Impromptu Bird Bath

Eastern Rosella (L) and Mallee Ringneck (R)

This year in South Australia we have had well below average rain in many areas. This includes Murray Bridge where I live. A few weeks ago we did have some rain but we are still well below average to this time of the year. Many of the local farmers are desperately in need of a good soaking rain so that they can get on with sowing their cereal crops for this year.

After any substantial amount of rain, several puddles of water form in my driveway. I have intended to fill these hollows with some extra gravel, but now I am not so sure that this is a wise thing to do. Many different species of birds like to have a quick dip in these ephemeral waterholes. 

After the recent rain, the two birds shown in the photo took full advantage of the extra birdbath in my garden. They decided on an impromptu bath and they appeared to really enjoy the extra bathing facilities. They lingered long enough for me to get the camera and take a few photos out through the kitchen window.

The bird on the right is an Australian Ringneck parrot, sub-species Mallee Ringneck. It is a common species in this area and I regard it as a resident bird in my garden. I see - or hear - the five of six resident birds every day. This species has also nested in a hollow of a tree just a few metres from my office where I am writing this. I can hear the birds chattering away as I type.

The bird on the left has a stranger background. This Eastern Rosella is a ring-in. Although it has kept company with the Mallee Ringneck in my garden for the last two years, it is not native to this area. Although it is relatively common in the Adelaide region about 70 kilometres to the west of here, the species there is an introduced one. Their natural range is throughout the eastern states of Australia and through to the south-east of South Australia. I have concluded that, although they may be extending their range, I suspect that this individual has either escaped from someone's aviary, or it was released by someone locally.

Whatever the reason, I love seeing this beautiful bird in my garden.

For more stories about and photos of Australian birds go to Trevor's Birding here.

World Environment Day

Eastern Rosella

2018 World Environment Day

I haven't posted here in quite some time due to family reasons. Now that life is settling down again for me, I intend posting more often and hopefully more regularly than in times past.

Today is World Environment Day. I can't recall ever posting anything special on this day, so this could be a first for me. I really enjoy the Australian environment where I live. My home is on the edge of a large country town in South Australia. A significant part of my property is covered in natural scrubland, so I am aware of the birdlife in particular on a daily basis. I always have my camera at the ready.

Last week while I was washing the dishes, I looked out the window to where I have placed several bird baths. In the warmer months of the year, there is a steady progression of birds coming for a drink or a bath. Over the years, this proximity to the bird life of my garden has been a source of much pleasure. It has also allowed me to get a good collection of wonderful photos.

Even in the cooler months, there is an occasional visit to the bird baths. The Eastern Rosella shown above and below was one such individual last week. It took its time having a drink so I was able to fetch my camera and get several lovely photos.

Eastern Rosellas are not native to this part of South Australia. It is a common species in the eastern states of Australia and they do occur naturally in the south-east of our state. They have been introduced to the Adelaide region which is about 80 kilometres west of my home. Either they are extending their range, or this individual has escaped from someone's aviary. I have seen it almost daily for the last few years, so it must consider my garden as its home.

Eastern Rosella, Murray Bridge, South Australia

Eastern Rosella, Murray Bridge, South Australia

The Australian Galah

Australian parrot known as the Galah

We have many beautiful parrots here in Australia. Most people living here would have noticed several species of parrot in their everyday lives, even if they are not birders (bird watchers). One of the most easily recognised of Australian parrots would have to be the Galah. It was once called a Rose-breasted Cockatoo, a much more poetic name than Galah, in my opinion.

Over recent weeks, the Galahs around our home and garden here in Murray Bridge, South Australia, have been going stir crazy. We usually have small flocks of 5 to 50 Galahs fly over our house every hour or so. Sometimes the flocks can range up to 500 or more birds together. That is a spectacular sight. And noisy, too.

 Frequently they will land in one or more of the trees near our house, creating quite a noisy racket. In the last few weeks, they have been behaving in an erratic way, flying around and around, squawking loudly and wheeling around in the air above our property. I am not sure what has got into them. In the past, this behaviour is common during rainy days, but we haven't had one of those in a while. Strange.

