Along the way I always enjoy watching out for any birds, seeing if something unusual pops into view. On the road from Tooleybuc to Balranald in far western NSW our approaching car disturbed 4 Banded Lapwings feeding on the edge of the road. Travelling at around 110kph is not ideal for taking a photo; the camera was inaccessible anyway. So instead, I’ve posted a photo I took several years ago in the Murray-Sunset National Park in far north-west Victoria.
As I commented on that posting, this species is something of a bogey bird for me. I’ve only seen it on a handful of occasions in the last 40 years. I must get out birding more often to increase my chances of seeing this delightful species.
Rock Martins and other birds, Ethiopia
Portuguese Bridge, Ethiopia
Over recent days I have written about some of the birds I saw on a visit to the Portuguese Bridge area (near Debre Libanos) which is about 110km north of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. There is some controversy over the old bridge (shown above). Local guides claim it was built by the Portuguese about 400 years ago. Other authorities claim that it was built more recently.
We were visiting the area last December. Geologically it is a very interesting place. We had wonderful views over the valley and down into the Blue Nile Gorge about 1000 metres below us. I’ve included no bird photos today – only scenery shots of this amazing place.
I saw a good number of birds and if you look through recent posts here you will see photos of some of them. Instead of bird photos I have compiled an annotated list of some of the birds seen:
- Pied Crow – numerous
- Fan-tailed Raven – 3 flying overhead
- Lammergeier – 1 soaring on thermals overhead
- Yellow-billed Kites – numerous – about 20 – 30 swooping low over people eating lunch. One took food from my fingers!
- Dusky Turtledove – about 5 seen
- Speckled Pigeon – only 1 seen
- Tacazza Sunbird – 2
- Rock Martin – about 10 swooping around the cliff edges
- Blue-breasted Bee-eater – 2 seen swooping for insects and then sitting on a branch
- Augur Buzzard – one seen only briefly, flying overhead
I saw and heard a number of other species but either didn’t get good views of them or no views at all. One of the more frustrating sightings was that of the Rock Martins swooping around the cliff edges. They came quite close – close enough for good identification – but none settled down to perch so I could get a photo. On the wing they were too swift to focus on. [Sigh]
So – you’ll have to be content with some lovely scenery shots instead. But stay tuned for more photos taken elsewhere in the coming days.
Portuguese Bridge, Ethiopia
Portuguese Bridge, EthiopiaPortuguese Bridge, Ethiopia
Common Bulbul, Addis Ababa
Common Bulbul, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
During our recent stay in Ethiopia we went to visit a silk outlet in suburban Addis Ababa. This shop was in a private home with an extensive garden. It was a delightful spot and quite the ideal retreat from the rush of a crowded city. While our wives were buying some lovely items from the shop, Brett and I meandered through the garden taking in the serenity. The beautiful garden naturally attracted a range of local birds, including the Common Bulbul shown above.
The view I had was only fleeting; just enough time to capture this rather poor photo, but good enough for a positive ID. My research has revealed that it is a common species throughout Africa. You guessed it – I never saw this species again! Such is the birding life. Common Bulbuls inhabit a wide range of environments, including thick undergrowth, gardens and parks. This species eats fruit, nectar and insects.
Australia only has one species of bulbul, the introduced Red-whiskered Bulbul (click for a photo).
Below I have included several photos taken in the gardens.
In a private garden in Addis Ababa
In a private garden in Addis Ababa
Thick-billed Ravens, Addis Ababa
Thick-billed Ravens, Addis Ababa
One of the bird species I recorded on only a few occasions during my two week stay in Ethiopia last December was the Thick-billed Raven. Only once did I manage to get a few photos of this species, shown here today on this post. They were very easily distinguished from the locally common Pied Crows by being almost completely black except for a white patch on the nape. They are considerably bigger than the Pied Crow too. Their thick bill is hard to miss and is diagnostic.
Along with the Common Raven, they are the largest in the corvid family of birds (click here for a definition). They are found only in the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia). Their diet is quite varied, and being omnivorous they will eat insects, beetles, carrion, meat scraps and a range of human foods.
Thick-billed Ravens, Addis Ababa
Another special sighting: Crested Bellbird
Crested Bellbird, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Victoria
Sydney Trip June 2011
One of the delights of the last day of our trip home from Sydney earlier this year was a very clear sighting of a Crested Bellbird. It was perched in clear view and bright sunshine within easy camera range. What more could I ask? It proceeded to give its penetrating call at this close quarter. In between calls it took out time to preen its feathers.
All this gave me ample opportunity to get these photos, the first time I’ve been able to get good shots of this species despite many sightings over the years. In reality, when I think about it, I’ve probably heard this species more often than seen it. Its far reaching call ensures that it is recorded in my notebook more frequently than actual sightings.
These photos were taken in the mallee and spinifex habitat in the north western section of Hattah-Kulkyne National Park between Mildura and Ouyen in north western Victoria. The species is widespread throughout mainland Australia except in the eastern ranges, southern Victoria and the tropical north. It is more of a dryland species, preferring dry eucalypt woodlands, mulga, mallee, spinifex and saltbush areas.
The bird shown in these photos appears to be an immature male; the black throat patch is more grey than in the mature male.
Crested Bellbird, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Victoria
Crested Bellbird, Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Victoria