We joined the Eynesbury Environmental Group for a walk in the local Grey Box Forest as part of the ongoing Swift Parrot Surveys. Swifties are highly mobile, nomandic and unpredictable in location. And today was quite a successful Survey day, as we conclusively proved they were Not in the area. 🙂
But a day in Grey is not be be missed and Chris L, put on another of his now famous, “Sunshine” days. Here’s a selection from the walk.
Enjoy
Maned Duck, commonly know as Wood ducks, presumably because of their tree dwelling habits
Tree Martins. Recently returned and no doubt hard at work at selecting the best real estate for their nesting operations. Soon there will be hundreds of them through the forest
Little Eagle, no trip is complete without at least one sighting of the resident Little Eagles. This one circled over us in the open
Red-rumped Parrot, a male who is busy, I suspect waiting, waiting waiting, for his mate that would be on a nest somewhere in a branch nearby. He keeps in contact with her with lots of cheery calls and wing displays.
The Eynesbury Box Forest Signature bird. We found several Diamond Firetails working through the native grasses collecting seed. Their numbers seem somewhat unpredictable, but it’s good to catch up with them on a day out.
If I had a signature bird, it would be Jacky.
There is something about these little birds that says Grey Box Forest to me, and their often approachable nature makes for great portraits.
Jacky Winter and I could do this all day
One of our sharp-eyed group found these tiny Greenhoods by the side of the track—not much more than a few centimetres high.
Fashionista Eurasian Coot is dressed to impress.
A very handsome Maned Duck showing of his impressive mane, and his lovely vermiticulation on his body.
Eastern Rosellas were in abundance, this was one of a flock of twelve or more that were working through the forest.
And just as we were leaving, another pair of Jacky Winters stopped by for a chat.
I had figured you might have been there today, and the sunshine was fabulous this morning!
A wonderful set of images, David! A shame the Swifties weren’t there but you saw some great birds nonetheless!
A wonderful day our David with the group and some beautiful images. Likewise the Jacky is a very curious and photogenic little bird which we only see inland and down south. The Firetail is impressive. We have several families of Wood Duck nesting in the tall eucalypt trees along the river in our local Nasho, they compete with cockies and rainbows for holes. Love the Little Eagle shot, thats another seldom seen raptor for us. We use to see the Swifties for a brief few weeks in one of our outer Sydney parks at sunset in a particular tree where a dozen or so would gather to catch the last rays of sun and all the birders far and near would gather there and then have to immediately leave so they did not get locked in. Sometimes they would not appear, or appear elsewhere. They are unpredictable, though we have seen them there several years and then not. We need to go and check them out again, thanks for the reminder.
Once again, a beautiful selection of photos thanks David…!!!
A thought for you to mull over: I don’t know how long you’ve been pr4esenting your Blog, but just in the time I’ve been following you, you’ve presented some excellent photos accompanied by an interesting and very readable dialogue… You have enough material (it seems to me) for a hard-cover book… As I said: just a Thought…!
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
I had figured you might have been there today, and the sunshine was fabulous this morning!
A wonderful set of images, David! A shame the Swifties weren’t there but you saw some great birds nonetheless!
LikeLike
Such beautiful photographs David. Sorry you didn’t see the Swifties, but your other subjects made up for that I hope.
LikeLike
A wonderful day our David with the group and some beautiful images. Likewise the Jacky is a very curious and photogenic little bird which we only see inland and down south. The Firetail is impressive. We have several families of Wood Duck nesting in the tall eucalypt trees along the river in our local Nasho, they compete with cockies and rainbows for holes. Love the Little Eagle shot, thats another seldom seen raptor for us. We use to see the Swifties for a brief few weeks in one of our outer Sydney parks at sunset in a particular tree where a dozen or so would gather to catch the last rays of sun and all the birders far and near would gather there and then have to immediately leave so they did not get locked in. Sometimes they would not appear, or appear elsewhere. They are unpredictable, though we have seen them there several years and then not. We need to go and check them out again, thanks for the reminder.
LikeLike
Great collection David…wonderful to see so many Diamond Firetails and Jacky Winters.
Clancy
LikeLike
Once again, a beautiful selection of photos thanks David…!!!
A thought for you to mull over: I don’t know how long you’ve been pr4esenting your Blog, but just in the time I’ve been following you, you’ve presented some excellent photos accompanied by an interesting and very readable dialogue… You have enough material (it seems to me) for a hard-cover book… As I said: just a Thought…!
LikeLike