Sunday, August 8, 2010

New Holland Honeyeater



Not a great picture - I had to take it through the lounge-room window because the birds fly away if I open the front door - but I really wanted a pic of these regular visitors, so here it is. Hopefully I'll get a better one in the future.

New nesting boxes installed






We've just installed two new nesting boxes on my uncle and aunt's property, which is over the road from ours. The larger one is for Powerful Owls (Ninox ninox), which are endangered because, at about 60cm in height, they have trouble finding old trees with hollows big enough for them to breed in. The other box is for Sugar Gliders, which I've only discovered recently in the garden after the dog brought a dead one to the back door ( a cat had killed it and then dropped the poor little bugger when the dog chased it up a tree.) It will probably take at least a year before they get used. Hopefully the presence of Sugar Gliders, which are common, will attract the owls that feed on them, and then the owls in turn will start breeding. I have heard a Powerful Owl one night in April (they make a conventional hooting noise). The boxes have dry mulch from wattle trees in them. We had to install them away from our garden because we already have boxes for rosellas, bats and tree creepers, and if owls start living nearby then the other animals won't nest there.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Satin Bowerbird couple comes snooping around #2

Here are photos of the male.




Satin Bowerbird couple comes snooping around #1






Apart from once seeing a female Bowerbird eating the tomatoes on the vegetable garden last year, I had no idea that they came foraging so far out of the forest. It seems they like the seed left in the bird trays, as well as any fruit they can find. Here are photos of the female. Unfortunately the pics aren't that good - I had to take them through the laundry window.

Newcomer sighted in the garden






This is the first time that I've seen a Grey Fantail in the garden - or, at least, recognised one as such, rather than a flash and flitter of grey in the shrubbery. There are several races of this species, and this one must be of the , which live throughout eastern Australia, favouring anywhere with plenty of trees and shrubs.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Galah feeding






We don't often see Galahs in the garden, although they are in the area. This one was game enough to come to the feeding tray near the kitchen window, which is usually used by the Rosellas, King Parrots and Sparrows. Then its friend came, but decided their wasn't room for two. Unfortunately the picture is blurred, but one gets the idea.

Grey-Shrike Thrush foraging






Blue Wrens aren't the only birds that like to forage in the veranda garden. And like the Wrens, the Grey Shrike-Thrushes especially like it in the cool weather. Perhaps it's because more grubs come to the surface of the soil, so they're easier to get at.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Currawong lunch






A flock of currawongs turns up most days to try to steal the dogs dry food when she's not around. I've taken to leaving them some on this under-used bird feeding tray - it will now be devoted to the currawongs, so they don't disturb the rosella and parrots at the other trays. Now I just need to find a way to keep the Indian mynas away...

Superb Blue Wren family





The pair of Blue Wrens who were coming to the veranda garden everyday last year appear to have been busy raising a family - there are now at least five young wrens. Mum and dad were with them at first but I haven't seen them lately - perhaps their short time in this life has ended. But they've left a new generation.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Spotted Pardalote suffering heat exhaustion




This poor little fellow showed up on the veranda one hot afternoon, apparently a bit overcome by the humidity, which has been exceptional for the past 6 months. Fortunately, after about 10 minutes of quiet sitting he was on his way.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Heron afternoon





This one showed up on the veranda one hot afternoon while the dog wasn't around. I was inside reading and when I went to get the camera it flew onto the bird bath, as you can see.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

One of the locals




Kookaburras should be a familiar sight for anyone living near native woodland in southern Australia.