Trevor's Birding

A galah having a bad feather day

No Comments »14th August, 2010; Category: Garden birds, Parrots and Lorikeets

Galah, Murray Bridge, South Australia

We had a typical winter’s day here in Murray Bridge South Australia today: cold, scudding showers and periods of rain and blustery winds. Late afternoon saw a lessening of the showers and the sun chose to emerge for a while. The wind was still quite strong in gusts.

I was on my way to photograph a Magpie Lark‘s nest (see tomorrow’s post here) when I saw this solitary Galah taking in the last of the sunshine of the day. Trouble was, the wind happened to catch his feathers just as I took the photo. Below is another shot taken seconds later. That’s better.

Galah, Murray Bridge, South Australia

Pelicans overhead

No Comments »11th August, 2010; Category: Garden birds, Pelicans, Photos

Australian Pelicans, Mallacoota, Victoria

We don’t get all that many Australian Pelicans in our garden. In fact, we’ve only ever had pelicans flying overhead on a handful of occasions over the last 25 years or so, despite living only about 5km from the River Murray where they are quite common.

Yesterday my wife noticed two flying overhead but didn’t think to mention it to me until much later. Even if I had known I wouldn’t have been able to get a lovely photo like the one above. I took that on a holiday in Victoria last year. The pelicans in this photo came very close to the jetty where some anglers were cleaning their catch. I guess the attraction of a free feed of fish is irresistible to a pelican. Made the job of getting a photo very easy.

Mistletoebird

No Comments »10th August, 2010; Category: Garden birds

Mistletoebird

I was sitting outside in the sunshine the other day. I was taking advantage of a few hours of sunshine in an otherwise fairly bleak winter here.

While I was reading my attention was caught by the call of a Mistletoebird in one of the trees in our garden. It brought to mind the fact that I hadn’t seen or heard this species around our house for quite a few weeks. Lovely little bird to have around, too.

Lunch time visitor: Eastern Rosella

4 Comments »7th August, 2010; Category: Bird Behaviour, Garden birds, Parrots and Lorikeets

Eastern Rosella in our garden

While we were having lunch today I noticed a beautiful Eastern Rosella feeding on some flowers in our garden. I wasn’t quick enough to get a new photograph, so I’ve used one I took some months ago.

This bird has been hanging out with our resident Ringneck Parrots. It is not a species normally found in this part of South Australia, so I am assuming it has escaped from someone’s aviary. It has been resident in our garden for most of the year. I much prefer it flying around than in an aviary anyway.

Reporters chase a different kind of pollie

No Comments »22nd July, 2010; Category: Bird Behaviour, Birds in the News, Parrots and Lorikeets

We are in the midst of an election campaign here in Australia. Politicians of all persuasions are being chased by reporters to get the latest breaking news.

In my home state this morning, reporters were chasing a different kind of pollie – an escaped parrot from Adelaide Zoo. A Blue and Gold Macaw escaped from the zoo and led the keepers on a chase through the parklands, with a string of reporters in their trail.

After a chase which kept reporters and zookeepers on their toes, an escaped macaw has been coaxed back into a cage in Adelaide.

The blue and gold macaw Tambo was getting some outdoor flight training at Adelaide Zoo on Wednesday when children frightened him and he flew off.

The two-year-old macaw faced attack from other birds in city trees which may have scared him even further afield.

Zoo bird keepers kept watch and called the bird as he took up roost in a 15-metre casuarina tree on the banks of the Torrens in the city.

To see photos, a video and to read the rest of the story click here.