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Birding bloopers #5

No Comments »22nd February, 2007; Category: Birders, Birding bloopers

I’ve been featuring a number of birding bloopers on this blog. These bloopers are essentially misidentifications of birds and are often quite hilarious and always embarrassing.

Simon contributed this gem to the Birding-Aus forum:

Recently while showing an overseas visitor around my local area I screeched to a halt when I spotted a Black-shouldered Kite perched in a dead tree by the roadside.
We reversed some 100 metres to gain a view of it again, and to my total embarrassment there before us was a white plastic bag caught on the uppermost snag.
Just had to laugh !

Thanks to Simon for permission to use this one.

For more birding bloopers click here.

Spotted Turtledove comes to drink

49 Comments »22nd February, 2007; Category: Garden birds, Pigeons and Doves
Spotted Turtledove

Spotted Turtledove

It is interesting to see the parade of birds coming to drink at our bird baths, especially on a hot day. We’ve had many really hot days in the last few months, with many days over 40C (104F) and some as high as 46C (115F). It is the birds that suffer terribly during these stiflingly hot days so we feel pleased that we are offering them just a little respite from the oppressive conditions.

Introduced Species:

Spotted Turtledoves, an introduced species in Australia are one of those quiet, unassuming species that cause very few problems in our parks and gardens. They are found in coastal eastern and south eastern Australia as well as parts of south western Western Australia and Tasmania. Here in Murray Bridge they are relatively common throughout the city in parks and gardens. They are a breeding resident species in our garden. They don’t often come to the water to drink, but hot days are an exception.

Spotted Turtledove

Spotted Turtledove

Birding bloopers #4

4 Comments »21st February, 2007; Category: Birding bloopers

Several weeks ago I wrote about other birders and the various birding bloopers that they were brave enough to admit to on-line. Now its my turn – unfortunately.

Yesterday while driving down a road near my home I passed a bright yellow bird-like bundle obviously dead on the road. As I went by I immediately thought of a male Golden Whistler. How sad to see such a beautiful bird become a road kill victim was my immediate reaction. But the colour seemed a little wrong. Perhaps some hapless pet Canary had escaped and wasn’t quick enough.

On my return trip five minutes later I slowed down to have a good look. (It is a very quiet road.) Imagine my horror – and relief – to find that it was only a banana peel.

See also:

Birds and Communal Bathing

6 Comments »21st February, 2007; Category: Bird baths, Bird Behaviour, Garden birds, Honeyeaters
New Holland Honeyeaters

New Holland Honeyeaters

Our bird baths give us many hours of delightful birding. Quite often the honeyeaters come in numbers to bathe communally. When this happens with the New Holland Honeyeaters are often the first – and the bossiest – species to take advantage of the water. Sometimes there can be between five and eight individuals bathing and squawking noisily. With the Brown-headed Honeyeaters the number can be as many as twelve to fifteen at once, but they are very polite and take it in turns to bathe.

During the hot weather we have had this summer the bird baths need frequent replenishing. The water is splashed in all directions. They obviously haven’t heard that we currently have severe water restrictions due to the drought. On one hot day we actually had five species present at the bath at the one time: New Holland, White-plumed and Singing Honeyeaters, House Sparrow and a Spotted Pardalote. Soon after a Red Wattlebird (which is also a species of honeyeater) joined the communal bathing.

More recently I have observed a large family of about a dozen White-winged Choughs coming to bathe and drink together.

The photos on this page are better viewed by clicking on them to enlarge.

This article was update on September 20th 2015.

Further reading:

New Holland Honeyeaters

New Holland Honeyeaters

Rufous Whistler

No Comments »20th February, 2007; Category: Bird baths, Garden birds, Whistlers

We have many beautiful birds here in Australia and the Whistlers would be up there in the most beautiful list of many people. Here in Murray Bridge we have two species, the Golden Whistler and the Rufous Whistler.

While neither whistler is a resident species in our garden, they are both regular visitors. Their rich melodic calls are a delight and the brilliant colours, especially of the Golden Whistler are truly wonderful.

A few days ago we had a male juvenile Rufous Whistler come to visit the bird bath. This is the first time either species had come to drink, but then it was a very hot day so it is not all that surprising I guess. I did observe that he was very hesitant while approaching the water. It was plain that he was not at ease and was being very cautious.

Rufous Whistler (juvenile male)

Rufous Whistler (juvenile male)

While the photo is not brillaint (it was the only one I managed before he flew off) it does show the black breast band and rufous belly beginning to develop. This was a very good addition to our list of species that have visited the bird baths.

Related Articles:

  • Golden Moment – close up views of both a male and female Golden Whistler
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