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Bird spotting

By Rex Fisher

Red-browed Firetails photo by Deb Pearse

Just a few simple pleasures

20th October 2006

As I had breakfast with a group of Red-browed Firetails only meters away from me this morning. I reflected on how easy it is to enjoy simple, but very rich, natural pleasures around here. Of course the foraging of the Firetails also indicated that my lawn was very overgrown and I had better get the mower out.

We can enjoy similar pleasures in the driest outback areas as well. Walking through bare, grey mulga country and having a spectacular Red-capped Robin bob up in front of you is a wonderful experience. The contrast is amazing and it is like a little gift from Mother Nature. Splendid Fairy-Wrens and Crimson Chats are just a couple of the others that can stop you in your tracks out there. Thinking about how these creatures and their associated plants survive in harsh outback climates will while away many pleasurable moments as well.  

But getting back to our green wonderland. I went to Minyon Falls yesterday and was greeted by a Crimson Rosella and King Parrot feeding together in nearby understorey. I got distracted from noting exactly what they were feeding on but I do want to spend more time getting to know some of the associations between local birds and their habitats. I think that can be particularly useful for Landcarers and hope to compile some more expert information and discussion shortly.

Back at Minyon (hard to keep me on track) some friends then arrived and we went over to the lookout. I pointed out that if you look for “whitewash” (a euphemism for poop) on the sides of cliffs you can often find Peregrine Falcons roosting. A moment later I was asked “what bird is that” and there was a Peregrine sitting on a ledge just below us. The yellow of its feet and bill parts was spectacular in that light. Of course, in true form, as soon as I raised my camera in those perfect conditions it took off. But that did give a very good look at how it is stockier, shorter tailed, and broader winged than the similar Australian Hobby. Whoa Rex - I will go into this id stuff about raptors in a future article but I just find it difficult not to continually talk about them.

Anyway settling in for lunch at Rummery Park a little later I was interrupted by a visiting Nankeen Night-Heron. These are tan and pale brown with a blue-grey cap. At the moment they have beautiful white plumes out of the back of that cap indicating that they are ready to exchange genetic material with a suitable partner. A pair of Spangled Drongos took exception to this bird indicating that they might also be interested in a little genetic exchange. A Satin Bowerbird was far more interested in anything left over on a nearby picnic table.

Whilst we don’t often see Night-Herons I think that has a lot to do with their secluded roosting; night foraging and very wary nature rather than rarity. If you are near a creek and a pale tan Heron takes off well before you get close then it is probably a Night-Heron. I have seen a roosting colony whilst canoeing along Marshall’s Creek and a few days ago saw eight of them flying around after they had been disturbed at another location.
If you are canoeing around local creeks be alert not only for Night-Herons but also for the similarly shaped, but differently coloured, Black-Bittern. Again not often seen but they are also very secretive and wary. However the first one I ever saw was from my backyard, late one evening, when it flew in and started foraging in backyards across the other side of Capricornia Canal. I was told that several young ones from the South Golden Beach area had been taken into care around that time, probably due to poisoning from cane toads.

Yesterday was well and truly rounded out on another walk when I heard an unfamiliar call. It turned out to be the beautiful Golden Whistler. I tend to see Rufous Whistlers more often and am far more familiar with their call which often ends with an eee chong.

Now I wonder what today, tomorrow or the next day might bring. Whatever it is I am sure I will enjoy it (positive affirmation for today). Hey I just heard my first Koel for the season.

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