Search Results for 'eastern rosella'

Walking track in the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens

2007 Victorian trip report #5

During our visit to the gardens we walked along one of the many tracks in the park heading towards the highest point in this part of SE Melbourne, aptly named Trig Point. We didn’t quite make it to the lookout tower because the time was quickly disappearing and the gates close at 5pm. The weather was also threatening to bring rain. On our return walk we saw Silvereyes, and Eastern Rosella, Spotted Turtledoves, about six Common Bronzewing pigeons, several Welcome Swallows and a flock of Straw-necked Ibis overhead.

At one point we stopped to watch a pair of Spotted Pardalotes gathering bark to line their nest. This was a new species for the trip list.

Spotted Pardalote

2007 New South Wales trip report #19

For the fifth day in a row on our trip the day dawned sunny and clear of clouds. We had breakfast and packed the car. We were just about to leave when we struck up a conversation with a permanent resident of the caravan park in Cowra. She occupied the cabin next to us and had lived there for several years since the death of her husband.

She had established a small native plant garden around her cabin and she was quite knowledgeable about the birds of the area as well. On the front porch she had two pet Cockatiels that had been injured and rescued some years before. We were amused by the Red-browed Finches that would come in, land on the cage of the parrots and then proceed straight through the bars, into the cage and help themselves to a free feed. This was another new species to add to my trip list.

Red-browed Finch

This friendly woman also commented that Double-barred Finches also came into her little garden. I’ve only ever seen this species once before so I was keen to hang around for a while. Alas, they didn’t show up. Nor did the Crested Shrike-tits and the Azure Kingfishers she said were regular visitors. [Postscript: I didn’t see any of these three species on the rest of the trip. You get that. It merely illustrates the sometimes hit and miss aspect of birding.]

But there were several major bonuses to spending about a half hour talking to her. Two Superb Parrots flew overhead. This was a lifer* for me and one of the species I was keen to see on this trip. I also added Noisy Friarbird in the trees in the caravan park. Yet another Brown Songlark was calling nearby and Eastern Rosellas flew through the park. Crested Pigeons came into to drink from the bird bath and White-plumed Honeyeaters were busy feeding in the tree foliage overhead.

Earlier in the morning I was delighted to hear a Peaceful Dove calling nearby. I tired a little with its call as it went on and on while I was trying to get a few extra minutes of sleep.

*Lifer: a bird seen for the first time in my life. (For a better explanation click here).

September 2007 Trip Report #17

Weddin Mountains New South Wales

We headed off south from Forbes for the Weddin Mountains National Park. We had also visited this park three years ago and had good memories of this lovely spot. I remember though that the birding was a little on the slow side (meaning: I didn’t see much).

On the drive in to the picnic and camping ground we saw two Emus and heard quite a few Brown Songlarks in full song. Eastern Rosellas flew across in front of the car and Galahs flew overhead. White-winged Choughs greeted our arrival with much calling.

Weddin Mountains NP Picnic ground

We pulled into a parking bay and prepared to have our lunch. An Australian Raven landed in the tree above us, but when he realised we were not about to share our lunch he flew off before I could get a photo. I realised then that I have some good photos of Little Ravens, the species common around home, but I do not yet have any shots of its larger cousin. Patience.

Apostlebirds were busy feeding on the ground just south of our lunch spot. After our lunch, a camper came over to our picnic table and talked to us for some twenty minutes. Time seemed to be getting away from us and we still wanted to visit another national park further east, so we didn’t go for a walk after lunch.

As we left the park our departure was delayed by some twenty minutes. The predominantly pine forested area along the access track seemed to suddenly fill with bird song. Many Brown Songlarks were calling. My wife saw some flowers she wanted to investigate. I took a nice shot of a male Red-capped Robin. A White-winged Triller also joined in the chorus along with some more Choughs, a Rufous Whistler, a Grey Fantail who could barely be heard and a Brown Falcon glided overhead sending the local Noisy Miners into a frenzy of alarm calls.

Red-capped Robin (male)

And to crown it all off, a majestic Wedge-tailed Eagle soared high overhead.

It was a lunch break to remember.

And the cave? High up on the cliff face above the campsite and picnic grounds is a cave. Infamous bushranger Ben Hall reputedly used this as his hideaway.

Hideaway cave of bushranger Ben Hall