Day: March 30, 2024

I was going to title this “Return of the Mountain Kings”.
As April approaches, we start to get ready to look for the return of the Flame Robins and other winter flock birds.
From experience, we normally expect to see the first of the females turn up around the second week or so of April, and the males to arrive about a week to 10 days later.
They summer over and breed in the high mountain country and as the weather changes and the snows cover the ground, they move to lower country over the winter for food.

We were out following up on some sightings of Black-shouldered Kites and had been talking about how soon before the Flames would be around. As we crossed a fence-line and came toward the next gate, EE exclaimed, “A Flame Robin on the gate.”
And, lo and behold, there was a brilliant red flash in the sunshine out in the open on the top of the gate.
We followed him down the fence line as he hunted and eventually he disappeared. I guess when he’d flown about 200km or more to get here, 500m down the fence-line is nothing.

And as we headed back to iAmGrey there on the fence was a lone female.
The strange weather and the changes that seem to have affected both birds and trees and other wildlife has also made some adjustments to the Robins and their travel plans.

But we were quite pleased to enjoy their company and look forward to seeing the larger flocks arrive.

Came across an interesting article this morning on the bird that is the emblem of the official flag of South Australia.
The official name of the bird is “Piping Shrike”. It has been oft discussed as two birds seem to fit that discussion. The Australian Magpie, or The Magpie-lark
Here is a link to the discussion

And finally I came across this interesting partial quote by an scholar, Alcuin, he was, among many things, an instructor to royalty, including Charlemagne.

A Prayer from Alcuin (around 800AD)
Give us…..
Firm faith
Unwavering hope
A passion for justice.

In this present world, it is still has a lot of meaning.

Enjoy