Trevor's Birding

Welcome to readers of the Murray Valley Standard

No Comments »3rd July, 2012; Category: Birds, Birds in the News, Garden birds, Murray Bridge

Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge, South Australia

Welcome to all of those readers who have come to this site as a result of reading the article in today’s Murray Valley Standard newspaper. I am pleased that you made the effort and hope you enjoy my articles and photos about birds.

This site is about sharing my interest in Australian birds seen in our garden here in Murray Bridge, along the river and other places throughout Australia whenever I get the chance to travel. Some of my articles also include photos of birds seen on various overseas trips, the latest being recently in Ethiopia, Morocco and Spain. Many of these photos will continue to appear over the coming months.

Comments

My sites are all interactive, meaning that readers can leave comments. Just click on the link that says “comments” just under the heading of this article (above and to the right of the photo above). I’ll respond to as many as I can.

If you want to find out more about me, click here (the link takes you to my writing site).

If you want to read about my travels, including overseas, click here. That site also includes many photos.

Australian Pelican, Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge, South Australia

Purple Swamphen, Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge, South Australia

Bathing beauties

2 Comments »1st July, 2012; Category: Bird Behaviour, Garden birds, Parrots and Lorikeets

Mallee Ringnecks bathing

We have a small flock of Mallee Ringneck parrots on our five acre block. On most days we will see 2 to 4 of them, sometimes more. We love seeing them in and around our garden – except when they attack our ripening pears.

This autumn and early winter we have had above average rainfall for this time of year. Over recent weeks it has rained on many occasions and our gravel driveway quickly gathers the rainfall, forming several puddles. A few days ago I noticed two of the parrots enjoying a splash in one of the puddles. The muddy water (see photos below) seemed to them to be preferable to the nice clean water in the bird baths nearby.

Mallee Ringnecks bathing

Mallee Ringneck

Magpie portraits

1 Comment »29th June, 2012; Category: Bird Behaviour, Magpies and Currawongs

Australian Magpie

A few days ago we had some wonderful rain. When we get significant falls of rain, we also get sizeable puddles of water in our gravel driveway. The birds often take advantage of the water and enjoy a splash or two. I managed to get a few portrait shots of one of our resident magpies.

Australian Magpie

Are the magpies getting ready to start nesting?

2 Comments »28th June, 2012; Category: Bird Behaviour, Magpies and Currawongs, Nests

Australian Magpie

Australian Magpies are one of the most recognisable of Australian birds. They are common over large parts of Australia.

They are also highly territorial, and in the breeding season they can be very aggressive towards other magpies, other bird species, and, on occasions, towards humans. Their swoop – usually from behind and usually unexpected – can be quite terrifying to some people. They have been know to even draw blood if contact is made with vulnerable parts such as the head. Cyclists seem to attract swooping magpies far more than pedestrians, for some reason.

About this time of the year, however, they generally have not yet started nesting. Now is the time to reinforce their territorial claims, chasing one another in wild, noisy conflicts. I witnessed the start of this only a few days ago in our mallee scrub. Our five acre patch of scrub is the junction of three different magpie territories; the boundaries are fiercely defended. On the positive side, “our” resident magpies never swoop, for which we are thankful.

On my evening walk yesterday I heard the distinctive warning call of a male magpie, one whose territory is about a kilometre from our home. I looked up, and was interested to see a partially constructed nest in the tree over head. This particular bird is aggressive towards humans, so I’ll have to be careful walking along that part of the road in the coming weeks.

Australian Magpie

A parrot flyover

2 Comments »27th June, 2012; Category: Camera, Parrots and Lorikeets

It is my habit to go for a walk every day. In reality, it is a habit more on the wish-list than in reality. I need to do it for general fitness, well being and just plain sanity. Sitting at a keyboard writing all day is not the smooth path to a healthy life. But I try.

A wonderful bonus to getting out for a walk is seeing numerous birds as I walk. Sometimes I even take some note paper with and jot down what I see. Very rarely do I take a camera with me which is a pity. I’ve missed some wonderful photos that way.

Take this evening, for example. The call of the locally common Red-rumped Parrot is quite distinctive. I heard them coming. Lots of them. Next thing about 30 flew low overhead, some of them alighting in the top branches of nearby tree in full, late afternoon sunlight. Would have made a lovely photo. Never mind; some other day – perhaps.

In the meantime, my readers will have to make do with two photos I prepared earlier.

Red-rumped parrot (male)

Red-rumped Parrots, Euston, NSW