Trevor's Birding

Streaky Seedeater, Ethiopia

1 Comment »23rd January, 2012; Category: Finches, Non-Australian birds

Streaky Seedeater, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Another common bird I observed in Addis Ababa on my recent trip to Ethiopia was the Streaky Seedeater Serinus striolatus. This is another member of the finch family of birds. In the school grounds where my daughter was teaching they were very common, behaving like many species of finch and sparrow in cleaning up after the children had dropped crumbs and other bits of food in the playground.

This species is found in the higher altitudes – from 1300 – 4500m – in Ethiopia, Kenya, Zaire, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Streaky Seedeater, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Streaky Seedeater, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Brown-rumped Seedeater, Ethiopia

No Comments »22nd January, 2012; Category: Finches, Non-Australian birds

Brown-rumped Seedeater, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Brown-rumped Seedeater (Serinus tristriatus) of Ethiopia is a very common bird in the city of Addis Ababa. It is the common finch like bird of the suburbs and I observed it on my recent trip there in large numbers. In some respects it is like the House Sparrow here in Australia and its habits and habitat is very similar. They even look similar.

It was very common in the grounds and gardens of the school where my daughter was teaching. Like the sparrows we know, they were the ground cleaners in the lunch areas and other parts of the school where the children ate their lunches. Any little scrap or morsel was pounced upon and devoured.

It actually took me quite a while to accurately identify this bird. This is because Ethiopia has many “little brown birds” that can cause so much confusion.

Brown-rumped Seedeater, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Yellow-billed Kite, Ethiopia

3 Comments »21st January, 2012; Category: Eagles Hawks and Kites, Non-Australian birds

Yellow-billed Kite, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

On my recent trip to Ethiopia I had the opportunity to spend quite a few hours birds in the grounds of the international school where my daughter was teaching. She lived on the campus and we were able to stay with her in her apartment. The school campus was quite large and included a football ground (soccer) and a small forest of eucalyptus trees.

By far the most obvious birds visiting the school were the Yellow-billed Kites. At first I thought that they were Black Kites as we have them in large numbers here in Australia. The Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius) is regarded as a sub-species of the Black Kite which also occurs in Ethiopia. The one shown in the photo above does not appear to have a yellow beak, so it is almost certainly a juvenile bird.

The kites were in abundance every day both on the school football ground and soaring overhead. Sometimes I could see 20 – 30 soaring on high and just as many low over the oval or actually on the ground.

This was the first of many “lifers” I saw on my trip. (“Lifers” = bird species seen for the very first time and so eligible to go on one’s “life list“. )

Yellow-billed Kite, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A nice welcome home

4 Comments »20th January, 2012; Category: Bush birds, Garden birds, Wrens

Male Superb Fairy-wren

I’ve been a little quiet here over the last seven weeks. I’ve been overseas on a wonderful holiday. Stay tuned for plenty of wonderful photos of the birds of Ethiopia, Morocco and Spain in the coming months. In each country I saw about 30 species that I’d never seen before. The actual number is a bit rubbery as I’ve yet to identify some of the birds I photographed. Some long hours of interesting research ahead for me.

After a direct and very tedious journey home via Madrid, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne, we arrived at Adelaide Airport at 8am on Wednesday. Due to the blurriness of jet lag the rest of day was basically survival mode.

Thursday morning (yesterday) was a different matter. At breakfast time we had two Superb Fairy-wrens feeding in our garden, a male as shown in the photos, and a female. This species is widespread and common in our district here in South Australia, but this is the first time we’ve seen it in our garden in nearly 30 years living here. (On 5 occasions we have had Variegated Fairy-wrens visit over the same time period, the last being over 10 years ago.)

So, not only were we greeted with these lovely birds on our first day home, I was able to add a new species to our “home list”. Very nice.

Even better: they were around again this morning. I hope they find our garden enticing and decide to take up residence.

I managed only 2 photos of the male; the female was a little on the shy side and wouldn’t sit still long enough in the open for a shot.

Male Superb Fairy-wren

A short visit to the Laratinga Wetlands

No Comments »30th December, 2011; Category: Coots and Moorhens, Waterbirds

Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia

A few months ago we travelled to Mt Barker for a special birthday celebration. My son and daughter in law had flown over from Sydney so that we could all celebrate my grandson’s third birthday. As we don’t get to spend much time with our precious little man, it was a very special time. We had the party at his other grandparents’ home in Mt Barker. After the party we all felt the need for a walk, so we drove the short distance to the Laratinga Wetlands on the eastern edge of town.

These wetlands were established in 1999 by the local council to deal with the town’s waste water and sewage. Accompanied by an extensive tree planting programme, the wetlands have become very attractive to birds – and birders. Extensive walking/cycling paths around the perimeters of the ponds allow easy access to great views of the ponds and the birdlife present. It is fast becoming one of my favourite birding destinations; it’s proximity to my home just 30 minutes away is an added bonus.

Eurasian Coot, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia

Hoary Headed Grebe, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia