Trevor's Birding

Birds and Plants of Pangarinda Arboretum

3 Comments »12th August, 2009; Category: Flowers, Honeyeaters, Photos, Plants

Banksia flower, Pangarinda Arboretum

Last week we had a short picnic at the Pangarinda Arboretum at Wellington East about a half hour drive south of our home here in Murray Bridge, South Australia.

It was a sunny winter’s day and the birds were very active, especially the honeyeaters. I didn’t get much of a chance to take photos of birds because none would sit and pose for me -except for one very cooperative New Holland Honeyeater.

New Holland Honeyeater, Pangarinda Arboretum

So instead of getting upset with the uncooperative birds, I spent most of my time taking photos of the many plants in flower.

Click on the photo to enlarge the image.

Wattle (Acacia) flowers, Pangarinda Arboretum

Hakea flowers, Pangarinda Arboretum

Flowers, Pangarinda Arboretum

New Holland Honeyeaters

No Comments »10th August, 2009; Category: Flowers, Honeyeaters, Plants, Swallows

New Holland Honeyeater

Last week we went for a short picnic lunch to the Pangarinda Arboretum at Wellington East, South Australia.

The breeze was cool – it is winter after all – but the sun was pleasant if you were out of the wind. While we had our lunch about half a dozen Welcome swallows entertained us by swooping all around. Two of them seemed to be having a race (breeding behaviour?) and as they swept past me they nearly collided with my nose.

While there were plenty of plants already flowering this spot will only come into its own in the coming month of so. Many plants were not yet flowering. Despite that the birds were already busy feeding on those plant that were in flower. The New Holland Honeyeaters, Red Wattlebirds and Singing Honeyeaters were particularly active everywhere through the park. We only stayed several hours but it was a pleasant diversion from the intense writing I have been doing over the last few weeks.

New Holland Honeyeater, Pangarinda Arboretum

Galahs nesting

1 Comment »9th August, 2009; Category: Bird Behaviour, Garden birds, Nests, Parrots and Lorikeets, Plants

Galahs at a hollow

Over the last few weeks several Galahs have been hanging around a hollow in one of our mallee trees near our house. This is the largest tree on our property and is probably well over a hundred years old-maybe several hundred. Only mature age mallee trees have trunks the size of this one. And only mature mallee trees develop branches large enough to create hollows.

Over recent years this hollow hosted a wild bee colony, but that seems to have moved on. Over the last two to three years Galahs have investigated this hollow on many occasions but none has nested in it. One pair even diligently went about enlarging the hollow but with no nesting taking place.

I can’t be sure whether this is the same pair or a new pair trying it on for size. They certainly seem very interested and hang around there off and on for several hours every day. They even chase off other interested tenants, so they must be quite serious about it.

I’ll keep you posted on any developments on the home front.

Bizarre bird behaviour

1 Comment »7th August, 2009; Category: Bird Behaviour, Garden birds

From time to time we all observe some form of bizarre behaviour exhibited by animals. Birds are no exception.

A few minutes ago I was enjoying an afternoon cuppa on the back veranda. I was in the lovely winter sun and out of the biting cold wind. Very relaxing.

As I sat there a small flock of about a dozen Common Starlings flew rapidly over head and then circled the garden several times before suddenly diving into a tree near the road which passes our little block of land. One of the flock was giving a strange call-hard to describe and one I’d not heard before from a Starling’s considerable repertoire. Very strange.

I couldn’t determine why they had behaved in this way. I saw and heard no raptors sneaking around. This is the usual disquieting event for starlings and honeyeaters and other garden birds. I still have no idea why they were flying like that.

Common Starling

Mallee Ringneck parrots find a slippery dip

3 Comments »6th August, 2009; Category: Bird Behaviour, Garden birds, Parrots and Lorikeets

My wife and I had a good laugh a few mornings ago. I was still in bed and about to rise. My wife had just opened the curtains. A heavy frost had settled overnight. I had second thoughts about rising, considering snuggling back into bed as a very viable option.

My attention was grabbed by our resident pair of Mallee Ringneck parrots as they flew over the driveway and landed in the tree next to where the car was parked. Because of the frost the car was heavily encrusted in ice. One of the parrots decided to investigate. Naturally he slid straight off the top of the car and down the sloping back window.

Hey – that was fun. He repeated the action several times. Even his partner joined in the fun. They both had a slide on the ice four or five times before flying off. I guess the ice against their backsides may have been a little too cold.

I wasn’t quick enough to get the camera out so I’ve included a photo of one of the ringnecks on a much warmer day.

Mallee Ringneck Parrot