Australian parrot known as the Galah

The photos I am showing today are from another time. These shots were taken from our cabin in one of the caravan parks in Mudgee, New South Wales. We were on our way home and it was a balmy evening. My wife and I sat on the deck of the cabin enjoying a late afternoon cuppa, just before we had our dinner. I noticed a Galah in a nearby tree, lit up beautifully by the setting sun. a few moments later, the female popped her head out of a hollow in the eucalypt tree. I figured that they were nesting and the were probably preparing the hollow for their eggs.

You can read more about Galahs here, and read more about Australian birds on my other site, Trevor's Birding.

Australian parrot known as the Galah

Australian parrot known as the Galah

Rainbow Bee-eaters come visiting

Rainbow Bee-eater

One of my favourite Australian birds would have to be the Rainbow Bee-eater. This colourful bird with the rainbow colours is widespread through much of mainland Australia. We occasionally have them in our garden in Murray Bridge as visitors. They rarely stay more than a few minutes. I have heard and seen them on a few occasions over recent weeks.

This has not always been the case. Many years ago - probably about 20 or so years ago - they could be counted as a breeding species on our five-acre block of land. On several occasions, they made their small nest at the end of a 30-40cm burrow in the sand. These nests were made in the banks on the side of the road running down the western edge of our land. In more recent years, they have just been occasional visitors.

Rainbow Bee-eaters arrive in southern Australia in the spring months around September and October. During our spring and summer months, they dig their nests, often in the sides of roads, culverts or in the banks of creeks and wash-outs. They raise their young and then migrate back to northern Australia and Papua-New Guinea in the late summer or early autumn, usually around March or April.

Despite their name, Rainbow Bee-eaters eat more than just bees. They will catch a wide variety of insects on the wing. When they do catch a bee, they will alight on a branch of a nearby tree and proceed to remove the stinger of the bee by banging it on the branch. I guess that they just don't want their lunch to bite them.

You can read more about Australian birds on my other site called Trevor's Birding.

Rainbow Bee-eater

Diamond Firetail Finches, Capertee Valley

Diamond Firetail

On our visit last year to Sydney, we came home a different way. Instead of travelling straight home to Murray Bridge, we detoured via Lithgow, Mudgee, Dunedoo, Cobar and Broken Hill. From Lithgow to Mudgee we detoured through the Capertee Valley, one of the birding hotspots in Australia. This was my first visit to the valley. I was disappointed during our brief visit. I didn't see some of the rarer birds known to inhabit this amazing landscape of towering sandstone cliffs.

When we stopped for afternoon tea at the small village of Glen Alice, I was pleased to see a solitary Diamond Firetail Finch, the one shown in today's photos. This beautiful member of the finch family is good to see anywhere and we even have this species as an occasional visitor to our garden. This was the only occasion I saw this finch on this particular five week holiday in New South Wales. It was a fitting addition to my bird list for the trip, and one of the highlights of the day.

Diamond firetail

Diamond Firetail

Ku Ring Gai Wildflowers Gardens in Sydney

Laughing Kookaburra

My wife and I travel to Sydney several times a year to help look after our grandchildren, ages 8 and 5. Although they are very energetic and tire us out, we love being with them and getting to know them. On a visit last year, we took time out to go on a family picnic. One of our favourite places to visit would have to be the Ku Ring Gai Wildflower Gardens in the suburb of St Ives.

These gardens consist of two main parts: a planted garden of Australian native plants, with the rest being natural scrubland. The scrubland section is the largest part and gives the visitor a good impression of what this part of Sydney was like in its natural state, before settlement by Europeans.

The whole area is covered by walking trails which are easy to negotiate. In springtime, many of the plants are flowering. Even at other times of the year, you can find something flowering. Where there are native flowers the observant visitor will also find plenty of native birds, many of them feeding on the nectar of the flowers.

I have seen a good range of honeyeaters in these gardens, including Eastern Spinebill, Scarlet Honeyeater, Crescent Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Lewin's Honeyeater and both Red and Little Wattlebirds. One can also see a range of parrots, including Galahs, several species of cockatoos and lorikeets, finches, doves and pigeons, pardalotes, thornbills, robins, swallows, fantails and scrubwrens. Australian Brush Turkeys are often seen in the picnic areas, but seeing a Superb Lyrebird is a little bit harder, but they have been seen in these gardens from time to time.

