Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST
Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST
It has taken me a while to get to like WordPress. At first I wanted to do the whole css html thing and have ‘complete control’. But, I’d rather spend time in the bush, so WP got the job.
However, the longwinded URL address thing has bugged me from the beginning.
So now its its own home. I’ve registered birdsaspoetry and you can get here from
All the stuff still exists and all the links work. Cool Enjoy.
Just on a week since we both have been in the park. The rain has made the ground lovely and soft, and there is a real feeling of freshness about the bush. The rain is really welcome.
We met Andrew, a blog follower and photographer out and about looking for redcaps. As it turned out we didn’t initially have much success, so Dorothy and I moved into the Back Paddock area.
We we soon greeted by the Scarlet Robin, not so vocal or active today, spent most of the morning close to the red-cap consort and feeding down low. Which should have made photography a bit easier, but the weather was closing in and there was not much sunlight. When the sun was good there were no birds, and when the birds were about it was overcast. Still we had plenty to see as both he and his companion twittered, tic’ed and flew about. I have never heard her give the d’reet, d’reet identity call, but he does respond to her tic’s.
She lovely creature has finally abandoned her juvenile dress and taken on a very light orange, apricot wash of feathers and a neat little copper cap. She wouldn’t fly with him, but he would fly when she did. It was a bit amusing to watch. He is full of energy and covers great distances, she leisurely moves from tree to tree.
Also found a Tawny Frogmouth in the usual place near the car park. Here is a link to its page. Or from the menu at the top of the blog.
Melbourne turned on one of those great days for the long-weekend holiday.
Not too hot, plenty of sunshine, mild breeze. Load up the car and go for a picnic. Well, put in the cameras and to look for Red-capped Robins.
There is never a guarantee about what we might find, but within about 10 minutes we had found both of the young redcaps we had been folowing, and their doting father. Although I think he is now pretty much in advisory category rather than working hard to feed his young family. They seem both quite grown up, and taking on much more of the female’s red bonnet and buff chest. What was a surprise was that the female turned up. She is quite the well dressed young thing. So its likely she has moulted into winter dress. And what a stunning combination she is showing, not a feather out of place, and with a lovely apricot wash on her chest.
He, on the other hand, is still much in the process of preparing for winter and has a few streaky feathers in his cap, and a collection of used feathers elsewhere.
The young are scruffy, but very active. One of them plopped down on a branch less than a metre from my camera and sat there for nearly a minute. It is always interesting to see them closeup, as it’s easy to forget how small they really are. We look at the pictures on the big screen and forget the scale of the bird. This little tiny breathing wisp, is all a red-cap really is.
We have been doing some walks with the Green Walks in the Park group of late. It is a joint venture with Parks Vic, Bushwalking Australia, the Heart Foundation and the local council.
This week the walk was around the Point Cook Costal Park. Lots of people turned up and as usual we strolled rather than walked. Took our time and saw some great birds. Lots of Black-shouldered Kites, some Brown Falcons, and a goodly number of waders and water birds. The walk was out to the monument to migration on the edge of the Cheetham Wetlands, and then along the beach.
On the way back to the car, I came across a Crested Pigeon that was sunning itself with its feathers all fluffed up and its wing outstretched.
It was a pleasure to get out of the house and into the bush without the rain. Took a trip into the backpaddock at Woodlands.
Didn’t take too long to spot a red-capped male. Then we looked in an area where we hadn’t been and lo and behold another male, and two, possibly three, of his offspring. The variation on the number is that two people can never agree.
So even at at the lower count it would seem we have seen at least 24 or possible 25 new juveniles in the forest this season.
The male was a very doting father, and fed, and offered advice, but his offspring have grown into quite independent birds now. This one is probably from an earlier brood, as it is starting to take on some nice orange brown wash on its chest. Very reminiscent of the female.
