Bird Hyde

A Trip to Melbourne and some new Big Things

Last week we had a show at the Werribee Mansion Hotel and Spa and very grand it is too.

We worked in the pavilion overlooking the Polo field

We decided to drive down and take a few extra days for sighiseeing

First stop 'The Big Merino' or 'Rambo' as the locals call him. What a magnificent lump of concrete! When the town was bypassed a few years ago Rambo was moved to the new road. I wonder if they had to use a 'Big Kelpie' to help

We visited Diggers Rest and found the plaque commemorating Harry Houdinis first flight in Australia


The guy in the local shop couldn't tell us where the field was but we did find...

Tocumal on the Murray  River and of course a 'Big Murray Cod'


Jerilderie  has cut out Ned Kelly's on the shop awnings

We arrived in West Wyalong just on dark and booked into the True Blue Motel and didn't notice cyclone fencing around the first 3 rooms

The Motel had been built in the site of the True Blue gold mine ...

and I think the mine was winning!!!!!!!!!

Mrs Psycho suggested we go to the Hut Resturant for dinner OMG it was the weirdest place.
An old chemist shop made out to look like a Hut, bamboo screens and plastic flowers

and fake birds

all in all a good trip

Barking Owls

Winter has arrived in the Capertee Valley and some rain as well....and a pair of Barking Owls..


and a pair of Hooded Robins too

Grey-crowned Babblers and more in the Capertee Valley

I came across 12 Grey-crowned Babblers a couple of weeks ago as I was on my morning walk. One bird was always in the lead, and constantly calling to the rest of the group.

 

There was much excitement when a nice bit of loose bark was found

A pair of Brown Treecreepers kept me amused as they scurried along the fence

2 Hooded Robbins put in a brief appearance Adult Male and Juvenile Male

 Diamond Firetails were sunning themselves

and a very noisy bunch of Musk Lorikeets were enjoying some White Box flower

a Restless Flycatcher hovered about topping off a very nice mornings walk.
 

A Bird in the Hand

What a nice surprise this week. An order from Wildcare Australia for 30 copies of my CDRom, A Bird in the Hand, a photographic guide for identifying juvenile birds.
It's now in its 4th edition and here is one of the new birds

White Browed Scrubwren

Capertee Valley Tree Planting 2009

The Regent Honeyeater Recovery Group is organizing another tree planting weekend in the Capertee Valley on the  2nd & 3rd of May. They have 3000 trees & shrubs,so if you want to get your hands dirty and do something for the planet they always need volunteers.

 Contact
Tiffany.Mason@environment.nsw.gov.au 

Regent Honeyeater, White plumed Honeyeater (behind)

A day in the Capertee Valley

Autumn has arrived, my favorite time of the year... mornings have a slight chill and from now on we will see cooler weather .. I wish.
Timothy and I headed out to the Valley to see if our Hazelnut trees had survived... On our last visit (2 1/2  weeks ago)  severe weather conditions with extreme temperatures had taken a toll on them, just about every leaf had been burnt. There has been considerable rain since our last visit and all but one seem to have survived.

After watering our superannuation, we were able to indulge in the sport we love best ...bird watching,  it doesn't have to be just birds, it's a great excuse for a slow walk enjoying everything our little property offers.It was the middle of the day but not too hot, the echidnas had been out lots of disturbed ant nests,

 not a lot of birds about, Timothy spotted a Speckled Warbler

Mistletoe is in flower

But the Highlight of the day was a Lace Monitor(goanna). A very very large beast indeed, we first spotted it as we approached our back dam, a quite remote part of  the property away from roads, people etc.

It was aware of us, and slowly left the bank and climbed a nearby Ironbark, one I on us.We estimate this animal to be well over 2 meters long. And we weren't going to get too close!!

 

Australasian Grebe

This young Grebe was found wandering in a backyard on the 20th of December, nowhere near water, a small head injury but otherwise in good health.
21.12.08
 

2.01.09

11.01.09 Into the big pond and a close encounter with the turtle

 

...some underwater swimming practice

Up for air..

12.01.09 Release Day.........

 

What bird is this # 3 Answer

Striated Pardalote

Swift Parrot Release

Last week I was invited to be at the release of a Swift Parrot. It had been in care for after being found in a daycare centre in Penrith west of Sydney.

Wendy, on the left, cared for the bird
Debbie is the Swift Parrot Recovery Coordinator
Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW

Measurements were taken..and a rather fetching bangle was applied

The weigh in

 

And finally. Release

What bird is this? # 3 Clue

Does this help?