You can read more about Australian birds, and see more photos of them on my site called Trevor's Birding.

What a turkey

Australian Brush Turkey

Twice over the course of this year, my wife and I have travelled to Sydney. We go there to visit our son and to look after our wonderful, energetic grandchildren, ages 8 and 5. From our home in Murray Bridge, South Australia, it is a pleasant two-day journey. Along the way, we try to stop in places where I can observe a good range of birds.

Australian Brush Turkey

While we are in Sydney, there are a few places we like to visit, places we have enjoyed during past visits. One of these favourite places would have to be the Ku Ring Gai Wildflower Gardens in the Sydney suburb of St. Ives. These gardens have a good range of native Australian plants which have been planted there. My wife always enjoys looking at these and taking photographs of anything flowering. I have included some of my photos of flowers below.

The gardens also include a large area of natural bushland. This area is a good representation of the natural habitat which existed before European occupation. While much of the surrounding area has been cleared for housing and industrial use, there are still many remnants of original bushland left. In these areas, the native birdlife can be very easy to see and photograph.

While we were having a cuppa one of the resident Australian Brush Turkeys came right up to where we were sitting on one of the garden seats in the picnic area. I am sure it was hoping to get a share of our biscuits. We disappointed it: we do not feed our native birds as human food is not suitable for them. So, in its frustration, it decided to get something for itself. It tried opening up my camera bag looking for some tasty morsel. Seeing that my camera bag was on the ground right next to where my son was sitting was no deterrent to this bird. Obviously, they are quite accustomed to people and are not at all frightened by our presence. Not having any luck with us, it wandered over to another spot where some other people were having a barbecue. They took pity on it and gave it something from their picnic food.

You can read more about Australian birds on my other site Trevor's Birding.

Ku Ring Gai Wildflower Gardens Sydney

Ku Ring Gai Wildflower Gardens Sydney

Ku Ring Gai Wildflower Gardens Sydney

Birding on the move

Musk Lorikeet

After a long absence here - I am now back. Sorry about that. Life happens.

Earlier in the year my wife and I travelled to Sydney to stay with our son and his family. While there we have the delight of looking after our two grandchildren during school holidays. Soon I will get around to showing a few of the photos taken on that trip. Mind you, a four-year-old and a seven-year-old are not easy to look after and the birding excursions were limited. I am so thankful that both of them are starting to take an interest in birds. I wonder where that came from?

On our way to returning home to Murray Bridge, we called on our daughter in Clare in the mid-north of South Australia. Over the next two months, we had many trips to and from Clare. These trips were to help our daughter pack up all of her belongings ready for storage at our place. All of her furniture and most of her books and clothing and personal belongings are now in storage in a shipping container in our paddock (see photo below).

During this busy time I had very few opportunities to go birding, or to take photos of birds, and certainly not much time or energy to be writing posts here on this site or on my other site (Trevor's Birding). The photo of  Musk Lorikeet (above) was taken during one brief break from packing and cleaning. 

Every day we were staying with our daughter we heard dozens of Musk Lorikeets feeding in the eucalyptus tree overhanging her back garden. This species is a common parrot here in South Australia and they can be very noisy when feeding. This often happens with loose flocks of many dozens in the one tree. While it is hard to see the green feathers of the bird in the photo, blending in with the leaves, the red feathers on the forehead and crown show up brilliantly.

By the way, I case my readers are curious about it, my daughter's belongings are being stored here at our home while she teaches in Ethiopia for the next two years. Although she has not updated her site since her last visit there a few years ago, you can follow her adventures on Rose's Travel Jottings here. She is planning on updating her travel site regularly. 

And I hope to update this site every week too. 

More and still more Peaceful Doves

Peaceful Dove

We have lived in our home now for over 30 years and during that entire time I have kept lists of birds seen. I have done this every month over that period of time. It certainly gives an interesting picture of the bird life in our garden, and on our five-acre block of land surrounding the house.

