All that is gold does not necessarily glitter
We enjoy the wonderful range of birds that frequent our garden here in Murray Bridge, South Australia. Over the last twenty years we have recorded over a hundred different species. Many of these are resident species, meaning that they are present every day all the year round.
We have many favourites. There are some species that enthrall us with their beauty. One such species is the Golden Whistler. The female is a rather plain Jane, being mostly a nondescript brown. The male is something else. To catch sight of the male in full breeding plumage sitting on an exposed dead branch in full sunlight is to see natural beauty in all its glory. Magnificent.
Golden Whistler (male)
The male Golden Whistler is not just beautiful to look at and admire. Launching into its musical call one gains a new appreciation of the richness of the call of many of our songbirds here in Australia. Again – magnificent.
We feel so privileged to have such beauty grace our garden.
Hear the Blackbird singing in the morning
Common Blackbird (male)
I love lingering in a warm, comfortable bed on a a cold, frosty morning. That was the case this morning. I needed to get up but the cosiness was so alluring. On occasions like this I love trying to identify the birds calling from the garden outside.
We usually have a few Honeyeaters and the resident Willie Wagtails. A few Little Ravens can often be heard off in the distance and the occasional flock of Galahs flies overhead. Sometimes I am aware of a Grey Currawong calling or perhaps even a Grey Butcherbird.
This morning it was different. My waking moments were highlighted by the delightful song of the male Common Blackbird. I will forgive this bird for being an introduced species here in South Australia; it’s call is so beautiful.
During the late autumn and winter the Blackbird is largely silent. Our resident birds can be seen skulking through the undergrowth. If disturbed they will fly off suddenly, giving a harsh warning call as it flies off.
Once the weather starts to warm a little the male Blackbird begins its amazing song, usually late afternoon and early evening. It would have to be one of the most beautiful songbirds in the world.
Related Articles:
Garden Birds Survey in New Zealand
Garden bird surveys have been conducted regularly in many countries around the world, some of them for many years. Here in Australia there are several variations on this theme. The surveys in Canberra gardens have been going for over 20 years, I believe. (Readers – please correct me if I’m wrong by leaving a comment.)
Birders in New Zealand have not been able to contribute to such a scheme – until now. Over this coming week the Gardens Birds Survey is being conducted in New Zealand. For the first time it is being conducted across the whole country.
Adelaide Rosella
Adelaide Rosella
Last Sunday we were delighted to observe two Adelaide Rosellas in our garden. It has been several years since our last sighting of this species so close to home. They are infrequent visitors, coming here every few years, sometimes staying around for a few weeks before leaving again.
The Adelaide Rosella is a common parrot of the Mt Lofty Ranges and Adelaide Plains in South Australia. They are common about 30 to 40 kilometres to the west of here in Murray Bridge. In my encounters with this species, the River Murray is about the furthest east that they venture.
This species is actually a hybrid of the Yellow Rosella found further upstream along the River Murray and the Crimson Rosella of eastern Australia and the south east part of South Australia. The feathers can vary from a rich orange through to a quite pale washed out colour.
The photos shown above and below were taken at Gawler, north of Adelaide.
Click on the photo to enlarge the image.
Adelaide Rosella
Grey Shrike-Thrush
Grey Shrike-Thrush
The Grey Shrike-Thrush is a resident breeding bird species in our garden here in Murray Bridge, South Australia. We really enjoy its beautiful call with its rich tones and far carrying sound. This species is known for its call, but the pair resident in out garden is not all that vocal, even when breeding. In fact, during nesting they are almost silent around here, which tends to be the opposite in many other places.
The Grey Shrike-Thrush is a common and widespread species of bird found throughout most of Australia. There is some plumage variation from one location to another. In northern Australia there are three other Shrike-Thrush species, all of which are still on my “yet to see” list.
Despite this being a resident species in our garden, it has taken me until a few days ago to get a reasonable series of photos.
Grey Shrike-Thrush