Little Ravens nest building
A few days ago I observed two Little Ravens strutting around our garden. This is not all that unusual; they are often seen looking for morsels to eat. This behaviour, however, was somewhat different.
This pair – I am assuming that they were indeed a pair – were gathering various types of materials from the garden and driveway. This included pieces of bark, bits of string, the odd twig and other things I couldn’t quite make out. After a few minutes of this they both flew off out of view. I didn’t have the time to follow them to see where they were nest building. I have no proof that they were, indeed, nesting – or just gathering different objects for the fun of it. It is about that time of year that they usually start breeding, so their action was not unexpected.
What amused me about the whole episode was their deliberate walk. They casually yet deliberately strode around as if they owned the place. I guess that our garden is really their place – I am the interloper. Their forebears were in occupancy for millennia before I bought the property.
Little Raven
I didn’t have the time or the camera ready to take a photo at the time, so you will have to be content with a photo taken of two Little Ravens (a pair?) sitting in a tree near our house a few years ago.
Birds are a distraction
Magpie Lark
I am currently at my daughter’s home in Clare in the mid north of South Australia. I am busy – trying to study. The birds in her garden are a wonderful distraction from my books and writing.
Yesterday afternoon I took a break from my studies to mow her lawns. Actually – it would be more accurate to say that I removed the jungle. She has been overseas for the last five weeks and it has grown almost out of control. Not for the first time has Dad come to the rescue.
The resident birds are enjoying the cut grass. I guess I stirred up a lot of insects and exposed them to the birds. The Australian Magpie Larks were the first to move in, strutting around as if they owned the place. The Red Wattlebirds do not like their patch being invaded and will think nothing of swooping the poor Peewees (a common local name for the Magpie Larks). The Australian Magpies were not too slow on the update either, coming to feed and then rewarding us with their beautiful warbling and caroling right at the back door.
Australian Magpie (Black-backed race)
The Common Blackbirds quietly scamper from the bushes for a sortie or two before scurrying off to the next bush to hide, their alarm calls warning others. The Crested Pigeons strut purposefully across the grass, pausing every now and then to peck at some tasty morsel. Nearby, the New Holland Honeyeaters flit and parry, swooping down to capture an unsuspecting insect for breakfast.
The only species I haven’t seen at this veritable smorgasbord has been the local Willie Wagtails. They are often the very first to take advantage of such a feast. I guess they have better pickings elsewhere.
I must get back to my studies.
Willie Wagtail
Rufous Songlark
Yesterday I wrote about the Common Skylarks calling near our house. During this last week we spent quite a deal of time dodging showers as we worked outside. The fruit trees desperately needed attention; the chain saw was fired up as some branches needed some drastic action.
In between bursts of cutting we heard the distinctive and unmistakable ‘twitchy tweedle’ call of the Rufous Songlark. This species is about the same size as a Common Skylark (and a little larger than a House Sparrow).
They are regular visitors about this time of the year through to spring. Several years ago I thought that a pair was going to nest on our block of land. They hung around the garden and nearby for more than a week, their rich, melodious call filling the air. They didn’t nest here and moved on after their short sojourn which enriched our lives.
Rufous Songlarks are widespread throughout most of Australia except Tasmania and are generally uncommon. Their preferred habitat includes open grassy areas in woodlands and scrubs.
I still need a photo of this species.
New Holland Honeyeater
New Holland Honeyeater
Click on the photo to enlarge the image.
Every now and then a bird poses just right for a photograph. Every now and then everything goes just right with the camera, and everything is in focus that should be. And to top it all off, the composition seems to be just right.
It happened to me a few days ago when I took this shot of one of the New Holland Honeyeaters in our garden. It was one of those occasions when I say to myself, ‘That’s good.’
I think I’ll print out a copy and mount it in a picture frame.
Bossy New Holland Honeyeaters
Golden Whistler (male) harassed by New Holland Honeyeater
Click on the photo to enlarge the image.
Yesterday I wrote about the male Golden whistler I tracked down in our garden. I showed a nice photo I managed to get of this beautiful bird. A few seconds after taking that photo the whistler was swooped by one of our resident New Holland Honeyeaters. This species can be very aggressive towards other bird species. In my opinion they are second only to the Red Wattlebird as far as their aggressiveness goes.
Well, the male Golden Whistler was not going to take this affront lightly. I managed to capture the moment on my camera. The head of the honeyeater can just be seen in the lower right hand corner. The whistler, on the other hand, is showing signs of being somewhat upset. It has raised the feathers on the top of its head – almost like a crest. It has spread out its wings and the beak is wide open giving a harsh warning call to the aggressor.
Although the shot is not the best photo I’ve ever taken, I am quite pleased with the result. It is not often one is able to catch moments like these. A split second later would have seen a totally different scene as the honeyeater flew off.