Peaceful Doves are quite common and widespread in the Murray Bridge, South Australia area where we live. Despite this, we rarely saw this species in our garden until about five years ago. Gradually, they have become more and more frequent visitors. Over the last year, they have become almost daily visitors. I could almost call them a resident bird in our garden, meaning that we see or hear them every day.

Late last year we saw two of them mating and we are sure that they nested somewhere nearby, though we never found the nest. Over recent weeks, we have been seeing up six birds at a time, often near or at our bird baths. I would like to think that this is one family of birds resulting from last year's breeding season.

You can see more photos of Australian birds, and read more about them on another of my sites called Trevor's Birding.

Peaceful Dove

Peaceful Dove

Topsy the Crested Pigeon

Crested Pigeon with extra long feathers

Over the last few months, my wife and I have been amused to see an unusual Crested Pigeon coming almost daily to the bird baths in our garden. We have many Crested Pigeons in our garden and on our five-acre block of land, but this one individual has caught our eye.

We can easily identify this individual due to its extra long feathers in its crest - see the photos to see what I mean. Some of the feathers are almost twice the normal length. I am not sure what has caused this, but we have called this bird "Topsy".

Many people here in South Australia wrongly call this species "Topknot" Pigeons. I grew up calling them this. Only in more recent years have I reverted to the correct and official common name of Crested Pigeon. There are Topknot Pigeons in Australia but this totally different species is confined to the eastern states.

You can read more about Australian birds and see more photos I have taken on my other site Trevor's Birding.

Crested Pigeon with extra long feathers

Crested Pigeon with extra long feathers

Crested Pigeon with extra long feathers

It sure is hot

White-winged Choughs

Over some of my recent posts here I have written about the hot weather we have been having over the summer just gone. The summer in southern Australia set all kinds of records. During hot days, and especially during heat waves, our birds can suffer terribly. I like to help the birds in our garden  by keeping our various bird baths topped up with fresh, clean water.

This has a double purpose. The water attracts the birds and this gives me great opportunities to take more bird photos. Through a large picture window in the room we often use I can get good close-up photos of the birds having a drink, or cooling down in the water.

Today I feature a set of photos taken of a family of White-winged Choughs. These birds are often in our garden, or somewhere on our five acre property. They feed by scratching at the leaf litter under plants and trees looking for a tasty insect, beetle or spider. 

You can see more photos on my other site Trevor's Birding. 

White-winged Chough

White-winged Chough

Birds up close and personal

One of the essential pieces of equipment for any serious birder is to have a good pair of binoculars. I don't have an expensive pair. They only cost me just over $200. For the really fussy, or the well-heeled, fanatic birder, the cost can be as high as $2000 or more. I will just say that I would hate to drop such an expensive piece of equipment - or have it stolen or lost. 

In fact, most bird lovers get along perfectly well just watching birds with their eyes only. Everyone can enjoy the birds in their gardens without the expense of buying special equipment. On the other hand, just a reasonably priced pair of binoculars - say up to $500 - will certainly give you a fresh appreciation of the beauty and colour in the birds of our world.

Another piece of equipment I enjoy having is a camera with a powerful zoom lens. All of the photos shown here are as a result of using a Canon PowerShot SX20. The 20 refers to the 20x zoom. I am able to manipulate the photos on my computer to further enhance the photos. This powerful zoom enables me to take much closer shots of the birds I see. And I love sharing them here and on my other site Trevor's Birding.

Sometimes, I get the photo just right and the result is amazing. The zoom enables me to get up  to birds really close and personal - without scaring them away. 

Further reading:

• Bird photography
• I have a new camera

Australian Magpie-lark

Australian Magpie-lark

Mallee Ringneck parrots come to our bird bath

Mallee Ringneck parrots

I live on a five acre property on the outskirts of Murray Bridge in South Australia. Over the years I have recorded over 110 different species in or near our garden. Some of these are occasional visitors but many of them are resident species, that is, they are here all the time. Many of these species are actually resident breeding species, meaning that they also have been recorded breeding on our property.

One of our favourite bird species would have to be the colourful Mallee Ringnecks, a race of the Australian Ringneck parrot found over large parts of the drier parts of the Australian continent. They are a resident breeding species in our garden. They are also one of the noisiest birds in our garden.