The Scarlet Robin is still in place, vocal, and swift. Covering much of the area we walked in today. Didn’t sight him, but as soon as we headed in one direction, he called from another.
Plenty of Yellow-rumped Thornbills, starting to gather, so a largish winter mixed flock might be in order. Time will tell.
It would be a treat if the young robins stayed about with the flock over winter. We were also thinking how successful the Flame Robins might have been, and how many birds will pass through over the winter months.
Alway something happening.
It is no surprise that for the best part of a week Victoria has experienced some very heavy rains. The weather forecast continued on that theme as we prepared to go to Werribee to meet with the BirdLife Australia Melbourne Photographic Group.
We were having a field trip to WTP led by John Barkla to learn the finer points of migratory wader identification.
After meeting at the Paradise Road Gate, and organising a bit of car pooling, doing a radio check and other general chit-chat, we were ready to Go.
John took us down to the small ponds near the boat ramp, and within a few minutes there were more than enough birds to keep the identification going and the cameras clicking.
Probably the bird of the day was the Broad-billed Sandpiper, I even know how to spell it now.
For more pics from the day, visit the site I have set aside for Photogroup activities here.
The degree of change in this bird from just a few weeks ago when I thought it was a female in moult is amazing. Now he is a dapper chappie with a lustrous Deep Black Head, a shining stand out White Splash and a lovely rich Red chest.
His degree of activity is astounding, he travels across the open areas and through the forest at a great rate of knots and will easily cover 300-400 metres in a single flight. His territory seems to be greater than a kilometre square.
He is quite vocal and always on the move. His consort the female Red-capped Robin is still in attendance, but she takes a much more laidback approach, flies a little bit, rests a lot. Hunts closely and doesn’t seem to concerned with his travelling habits. Occasionally he returns and they ‘tic’ at one another, he will fly all around her, and then take off to other parts of the forest.
The ‘pair’ have been around now for over 5 weeks. See first report here, when I had the thought he was a she.
We watched the Swamp Harrier making its way up the long grass towards us. Every so often it would make a course correction, or swing down to inspect possible prey. It was so intent on the work that it really didn’t notice two people sitting by the side of the roadway.
As it was close enough to pass over us, it finally saw us and made a swinging attempt to pull away. The large wings and tail scooped around like a parachute, stopping it dead in the air, its long legs began to swing out, to give it a point to turn on.
The first pic shows the wings and tail coming into action, the second the long legs now acting as a fulcrum to turn the whole body almost completely around. The crops are unintentional, the bird was simply too close to get it all in the frame.
The next pics in the sequence show a Swamp Harrier disappearing rapidly in the evening light.
Grinning widely we started to breathe again.
On a very hot February evening we headed on down to the Western Treatment Plant. Because of other commitments, it was now or not until a few weeks time.
The day was hot, the birds were hot, and scarce and who could blame them.
Found this Black-shouldered Kite on a limb near the boat ramp and moved the car into a good position for a shot. Its wings were spread out from its body in an endeavour to keep cool. But it also attacted attention from the local Willie Wagtail harassment team.
As if it wasn’t hard enough now it had to endure constant bombardment from the wagtails. As a team they are pretty relentless, one distracting while another dives or pulls tail feathers or in this case lands on the back.
Not sure if it was the harassment, the heat or the closeness of the car, but in the end it moved off to the tree line along the road to sit in the shade with another kite that was smart enough to avoid the wagtails and sit in the shade.
Also found a Swamp Harrier working along the river with its beak open scooping in air, and its tongue handing out.
Had a pleasant morning in the forest today, plenty of sunshine and not too hot.
The Scarlet and his friend the Redcapped Robin are still in the forest. He is very active and covers such a lot of territory. She doesn’t have the same power, and is quite content to rest on a tree, preen and hunt. He comes back and flies circles around her, and occassionaly she will fly off with him. This morning he made a sweep across the paddock and called from about 500 metres away, but she chose not to follow, after about 5 minutes, he came back directly across the field and landed on a branch above her and there was a few “tick” calls, and he tried again. She looked like she was counting feathers. 6345 to clean and counting. He returned and they hunted on the ground for awhile.
