Bird Hyde

Regent Honeyeaters Return to Capertee Valley

Another all too brief trip to the valley but with big rewards. Timothy and I headed out to the valley yesterday afternoon, arriving at about 4pm. Time to unpack and have a cuppa, fill the water bowls and wait.... The White-plumes are always the first in, followed by Yellow-tufted & Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, there were quite a few Dusky Woodswallows around doing what they do best... a bit of communal preening in the autumn sun. (Remember,click on any photo to see a larger view.)

Dusky Woodswallows

Then the familiar call of a Regent Honeyeater, it landed in a large Ironbark next to the house, stayed a few moments then moved to another Ironbark and then left.The Little Eagle made an appearance and we went off for a late afternoon stroll.On our return to the house as the sun had dipped we could hear 3 Barking Owls... this was going to be a good trip.

This morning the place was alive with birds, Noisy Friarbirds everywhere, I counted 90 fly over the house with just as many still lerping in the Whitebox

Noisy Friabird

A flock of 25 Gang Gang Cockatoos came in and took up position in various trees around the house.

Gang Gang Cockatoo

I decided to indulge myself with a long walk, while Timothy cleared fallen branches from the fence, his choice.. I headed to the middle of the property, and got quite a suprise.. a Speckled Warbler feeding a Black-eared Cuckoo.What a mixed up season this has been.

Speckled Warbler

Black-eared Cuckoo

I got back from my walk in time for lunch, and I was feeling quite pleased with myself... Another 4 Regents flew in to the same Iron bark (This tree is a popular stop over for lots of birds, as it is a high point in this part of the valley)  They also didn't stay long but were very vocal.

Regent Honeyeater

30 minutes later while doing the dishes, that call again ..this time 2 birds vocalizing, one in the tree and the other at the water bowl, grab the camera..In case you weren't counting that's 7 RH's

The following three photos are of the same bird.

All photos were taken on this trip.

Block List For 10/11 April 2008

Brown Quail, Painted Button Quail
Little Eagle, Barking Owl
Common Bronzewing, Peaceful Dove
Eastern and Crimson Rosella, Gang Gang and Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, King and Red-rumped Parrot and Little Lorrikeet
Black-eared Cuckoo
Brown Treecreeper, White Throated Treecreeper
Superb Fairy Wren, Striated Pardalote, Spotted Pardalote, Speckled Warbler
Black-chinned, Yellow-tufted, Yellow-faced, White-plumed, Fuscous, Regent Honey-eaters, Noisy Friarbird, Red Wattlebird and Noisy Miner
Yellow Robin, White-browed Babbler, Crested Shrike Tit, Rufous Whistler
Grey Shrike-thrush, White-bellied & Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, Olive Backed Oriole
Willy Wagtail, Magpie Lark
Dusky Woodswallow
Magpie, Aus.Raven, Pied Currawong, Pied and Grey Butcherbird, White-winged Chough
Diamond Firetail and Double Bar Finch
Mistletoe Bird
Welcome Swallow, Fairy Martin

Olive-backed Oriole

Spotted Pardalote

Striated Pardalote

Hungry Mouth to feed

A local pair of Red Wattlebirds have had their work cut out for them, raising a Common Koel. This bird spends a good part of the day in our garden waiting and begging, with the Wattlebirds ferrying a constant stream of food to it. The female has found a source of large green lacewings in a Lilly pilly which satisfies it for about a nano second.