To be truthful, we have a love-hate relationship with these birds. We love having them around every day and their cheerful calls and brilliant colours brighten up our day. On the other hand we don't like it when they get into our many fruit trees, especially our delicious pears. I try to keep them out using netting over the trees, but far too often they beat me to it.

You can read more posts I have written about these birds on Trevor's Birding. 

Mallee Ringneck parrots

Juvenile Grey Currawong

Juvenile Grey Currawong

A few days ago we had a juvenile Grey Currawong come to visit one of our bird baths. It was a very hot day and the parade of birds coming to the bird bath was constant - until the currawong arrived. 

Being such a large bird, all the smaller species like honeyeaters, thornbills and wrens made way. The adult currawong will take the eggs and nestlings of many of the smaller species, so their caution is well founded.

Until a few years ago we rarely saw any currawongs on our five acre block of land near Murray Bridge in South Australia. We occasionally would hear one calling in the distance. They were a resident species in the patch of mallee scrub up the hill from our place. In the last 5 or so years they have become regular visitors in our garden. I can't yet call them a resident species because we do not see them everyday, but their visits are becoming more regular. 

Juvenile Grey Currawong

Juvenile Grey Currawong

A brown snake at our bird bath

Eastern Brown Snake

On hot days we have a constant stream of birds in our garden coming in for a drink at our bird baths. This summer has been particularly hot, breaking many records. Our bird baths have been well used. A few day ago we were surprised by an Eastern Brown Snake drinking from one of the bird baths on the ground.

Eastern Brown Snake

Over the years I have recorded many bird species coming to use the bird bath, plus a few other interesting creatures, including a rabbit, various lizards and even a fox. This is the first time we have actually seen a snake using the water though I guess it has happened before.

While we know that we have Eastern Brown Snakes in our garden and around our property, they usually keep well out of our way. They tend to be on the timid side - except when cornered or threatened in any way. We try not to annoy them - which is just as well. This species is the second deadliest snake in the world.

Without them around we would probably have an enormous mouse and rat problem - so they are welcome.

You can read a full list of birds and other creatures visiting our bird baths here on Trevor's Birding site.

Eastern Brown Snake

Happy New Year

Mallee Ringneck parrots

HAPPY NEW YEAR to my readers.

Yes -  I realise that I am over two weeks late in posting such greetings, but I have been rather busy of late. We have had family visiting over the Christmas - New Year break, and we have also been visiting other family members. On top of all that I have been without a computer for some of that period. My son has been busy transferring all of my files to a new computer.

Today's photo of two Mallee Ringneck parrots was taken during one of the very hot days we have been experiencing here in South Australia so far this summer. The ringnecks are present every day in our garden and we love seeing them. However, they are not our favourite birds when the chew our ripening pears. 

You can read more about Australian birds on another of my sites called Trevor's Birding. 

Birds in the heat

White-browed Woodswallow (L) and Australian Magpie-lark (R)

In the week before Christmas we had a sudden heat wave here in South Australia. Over four consecutive days much of the state had temperatures over 40C (104F). On the worst day Port Augusta's temperature reached a sizzling 47.2C (117F).

That's hot.

Really hot.

 This heat wave was unprecedented because we usually get consecutive days of severe heat in January and February, rarely in December.

On the last day of this heat wave I sat at our sun room table taking note - and photos - of the constant parade of birds coming to our bird bath. Most of them looked very stressed by the fiery north wind. Many came for a drink; a few for a bath. Most lingered for many minutes enabling a few good photos.

Australians in particular should be aware of the plight of birds on days of extreme heat. Put out a few bowls of water in shady spots so the birds can have a drink. Place the bowls near to a bush or tree so that they have a safe route of escape from predators. 

Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater feeling the heat

Happy Christmas

Red-capped Robin

I wish all of my readers a very Happy and Blessed Christmas.

Instead of writing lots about some of the Australian birds I have seen and photographed, 

today I will just share a few of my favourite photos of birds.

Have a great time over Christmas - New Year.

Keep safe - and join me again in 2016 for more photos. 

Trevor

Silvereye - an Australian bird

The Australian Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

 

Australian Ringneck Parrot