I am not sure what will happen when they discover they are different types of birds.
I have set up another blog for Scarlet Robins, you might like to check here.
First time back at Woodlands since the long Goschen trip.
Within a few minutes I had heard a familiar chirrup of the Scarlet Robin and went to investigate. I saw it in the distance, and it continued to come closer landing in a tree across the track from where I was. It is a male for sure. Has a lovely black head, really strong red colour, and that wonderful white spot above its beak.
It has grown quite bold as the week has gone by, and now patrols quite an extensive territory inside the Back Paddock fenced of area.
It does not seem to have a mate, but it is still in attendance with a female Recapped Robin. It is also moulting through and looks a bit of a sight at the moment. They sit together, hunt together and move about together, although it has to be said that the poor little redcaps wings whir quite bit trying to keep up with the speedy Scarlet. But they ‘tick’ call at one another.
Also saw today; three black swamp wallabies, so they have managed to get inside the fence in the new area. They seemed very relaxed. So that is good.
It’s a long drive to Goschen, but it has a great reputation among birders for being a bit of a honey-pot.
Our schedule meant we were going in early February, amongst the hottest times of the year and late in the breeding cycle, so we didn’t have much hope of being overwhelmed with birds.
But even though it was windy, hot and humid, with a little bit of patience we were rewarded with a number of interesting birds.
Bee-eaters, Yellow-plumed Honeyeaters, White-browed Scubwrens in abundance, Brown Falcon, Nankeen Kestrel, White-plumed Honeyeaters, and a bunch of the usual suspects. The Black Honeyeater was a dipper, so perhaps next time.
Heard lots of quail but didn’t see a single one. Also heard a Red-capped Robin but only a few bars of a song and searching led to another no show. Perhaps I just imagine them now?
The Goschen hall held two live Welcome Swallows flitting about inside, and around the inside area and the old stage areas, over a dozen dead birds. Pretty recent, as they had not deteriorated. There didn’t seem to be any sign of damage to them. Lots of teacandles on the floor, but no patterns, so the coven weren’t there. Strange about the swallows though.
While we were driving about, we startled two very large Grey Kangaroos, who in turn startled us by their sheer size and their speed in going away. Needless to say by the time I had uttered some anglo-saxon expletives, the photo moment was gone. As were the ‘roos.
Here is a Singing Honeyeater. It seemed to interested in the ‘beeping’ noise from the car when the seatbelt warning was going.
Goschen Tennis Court and Hall.
I have been spending some time in the morning looking for the Scarlet Robin. I am pretty convinced that the calls are from at least two birds. But. I haven’t been able to find both birds to confirm.
This bird seemed not to fussed this morning, and with a bit of sunlight to help things along I managed a few reasonable shots. But look at those black feathers, I am going to suggest it is a Male moulting through. A few more days and we will have a very dapper looking fellow I think. Now all I need to do is confirm that the female is there and it will be an interesting summer.
I am really beginning to like the light at the Treatment plant in the late afternoon. Sun sets way round to the south west and it gives a great cross light along many of the access roads. Particularly where there is a line of trees.
For some reason this evening, the raptors seemed to be at every turn and on just about every tree, post, or fence. Here is a youngish brown falcon, but click the link, for some Spotted Harrier, Brown Falcon, Swamp Harrier and Whistling Kite shots as well.
Many of the young falcons seem to be hanging around together, and we found 5 in just one corner on Paradise road.
We both are pretty certain that a Black Falcon was in a clearing down along 29 Mile Road past the access gate 1. But by the time we had: 1. Noticed it, 2. Stopped the car, 3. got over the oohs and aahs, and then 4. Got serious, it was but a mere black spec in the sky speeding toward Avalon.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST 