tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12339411773141648862024-03-04T22:49:53.527-08:00SLAVE TO AVESMy own personal web-based blabbathon on all things loosely relating to the topic of birds!Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-70710573946817870352012-09-10T03:46:00.000-07:002012-09-10T03:47:09.551-07:00RUDDY DOZERS...<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ruddy Turnstone - the bulldozer of the beach. Watching these birds seek out their prey is an awe inspiring experience. They have no trouble dislodging rocks the size of an adult males fist from the sticky, grey mud of the intertidal zone; often flipping them end over end, searching the hole left in the mud and then inspecting the faces and hollows of the rock itself in search of a tasty morsel. I had long believed that they wedged their closed bill under rocks in order to prise them out of the mud, but look closely at these images and you'll see that they are able to clamp their upper and lower mandible on the edges of a rock before giving it the heave ho'. Tonka tough.</div>
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Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-14339330139960271382012-08-25T05:15:00.001-07:002012-08-25T05:15:41.423-07:00PHOTOGRAPHING 'BLIRREDS'...Digiscoping....<br />
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....a real bugger at times. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Knot and one or two Curlew Sandpiper<em> (like you couldn't tell!?)</em></td></tr>
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An exasperating mix of photographing birds and 'blurred's'.<br />
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I have written about my folly with the camera and scope before. Sometimes I feel like I'm getting somewhere and other times I contemplate tossing it all into the sea. <br />
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I have slowly come to realise that digiscoping may be somewhat of a black art. When it comes to digiscoping one must patiently endure a protracted and mysterious courtship before one moves any closer to true love, eventual mastery and possibly eternal madness.<br />
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For me, different photographic styles and subjects have revealed themselves to be situated in very distinct categories or levels of difficulty. <br />
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For example, the 'bird on ground' type of shot seems to be the easiest way to manoeuvre the tripod, scope and camera and get resulting images that are of a satisfactory standard. <br />
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Second in its level of complexity is the 'bird in bush/tree' type of shot. This type of shot is usually hampered by the movement and activity of the bird, the depth of cover the bird can dive back into in an instant (usually just as you pull crystal clear focus...) and the frustrating knack that your digiscoping set up has in refusing to angle upward beyond 20 degrees toward said trees. <br />
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But by far, for me at least, the most awkward shot to successfully execute would have to be the 'bird in flight' type of shot. You're often up against the velocity with which the bird is travelling, the blinding glare of the sun (that you will no doubt find yourself staring into) as you stubbornly follow said bird with the scope and the 'up and down, side to side' freedom of movement that is<em> flight</em>.<br />
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Despite my inability to do anything right with this rig that I affectionately call 'Quasimodo' I do occasionally pull off the odd fluke and surprise myself with a cracking image or two.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJ8XtQJVjcoFC3z_gXsdfLFnY5pObdJqnu8xVrCC1R9XXmm5db05eVEXoqPHmZVi0Y90oUwQfTxOcBc0WbUq9bBqF9eTe-7KLZVyjhXPiNI1EgiaYofe7Ki1LzhQDCXJMw5kXB-zJD427/s1600/tern+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJ8XtQJVjcoFC3z_gXsdfLFnY5pObdJqnu8xVrCC1R9XXmm5db05eVEXoqPHmZVi0Y90oUwQfTxOcBc0WbUq9bBqF9eTe-7KLZVyjhXPiNI1EgiaYofe7Ki1LzhQDCXJMw5kXB-zJD427/s640/tern+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Caspian Tern</strong> <em>Hydroprogne caspia</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>Caspian Tern</strong> <em>Hydroprogne caspia</em></td></tr>
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<br />Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-32874194171281778752012-08-25T04:33:00.005-07:002012-08-25T04:33:55.993-07:00GULLS AIN'T GULLS....Q: When is a Silver Gull not just a 'Seagull'?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ-8gqCxP3e2H4BhIODtjT_BckAgTeQzBF-O0afuu7dbyx-dOe2hULPvt6pFISiP33gWRHDjkPy5JQS6u7t_C_JJR0BRmWJhzFcZMs2nkN5tURtLjkNv3SK15Cu_BcNcLzDnKQ885tR1D/s1600/gull+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ-8gqCxP3e2H4BhIODtjT_BckAgTeQzBF-O0afuu7dbyx-dOe2hULPvt6pFISiP33gWRHDjkPy5JQS6u7t_C_JJR0BRmWJhzFcZMs2nkN5tURtLjkNv3SK15Cu_BcNcLzDnKQ885tR1D/s640/gull+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...well, I think there's a certain majesty and a little bit of menace about a Gull as it quietly scours the detritus left behind by the small waves lapping on a deserted beach. It's even more interesting to see a group of three Gulls each displaying the various markings that delineate their age and rank. From the sinister, white-eyed glare and lipstick-red bills and legs of a fully mature adult to the smutty-flecked plumage and 'doe-eyed' appearance of the juvenile Gull - there's a gulf of cunning, devilment and street smarts between these generations of Gull. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXApaeXHNwTxIAxw5nUDw465KE49bc4aOiyBYKWDBmUSY9IjuAmpLszq0xnQwQFetyoS9WGK4oTSW6se1pGeaGWDh0nW101sT66RTUYaTLM0khCmIVfgFNEEw_oDXFTxWLaPMsnAFSiX2/s1600/gull+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXApaeXHNwTxIAxw5nUDw465KE49bc4aOiyBYKWDBmUSY9IjuAmpLszq0xnQwQFetyoS9WGK4oTSW6se1pGeaGWDh0nW101sT66RTUYaTLM0khCmIVfgFNEEw_oDXFTxWLaPMsnAFSiX2/s640/gull+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hated in city parks and suburban carparks and barely tolerated on our beaches, Silver Gulls cop quite a lot of flak form certain members of the biped population (and their pets). But, removed from the malarkey of of our urban confines and playgrounds the Silver Gull is a pretty awesome piece of purpose-built biology.</div>
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Just watch one do away with an unwitting crab in one or two strikes for evidence of how clever they really are. </div>
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...and then, of course, there's the famous interpersonal rivalries and relationship troubles. </div>
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Silver Gulls are good value in my book and worthy of some of our time and sympathy, they're even worthy of a few kind words and sympathetic photography too!</div>
Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-13666990208454093342012-08-25T04:04:00.001-07:002012-08-26T01:15:00.681-07:00A BEVY OF BAR-WITS...<div style="text-align: justify;">
A miserable, dark and wet morning turned golden when I spied a small group of medium-sized waders feeding just offshore at Port Prime. The 'Prime' ain't usually such a great spot for birding as one's morning solitude can be shattered in an instant as caterwauling two-stroke trailbikes and single cylinder thumpers tear (illegally) across the claypans just east of the coast and a mere 100 metres or so from the fertile feeding grounds of this tidal beach. Despite this, I thought I'd pull in for a quick scout & count when I happened upon a small group of Bar-tailed Godwit feeding on a falling tide. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_GKO6o4xSgnQ-yJtDg4MaISdRVPZRy3irBeRyzRWmbCrfriXlfmX_5-Nb5KPkb8eGc2M7SJ8xuDovJB1Nf0HucBkhkryr-03aw_tAI4S94lJSjySF5lOAY08OZjQxXdI6ncz23bWYwDA/s1600/barwit+resize+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_GKO6o4xSgnQ-yJtDg4MaISdRVPZRy3irBeRyzRWmbCrfriXlfmX_5-Nb5KPkb8eGc2M7SJ8xuDovJB1Nf0HucBkhkryr-03aw_tAI4S94lJSjySF5lOAY08OZjQxXdI6ncz23bWYwDA/s640/barwit+resize+8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In 2007 a flock of Bar-tailed Godwit were tagged in New Zealand and then tracked on their migratory journey toward China. On route to China, one female that was tagged within that original flock, made a brief stop-over on the feeding grounds on the Yellow Sea before heading onward to Alaska. After reaching Alaska and staying there for the breeding season, she then departed Alaska on a non-stop flight from Western Alaska to New Zealand. This flight set a new known flight record of 11,680 kilometres. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cgQjL86gkUFH3PuZmmkuy-knP90Oh-yj5OuPmWs4qQ4tzjc35BCA3VgaB-w_Eu9QB5rleapgNXQGibZPNitgPo0lOcPO1JSAgs52SNVj-GPQIyaCiWjfpvp388r-NXWReZEyWj8DQiZl/s1600/barwit+resize+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cgQjL86gkUFH3PuZmmkuy-knP90Oh-yj5OuPmWs4qQ4tzjc35BCA3VgaB-w_Eu9QB5rleapgNXQGibZPNitgPo0lOcPO1JSAgs52SNVj-GPQIyaCiWjfpvp388r-NXWReZEyWj8DQiZl/s640/barwit+resize+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPQv5udNaTEJO5fwKFlskXHg7l-uEr39qsPpAOTuJPia0DLbHdG3Tgt4TYyS9SibKZlnze5YVo8KAU5KAQO4umpqR6nG9UT1f0J5jnwfavCwgGNUh5VEflQuAx_LhTOr8jlLWoxjwNIAR/s1600/barwit+resize+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPQv5udNaTEJO5fwKFlskXHg7l-uEr39qsPpAOTuJPia0DLbHdG3Tgt4TYyS9SibKZlnze5YVo8KAU5KAQO4umpqR6nG9UT1f0J5jnwfavCwgGNUh5VEflQuAx_LhTOr8jlLWoxjwNIAR/s640/barwit+resize+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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To quietly watch these birds feed is also an amazing sight. They feed with rapid, precise jabs deep into the soft mud of the inter-tidal areas of our beaches. Beneath this layer of incredibly sticky mud lay a treasure trove of molluscs , worms and small crustaceans. The tip of a Godwits' bill is sensitive and can detect minute movements within the murky depths of the mud, over the course of a feeding and 'fattening' season the tip of the bill of many birds shows signs of wear; as they are steadily ground down over months of continuous feeding.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIoj97B5CzLBA6VFCAotFZoJBhBCkei9QhzF0VFchjafjn82cgdhkvOoS7euXQIB1TZVDAwGk0zjnFeh65g7Q2j82mWyIe344oPWErhZnEuSKocz_Ni6kAR8Yqlx1wINFHNAIcxCVDkxm/s1600/barwit+resize+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIoj97B5CzLBA6VFCAotFZoJBhBCkei9QhzF0VFchjafjn82cgdhkvOoS7euXQIB1TZVDAwGk0zjnFeh65g7Q2j82mWyIe344oPWErhZnEuSKocz_Ni6kAR8Yqlx1wINFHNAIcxCVDkxm/s640/barwit+resize+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd6LkLcnrDTgmz51q6BelZOb8tup2D8hTT-ILtMguXlspXFJyHXYuG_quf2ZhpbuhU89ONsy6UvzKtATYWBPV831iIPbOgbTZ4YT-bJ0wYRJrxDQbxOWpIEnmSdeJcbuhC1gttATSr0Kf/s1600/barwit+resize+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd6LkLcnrDTgmz51q6BelZOb8tup2D8hTT-ILtMguXlspXFJyHXYuG_quf2ZhpbuhU89ONsy6UvzKtATYWBPV831iIPbOgbTZ4YT-bJ0wYRJrxDQbxOWpIEnmSdeJcbuhC1gttATSr0Kf/s640/barwit+resize+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This species, as well as many other migratory waders, face enormous pressures as they continue to struggle to find space, resources and sanctuary today. Here in Australia, many of our 'recreational' pursuits, such a fishing, crabbing, driving on beaches (???) and the walking of dogs 'off of the leash', are potentially threatening to the flocks of waders that rely on our tidal mudflats for survival. The ability to feed undisturbed is critical to species, such as Bar-tailed Godwit, in making a successful return flight to their breeding grounds in Scandinavia, Alaska and Northern Asia. Bar-tailed Godwits have been known to double their body weight in the final month of feeding before departing Australian shores to begin their continuous northward flight. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQCwLom3GflBCpQEtsOSPz99xkDF4U1LwE9bSJvONDcd2Y2skRi6g_WPNtNMvK6UspSrUIiL3sj4F9gkkv1cNX8ypZVWiF_H8uKd1YT-yRcYvzZ08vqCp-Dvl8RghEbKXEL4byJLluSE9/s1600/barwit+resize+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQCwLom3GflBCpQEtsOSPz99xkDF4U1LwE9bSJvONDcd2Y2skRi6g_WPNtNMvK6UspSrUIiL3sj4F9gkkv1cNX8ypZVWiF_H8uKd1YT-yRcYvzZ08vqCp-Dvl8RghEbKXEL4byJLluSE9/s640/barwit+resize+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJM8c4rj3MCLQfR0bNFo2e51BsN_zZVfKRzhh5cXWbZMA9V9joM7p4jgZbPA0rXY4yCVCt-4TSe0IsTaBnb7HBYzgmlcE8270wNtrWHfQQZc2akqRpmh-uI4NBbLr9WFlGYH-ZzWJ6r2Y/s1600/barwit+resize+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJM8c4rj3MCLQfR0bNFo2e51BsN_zZVfKRzhh5cXWbZMA9V9joM7p4jgZbPA0rXY4yCVCt-4TSe0IsTaBnb7HBYzgmlcE8270wNtrWHfQQZc2akqRpmh-uI4NBbLr9WFlGYH-ZzWJ6r2Y/s640/barwit+resize+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I feel that if many Australian beach users were educated about the many other pressures faced by these birds in areas, such as the Yellow Sea in China, perhaps we could find it in our hearts to give them a little more space and respect their right to continue to feed and roost without disturbance as they have done for many, many years. </div>
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Viva La Barwit.<br />
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<br />Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-42462432940459134802012-08-11T04:39:00.002-07:002012-08-11T06:08:24.361-07:00"PIED OY, MATE!..."<div style="text-align: justify;">
It has been a few months since my last post. I have still managed to get out birding at least once every 3 weeks but a recent computer virus deleted the bulk of my archive of photographs taken between May and August, including some nice photos of a pair of Whimbrel in company with 8 Eastern Curlew at Thompson Beach. Dang! These things happen - if anyone out there has a sure-fire way to retrieve these 'lost' files, please drop me a line. It took a good day or two to get over the disappointment of losing 400+ pictures. </div>
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Well, onto brighter news. Late Winter has proven to be quiet around the northern shores of Adelaide. I journeyed out to Thompson Beach on high tide this morning to scout for any recent arrivals from north of the Equator. I was treated to a small number of post-breeding, recently-landed Curlew Sandpiper feeding frenetically on the claypans just north of town. Their small posse was flanked by 200+ Red-necked Stint, a big jump in numbers since my last visit three weeks ago. In the same area a group of 16 Double-banded Plover were keeping a low profile among the dead Samphire cover in the middle of the shallow water. </div>
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With so few waders about I turned my attention to some of the birds I usually scurry past on my way to look for other things deemed more 'exotic'. It was nice to slow the pace of travel for a morning, instead of marching about madly like an ape trying to shift a large suppository, I took the time to sit and observe, note and photograph. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQHgQvucQIdbVmIX5ds-dsWfhZEc7GkGVmLbnxMBcpBaUQixGgJ4_DmXEdVYm2mataIrPNBweXta1RBle0hD-JHy6_7pn_9fOMLI1BTHX_1SX2Uhs61GTCv-p8wBf5F-81B9r5GSxpzEC/s1600/Silver+Gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQHgQvucQIdbVmIX5ds-dsWfhZEc7GkGVmLbnxMBcpBaUQixGgJ4_DmXEdVYm2mataIrPNBweXta1RBle0hD-JHy6_7pn_9fOMLI1BTHX_1SX2Uhs61GTCv-p8wBf5F-81B9r5GSxpzEC/s640/Silver+Gull.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDN1-28BWiy92eSPzC7uiySy2n7Lhdh7bQGY9CIHeycOosfQrQC1VVBpZgO77pDJuWSgmA7x6_yfmbeotH9XauWcScZ8hAfG0twhn3IJAYUBhdq2XxbfyAfNgnUhvTAc75RsQD69P2raNk/s1600/Great+Egrets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDN1-28BWiy92eSPzC7uiySy2n7Lhdh7bQGY9CIHeycOosfQrQC1VVBpZgO77pDJuWSgmA7x6_yfmbeotH9XauWcScZ8hAfG0twhn3IJAYUBhdq2XxbfyAfNgnUhvTAc75RsQD69P2raNk/s640/Great+Egrets.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was a nice change to casually observe the behaviour of a few of the more common birds found on shore, such as the Great Egret, Crested Tern, Silver Gull and Pied Oystercatcher. In my new-found 'zen' state I was treated to a few special moments of what I call 'birding serendipity'.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0Xc7BUJ7gpFWFNsg_SLKz2MVq8309m6Er3OAMD9bZy2Zs_SlsnrBeFyObtJ_9KCRbXq2f7Xsa7ugPVlUW1zaroH1ziTk0z94qymfVlfYrwjIBwEHW0rENuafTnUAHLDvBfGR3UhUyUgu/s1600/Crested+Tern+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0Xc7BUJ7gpFWFNsg_SLKz2MVq8309m6Er3OAMD9bZy2Zs_SlsnrBeFyObtJ_9KCRbXq2f7Xsa7ugPVlUW1zaroH1ziTk0z94qymfVlfYrwjIBwEHW0rENuafTnUAHLDvBfGR3UhUyUgu/s640/Crested+Tern+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Whilst scanning a large group of Crested and Caspian Tern I was lucky to find a group of 3 Fairy Tern almost obscured by rocks and larger birds. Patience and quiet observation pays off. Seeing these delicate and graceful little birds makes any day out a <em>great</em> day out - considering their current conservation status is currently listed as 'vulnerable' according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). I hope that I may continue to stumble upon this species at this site for many more years to come. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryH8MVFCE0pbVWP-cZlt-qDZ0yV24HjZed9ua1n4IkMeGf3kqG-U605UN1gHV0u5nkd1yfXCVfdjmIetxRtcccqDWmaW_ZQweklzuHY1OGtpejB7adS76NVRMK0N86tGS0gbnHahsqbtE/s1600/Fairy+Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryH8MVFCE0pbVWP-cZlt-qDZ0yV24HjZed9ua1n4IkMeGf3kqG-U605UN1gHV0u5nkd1yfXCVfdjmIetxRtcccqDWmaW_ZQweklzuHY1OGtpejB7adS76NVRMK0N86tGS0gbnHahsqbtE/s640/Fairy+Tern.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPeDch4m05k-j_I44X1jhXEjcAwfkN9-rPFYZXNHn85D_zvQOiYDrO95Dsj3TTWTLEnKor9GM-U5fRTxE_dNcE1ikvIOJlYtLuOh7Xehi_mDcJfODAVsr5LQQtqDJBtE183PTUfZ3NTpa/s1600/Fairy+Tern+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPeDch4m05k-j_I44X1jhXEjcAwfkN9-rPFYZXNHn85D_zvQOiYDrO95Dsj3TTWTLEnKor9GM-U5fRTxE_dNcE1ikvIOJlYtLuOh7Xehi_mDcJfODAVsr5LQQtqDJBtE183PTUfZ3NTpa/s640/Fairy+Tern+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The constant calling of a juvenile Crested Tern caught my attention and I was treated to a prolonged display of Avian paternal patience of the highest order. For close to 10 minutes I watched a young Crested Tern subject its parent to the Avian equivalent of <em>'pester power'</em>. I shuddered with horror as I was momentarily transported back to similar feed time shenanigans around the dinner table with my very own squawking fledglings. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDD1TcnKH4BYdD589ykCm5gy1wqqDecCUeaAA4dXahjHVJZSKk8IajW39mWvI9TaL2M9Y1I9QOaUOhy04AoHn-uXeaO8ZOcESLkzVwU7ui0t6PkZHsQMRBpZHJrQL_xs8-CQ1FyJRaurs2/s1600/Crested+Tern+with+young.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDD1TcnKH4BYdD589ykCm5gy1wqqDecCUeaAA4dXahjHVJZSKk8IajW39mWvI9TaL2M9Y1I9QOaUOhy04AoHn-uXeaO8ZOcESLkzVwU7ui0t6PkZHsQMRBpZHJrQL_xs8-CQ1FyJRaurs2/s640/Crested+Tern+with+young.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>"Gimme, gimme, gimme...."</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCtDg4pozaoNpT0z2mZJ2vKcasVwd5CgXg8ofg6PnRucTzYW8IQHHvAFjmmnmynEnS6wyq2S_pmi7ukY6VBP-CaZeYQA5DT8Qf8aN0x1cEGqcCOY-_qUe_27lfp5aQPM96lPvHVJluJp9/s1600/Crested+Tern+gimme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCtDg4pozaoNpT0z2mZJ2vKcasVwd5CgXg8ofg6PnRucTzYW8IQHHvAFjmmnmynEnS6wyq2S_pmi7ukY6VBP-CaZeYQA5DT8Qf8aN0x1cEGqcCOY-_qUe_27lfp5aQPM96lPvHVJluJp9/s640/Crested+Tern+gimme.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>"I know you heard me....now GIMME!"</em></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Hey! Wait!...errr Mum, where are you going?"</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUplFhLN29iK9wjT9ogvNFijbAT32iKoDGL64IFz8D3W90IJxgbe_ZKsCusxaXzBYc_FFDXZvT5ovoz9bPp3cUXYW-4-ibEHH5BaahXM3DDFiMRNbNWJOP-DdC0eI8dOHqqhmHwsjPL3R/s1600/Crested+Tern+juv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUplFhLN29iK9wjT9ogvNFijbAT32iKoDGL64IFz8D3W90IJxgbe_ZKsCusxaXzBYc_FFDXZvT5ovoz9bPp3cUXYW-4-ibEHH5BaahXM3DDFiMRNbNWJOP-DdC0eI8dOHqqhmHwsjPL3R/s640/Crested+Tern+juv.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>"Mama?"</em></span></div>
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The final 'treat' of the day, and inspiration for the title of this here entry, came as I headed back toward the car at midday. A pair of Pied Oystercatchers gave me some sustained close views and a little more than I bargained for... <br />
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Not everyday you see that.<br />
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Until next time...Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-64513158381520384962012-05-22T06:27:00.005-07:002012-05-22T06:32:30.171-07:00NATURE'S TINY GYMNAST...The Striated Pardalote - greatly underrated and often elusive mini-champ of the Australian bush. Not usually a difficult species to track down; but given its preference for high foliar foraging, it can prove to be a hard bird to get 'eye to eye' with. I was lucky enough to have a close encounter with this species at Monarto Zoological Park on the eastern slopes of the Mount Lofty Range outside of Adelaide, SA. The many fine examples of low-slung Mallee that dominate the canopy of this site allow great opportunities to get close to this supercharged little bird. I was lucky enough to capture some of the many twists and turns these birds execute as they frenetically scoot through the upper reaches of trees in search of their meal of choice - Lerps.<br />
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Lerps, the sugary coating that serves as protection for psyllid insect larvae, serve as the perfect high-octane fuel to power the 'never still' Pardalote family. Given the right habitat, you'll often hear the tell-tale 'flicking' sound of a tiny, purpose-built bill as it pecks methodically to liberate many a Lerp from its leaf. If you take the time to follow the sound, you may be treated to an amazing display from one of nature's tiny gymnasts. Captivating stuff!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReRqJeGXiWs9fWueYJ4XtFf6Eo6peTYD6O739xrmpMWK8pAbg-atkdYNtDOdZCJMRY7Ifr9i8-Dn0Qj52rXVYhT5vzK0hofamgyNLMZaXJOd_LzrBqi7NURhJhGxelHLlIPAv6H5lhyphenhyphent-/s1600/strpar007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReRqJeGXiWs9fWueYJ4XtFf6Eo6peTYD6O739xrmpMWK8pAbg-atkdYNtDOdZCJMRY7Ifr9i8-Dn0Qj52rXVYhT5vzK0hofamgyNLMZaXJOd_LzrBqi7NURhJhGxelHLlIPAv6H5lhyphenhyphent-/s640/strpar007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-61195354636953033832011-12-19T02:28:00.000-08:002011-12-19T02:28:13.418-08:00ADD IT TO THE PILE...<div style="text-align: justify;">A somewhat dismissive title, but today marked my 19th visit to Thompson Beach for the year. In the twelve months since I returned to live in Adelaide permanently, this has been the one site that I have visited most frequently. I've seen a bunch of great birds out there over the last 12 months and today was no exception - I added another unexpected species to my site list. This is the beauty of having a 'patch' that you visit frequently, you see the seasonal changes in species diversity, you witness the flurry of breeding activity and you sometimes get to observe the oddballs who blow in to town and are gone the very next week, day or (on occasion) the next minute!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today was one of those days where I found a bunch of those birding 'oddballs' skulking about the furthest limits of Thompson Beach. At the very limit of beach access on the northern side of town, there's a tidal inlet with some dense stands of remnant Mangrove lining the banks. It looks like anything could be lurking about in there, well...almost anything. So, in recent visits I've made a concerted effort to spend more time in there trying to turn up something new for the site list. Today it paid off, out lurking about a small clump of regenerating Mangrove I found 4 Banded Lapwings. Not a new sighting for me but seeing them at a distance of 100 metres with the naked eye really got my heart pumping. Could it be? Really?</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQ3jTs_L6d91HLUZaLfyfL1LXwz_mXKvI5pT6kodS7b_yrE4cDa-lbxMPIiyj1zER_ooyJ11xatbt8GZmIshvD_6NTEkDCWWHMsRbim1nDW7NidlWvU0uN4Dv8VLIDLzOETsiB5KqD2lu/s1600/Banded+Lapwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQ3jTs_L6d91HLUZaLfyfL1LXwz_mXKvI5pT6kodS7b_yrE4cDa-lbxMPIiyj1zER_ooyJ11xatbt8GZmIshvD_6NTEkDCWWHMsRbim1nDW7NidlWvU0uN4Dv8VLIDLzOETsiB5KqD2lu/s640/Banded+Lapwing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banded Lapwing <em>Vanellus tricolor</em></td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, the excitement subsided once I had to nut-out how to get a decent picture of these somewhat nervous birds. The more I waddled toward them, the more noise they made. Eventually one took flight with all of the requisite 'kekking' reserved for a sunburned, fumbling intruder like me. Then the alarm calls of the first bird 'alarmed' the other three and they made off for more relaxing digs. Not before serenading me with a characteristic Lapwing cacophony and giving my ears a thorough arse-kekking! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The other thing I love about visiting the same site over time is that you really get a more intimate understanding of some birds that other people may dismiss as being too common, too plain or too difficult to get a good view of. For instance, I love being so engrossed in scoping and counting other waders only to eventually rest my eyes and realise I am almost surrounded by Red-necked Stints busily feeding about my feet. The beauty about this species is once you start looking for them you realise how many of them are spread over an incredible area of beach. Waders can be notoriously nervous and hard to get close to but given the right tidal conditions and some patience; some species, such as the Red-necked Stint, will happily go about their business with you quite close by. I love to follow these little birds with the scope as they scuttle about the shore on a falling tide, getting a gut-full of tasty morsels is if it were their last meal. In the world of Waders, Stints sure seem to display more of a 'caffeinated' approach to feeding and getting about. </div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked Stint <em>Calidris ruficollis</em><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the other end of what we will now refer to as the 'Wader Energy & Enthusiasm Spectrum' you have the 'blob' birds like the Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers. I've seen these perfectly pudgy little beach-goers a number of times at Thompson Beach but every time I see them they're doing the same thing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not too bloody much! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wake up, fly to beach, sit amongst some rocks, squint at the sun, pose for some pictures - repeat. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5Kg0vWJGVVWKufh6LRB73f4dlLsPgMskJHHSTpQldyOXuXADwcmqhwF7L4JzcGr9yNv811J2k7QPcdMuQYBPyPWdJoAeAUjVeZUw18Z44-VR5w_CFCtV-QSEkZL505riH8PQ9Bs7jNa0/s1600/Sand+Plovers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5Kg0vWJGVVWKufh6LRB73f4dlLsPgMskJHHSTpQldyOXuXADwcmqhwF7L4JzcGr9yNv811J2k7QPcdMuQYBPyPWdJoAeAUjVeZUw18Z44-VR5w_CFCtV-QSEkZL505riH8PQ9Bs7jNa0/s640/Sand+Plovers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Hmmmmm......What to do?"</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, that may be a terrible over-simplification of things but you get the picture - some Waders seem to be 'doing it' while others are busy 'thinking about doing it'. One of my favourite Waders is the elegant and beautifully coloured Pacific Golden Plover. But, like their Sand Plover cousins, it ain't high-energy scurrying and squawking that is keeping these guys so trim and elegant looking. Must be good genes? Again, these guys don't seem to do too much either. They've even flown between 6000-8000 kilometres on their annual migratory flight south to land on the same bloody patch of beach that they were glued to last season! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Amazing!</div><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8K75GXXzjZqkjZVLSQkj7eWNgTt-_dGTW-QARDdixPepPyQyqhk7FhlKDMuImzUFUlDRMDLfK1YOvmdiPMjodq914c3fSPXIPP2CvtYtaO9FhkV_wBz4MHFAt7ykLvffGkL2kZlEMv0s/s1600/Pacific+Golden+Plover+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8K75GXXzjZqkjZVLSQkj7eWNgTt-_dGTW-QARDdixPepPyQyqhk7FhlKDMuImzUFUlDRMDLfK1YOvmdiPMjodq914c3fSPXIPP2CvtYtaO9FhkV_wBz4MHFAt7ykLvffGkL2kZlEMv0s/s640/Pacific+Golden+Plover+resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center">Pacific Golden Plover <em>Pluvialis fulva</em></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
So, as 2011 draws to a close, I turn my mind towards 2012 and wonder what will turn up at Thompson's in the coming 12 months? Will I blast on & beyond my current list of 84 species for Thompson Beach and crack 'the ton'? Will I be keeping a bird-blog in 12 months time? Who knows....<br />
<br />
...one thing I am certain of though, no matter what happens to me, my lists and what's left of my spare time in 2012 - the Red-necked Stints will continue to attack some shoreline somewhere with all of the vigour of a caffeine-afflicted teenager at exam time!<br />
<br />
Here's to those of you who have read this thing over the last 12 months, to the New Year and to Red-necked Stints everywhere.<br />
<br />
Hurrah!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihe6fE1-IQiJVxhSRsVBvUix6cwVZVR9pcrsc4D9wFN7wRxTg5m25r_Y3_QaEUuf29GtIsHIhBSmFPv4UEV3qCjToTaj_ja7wECUKfbv7_6XZjIvOvBEzUj9mvnlI-IJUEwRZTyzVoaVoU/s1600/doing+it.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihe6fE1-IQiJVxhSRsVBvUix6cwVZVR9pcrsc4D9wFN7wRxTg5m25r_Y3_QaEUuf29GtIsHIhBSmFPv4UEV3qCjToTaj_ja7wECUKfbv7_6XZjIvOvBEzUj9mvnlI-IJUEwRZTyzVoaVoU/s320/doing+it.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-65774592924168018712011-12-07T02:11:00.000-08:002011-12-07T02:20:21.030-08:00RETROACTION & DESSICATED DUCKS...No, not about to start posting about the best birding hits of the 60's & 70's, just getting in gear to retroactively update the blog after a 2 month absence. A new chickadee in our nest has been the reason for the absence. Life is getting back to normal, slowly. Still, it only took me a week after the birth of our daughter to get out birding again. Not sure what that says about me? Alas, a few things to post as a 'catch-up' of sorts.<br />
<br />
It's been a good couple of months with a few of Australia's harder to find birds turning up within easy reach of home. The most recent speccy species I've set my scope upon was a pair of Freckled Duck at Whites Road Wetland at Bolivar, just north of Adelaide. This site doesn't look like much as you blast past it, surrounded by heavy vehicles and peak hour traffic, at 90 kph along Pt. Wakefield Road, but it's easy to lose a couple of hours exploring the several ponds, storm water channels and salt pans to the west of this site. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6tY-Jdp_WT46BA9Vpat_2HBJIvpVr7ppAuwcu0lcumCkUuCg93-snmsBecGu-FcYtryAakYgc9BKwD85-LkCPboH3V9d1LuE57It79TtaABUEOti9XChbek_gqh_OsHHgnG9EMO4RPot/s1600/Freckled+Duck+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6tY-Jdp_WT46BA9Vpat_2HBJIvpVr7ppAuwcu0lcumCkUuCg93-snmsBecGu-FcYtryAakYgc9BKwD85-LkCPboH3V9d1LuE57It79TtaABUEOti9XChbek_gqh_OsHHgnG9EMO4RPot/s640/Freckled+Duck+resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freckled Duck <em>Stictonetta naevosa</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The site is currently being excavated to remove a build up of silt from the larger ponds, this means blocked paths, limited access and constant noise. It also means a number of breeding birds are going to have to navigate the fraught path of parenthood with added stresses. Hmmmmm, sounds familiar. Not so funny when both Freckled Duck & Australian Painted Snipe have been reported there recently in good numbers. No sign of the Snipe on my trip though, perhaps they've fled the constant whine & rumble of diggers and tip-trucks and opted to breed elsewhere? <br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCO6GS_8dTdxB-WxZ9jkaxhyphenhyphenS2Cvw7hEjJ6blyFMmOFFfjMN7RZolPlhrl7Oc3KACirQS4SWVHSbzNj7Saik-rzYtTzj6m8oRJHF7hrdz39CV7q7yQt4Y2Fruq5CeGDyOYCBII7crBYrr/s1600/Freckled+Ducks+rezied+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCO6GS_8dTdxB-WxZ9jkaxhyphenhyphenS2Cvw7hEjJ6blyFMmOFFfjMN7RZolPlhrl7Oc3KACirQS4SWVHSbzNj7Saik-rzYtTzj6m8oRJHF7hrdz39CV7q7yQt4Y2Fruq5CeGDyOYCBII7crBYrr/s640/Freckled+Ducks+rezied+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freckled Duck <em>Stictonetta naevosa</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The Freckled Ducks took some finding too, reported initially from the largest, most-westerly pond on site, a pair were found on the backside of a mud-spit on the smaller easterly pond. It was one of those moments where I'd just about had my fill for the day, seen the cast of usual suspects and decided to head home without a view of the Frecklies or Snipe. Not to be sneezed at, some of the 'usual suspects' make for entertaining viewing and great photography. I was lucky enough to see one of two Intermediate Egret successfully pull a Skink from the high grass and proceed to swallow it in one gulp. I was also treated to observing Rainbow and Musk Lorikeets putting on some amusing displays as they hung about a number of nesting hollows around the ponds. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD00Pgawd13d8fT082VTlxGug2bG0f6X3rWmvUISe-hw3FrzXd21rLJjAu2uHEQSkUqB5sIqyoXKceR0iYVYLtR_7DDKAkKDC0lDqV8oNNKSKTVoGZH5K8qKOqpmJ0W-Kklbywci4Grd1/s1600/Intermediate+Egret+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcD00Pgawd13d8fT082VTlxGug2bG0f6X3rWmvUISe-hw3FrzXd21rLJjAu2uHEQSkUqB5sIqyoXKceR0iYVYLtR_7DDKAkKDC0lDqV8oNNKSKTVoGZH5K8qKOqpmJ0W-Kklbywci4Grd1/s640/Intermediate+Egret+resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intermediate Egret <em><span style="color: #c80000;"><span style="color: black;">Egretta intermedia</span> </span></em></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio1bJRgBMimYZB-CNDqJZut_BwgPwD0c6xhsGuFLMp12gCCb1npQYZ9Yk1uqZfOj2XbBVc1ASlAx4_3SJgiAi80sK1aBiAYQdVDncZ5xN0lFKk5x7OKtJkDxV9lIvSSAT-8SBJo-FueYp/s1600/Rainbow+Lorikeet+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio1bJRgBMimYZB-CNDqJZut_BwgPwD0c6xhsGuFLMp12gCCb1npQYZ9Yk1uqZfOj2XbBVc1ASlAx4_3SJgiAi80sK1aBiAYQdVDncZ5xN0lFKk5x7OKtJkDxV9lIvSSAT-8SBJo-FueYp/s640/Rainbow+Lorikeet+resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Musk Lorikeet <em>Glossopsitta concinna</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
As I made my way around the maze of barricaded, dead-end paths I was forced to cut across the back of the smaller pond. The margins of this pond are thickly lined with Eucalypts and provided me with a good deal of cover to set up my scope and camera in the hope of finding something exciting. As I was setting up I noticed the small clearing among the knee-high Rush was teeming with Spotted and Baillon's Crake. I had to be careful where I stepped as they seemed to be popping out from thick cover along the margin of the pond! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyZVT5TyRZg-AphihRN1sVIsXMPBSntsaRQHiWeMDbqZTpiuf8KNzQsFcSvrwJBQETVz6kCF11P000QXPW9SQ_r-pb-AkGLjYPtaW4oZWXy04Rr5eTpbsLq0rsS77_RgNR1DY5ozr2n28/s1600/Baillons+Crake+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyZVT5TyRZg-AphihRN1sVIsXMPBSntsaRQHiWeMDbqZTpiuf8KNzQsFcSvrwJBQETVz6kCF11P000QXPW9SQ_r-pb-AkGLjYPtaW4oZWXy04Rr5eTpbsLq0rsS77_RgNR1DY5ozr2n28/s640/Baillons+Crake+resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baillon's Crake <em>Porzana pusilla</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_WWKlb1x6kOkgkhV3ctx7vpODdKTddAw1LGemYP8dQQJAndugOpgnkYSM7Fmor8S7Qo6m0JilfYlVUgYb5VmyB9xrdQ0pPdhmhPbBaeqzEL6PY4Bf4zdOxl1iWGkYk0nm3iEZjI71uJE/s1600/Spotted+Crake+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_WWKlb1x6kOkgkhV3ctx7vpODdKTddAw1LGemYP8dQQJAndugOpgnkYSM7Fmor8S7Qo6m0JilfYlVUgYb5VmyB9xrdQ0pPdhmhPbBaeqzEL6PY4Bf4zdOxl1iWGkYk0nm3iEZjI71uJE/s640/Spotted+Crake+resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Spotted Crake <em>Porzana fluminea</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
After spending a few moments trying to snap the Crakes as they darted about my feet I then set up the scope and panned about. Within moments I caught view of the distinctly 'peaked' head of a Freckled Duck and a few metres to the right I spied another<span style="background-color: white;">. </span>What great looking birds! I spent the best part of an hour observing them and they eventually took to the water, came up for a bit of a snoop and gave me the chance to fire off some decent shots. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZW12Wru5yoRjmEZ29cbxQjwYnk2KUtm7YocmJaokD_LNmwY_nBYwW8YIoTY6SmFy90tNpd76XxAvWV2fPt2cXgh331m9NzYg-55sgpv4IomvCiD-PnNqyrER_jekctzryByYIXvIGEDx/s1600/Frecklies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZW12Wru5yoRjmEZ29cbxQjwYnk2KUtm7YocmJaokD_LNmwY_nBYwW8YIoTY6SmFy90tNpd76XxAvWV2fPt2cXgh331m9NzYg-55sgpv4IomvCiD-PnNqyrER_jekctzryByYIXvIGEDx/s640/Frecklies.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freckled Duck <em>Dessicatus lamingtonus</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
As special as the moment was, having a pair of very obliging Freckled Ducks all to myself, I couldn't help thinking that these guys look somewhat like an overgrown, Duck-shaped Lamington. <br />
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'Dessicated Ducks' <br />
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I love it!Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-18853016753887680292011-10-03T02:05:00.000-07:002011-10-03T02:05:32.786-07:00WHISKERED TERNS, BLUE-WINGED PARROTS, AVOCETS AND STILTS...Well, the last post from Thompson Beach is actually a few months old. Despite the date on the post, it was actually written a while ago and saved in 'draft' form until I had the gusto to put it all together - words & images. After slapping it all together and uploading it, I felt incredibly inspired to get out there once more and see what the warmer weather and change of season would have to offer.<br />
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Sure enough the warmer weather and Spring season set me up for a half-day of interesting & intense birding. "Interesting" as the day yielded a few new species for my site list and "intense" due to the amount of ground I covered within 5 hours. On the central beach I was a little saddened to see, despite searching for quite a while, that the Double-banded Plovers appear to have exited for another year. But there were other mysteries to solve and other species to seek out. The first mystery bird of the day had me stumped for quite a while, a smallish Tern with a dark/sooty belly, solid black "pulled down" hood and a short red bill. It had me stumped for a while, partly due to the fact that the page I needed in my Pizzey & Knight field guide was stuck to another, I kept skimming past it, completely oblivious. The more I flipped through the 'Terns' the more confused I became, until I finally realised two pages were gummed together. Mystery solved....not much of a 'mystery' bird really but for a minute there I had a crazy idea perhaps I had seen a Roseate Tern. I had seen Whiskered Terns in the Northern Territory before but never in their splendid breeding colours. Fortunately for me, two of the birds landed ashore for a rest and gave me some great views. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTa9veYyLXKetezjuiaIi0PwwIbeiZ0edFWV7nD42sRFl73y2G9YxgCNaxTgcERXlxZ7IvvyI7Y6UGvSqAB1IG_-ICO72H0ZEtQbtnYOARpK_d2T0jsT8j8fMHQIFV6m_XKap3yBOTfxG/s1600/Whiskered+tern+2+Resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTa9veYyLXKetezjuiaIi0PwwIbeiZ0edFWV7nD42sRFl73y2G9YxgCNaxTgcERXlxZ7IvvyI7Y6UGvSqAB1IG_-ICO72H0ZEtQbtnYOARpK_d2T0jsT8j8fMHQIFV6m_XKap3yBOTfxG/s640/Whiskered+tern+2+Resized.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Whiskered Tern <em>Chlidonias hybridus</em></span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="left">As I scoped the two Whiskered Terns that had sided up next to one another, a single Fairy Tern came to rest on the same exposed area of rock. It's always nice to see this species anywhere along the coast. Reported to congregate in flocks of anywhere from 2000-15000 along the north-western coast of Western Australia, here in South Australia their status is not so secure. Across South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania their conservation status is listed as 'Vulnerable'. In the 5 hours I was searching the northern section of Thompson Beach I saw a grand total of 2 Fairy Tern. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">In addition to the Terns, there were good numbers of Red-necked Stint on the central beach, along with a few 'thin' looking Grey Plover, still showing patches of black breeding plumage through their face, throats and 'armpits'. Among the Stints I did manage to locate a lone Curlew Sandpiper and two birds on shore that I thought may have been Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, but I wasn't convinced. With much of the central beach covered and counted I moved on to the northern claypans and coast. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Within a few hundred metres of leaving the Esplanade I was startled by the 'tinkling' call of a lightning-fast Neophema whizzing by. It sounded more 'bell-like' than an Elegant Parrot, at least to my relatively unaccustomed ear, so I was beginning to get excited - could it be an Orange-bellied Parrot? Well, no....as it turned out, once I crossed the first tidal channel my question was answered with amazing views of upward of 40 or 50 Blue-winged Parrots. A new species for me, I was careful to eliminate the other Neophema species that also occur in the area. With so many of them concentrated in one small area, getting a few decent photos proved to be quite easy. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtDeECS3cgk9d5_u4xTgCUaQNwnYOomPRfnGX2BwqK2Bqe94GcdscvUMtihDZJvsG57fVuZON8L6L9PY2rSSI54OucDs1l0xjGXWcx9DBbKmg3WvYnOs0VzhZEAk_iOWxdozNQeSGsxDo/s1600/Blue+Winged+Parrot+4+Resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtDeECS3cgk9d5_u4xTgCUaQNwnYOomPRfnGX2BwqK2Bqe94GcdscvUMtihDZJvsG57fVuZON8L6L9PY2rSSI54OucDs1l0xjGXWcx9DBbKmg3WvYnOs0VzhZEAk_iOWxdozNQeSGsxDo/s640/Blue+Winged+Parrot+4+Resized.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blue-winged Parrot <em>Neophema chrysostoma</em></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">In comparison with both Rock Parrots and Elegant Parrots (here's my 2 cents worth....) the adult birds appeared to be a much brighter, 'citrine' yellow in the belly and lores. The bright yellow also surrounded the double-blue banding across the forehead of the adult birds I observed. In addition, the broad blue patch across the shoulder is also instantly noticeable, both when perched and in flight. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-R9tI-Hek9T2gz0bXOEwj-i0QCxQOd0AIZThfRIQMuMczB-dAwoqdwI4ss1J4en7AycsDfn_ottp5SW3-zAhpfQZpGH7tmMjJU6EYltIONrbMGFHMEqQAbbHWZ9tK1bMcGb7f5F81zUE/s1600/Blue-winged+Parrot+3+Resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-R9tI-Hek9T2gz0bXOEwj-i0QCxQOd0AIZThfRIQMuMczB-dAwoqdwI4ss1J4en7AycsDfn_ottp5SW3-zAhpfQZpGH7tmMjJU6EYltIONrbMGFHMEqQAbbHWZ9tK1bMcGb7f5F81zUE/s640/Blue-winged+Parrot+3+Resized.jpg" width="496px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blue-winged Parrot <em>Neophema chrysostoma</em></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">It was great to spend close to an hour following such a large feeding party of both adult and immature birds. At one point a trail bike flushed a group of 6 or 7 and one newly fledged bird did its best to escape despite not having a fully developed tail! The birds continued to flush from the ground for a stretch of 150-200 metres wherever the seeding grasses and flowers pictured below were abundant. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYDocF-11H077Op0TqQmyjASBwhaT4kYzmFUMW0lJ8CYe3EmKXBeLadJwYSps37RPAmFyD0dGwLzlzP6eTRfunWYswu2jpEvyx_wlFptn8GxM7nuDWtUxfkCqm6MvDYZRY1I3WnAUX4zn/s1600/Seeding+Grasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYDocF-11H077Op0TqQmyjASBwhaT4kYzmFUMW0lJ8CYe3EmKXBeLadJwYSps37RPAmFyD0dGwLzlzP6eTRfunWYswu2jpEvyx_wlFptn8GxM7nuDWtUxfkCqm6MvDYZRY1I3WnAUX4zn/s640/Seeding+Grasses.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPdroR4Z5RCY2afgtRjn7NGvyW4zU49HPUl-ru8tzRH2s3r3kIaVMJmFZgQJbuKsMSt_BYPS6RhGYRMdr78o3FUmCk_M0ZzMtYKoGxroi827csE8nRQx2_Z9sAXUBgs3desKIsxhqblBQ/s1600/Seeding+Flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPdroR4Z5RCY2afgtRjn7NGvyW4zU49HPUl-ru8tzRH2s3r3kIaVMJmFZgQJbuKsMSt_BYPS6RhGYRMdr78o3FUmCk_M0ZzMtYKoGxroi827csE8nRQx2_Z9sAXUBgs3desKIsxhqblBQ/s640/Seeding+Flowers.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">On the claypans beyond the dunes I was surprised to stumble across a small group of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, right where I usually spend a bit of time trying to locate Spotted Crake. Sure enough, out there feeding with the Sharpies were no fewer than five Spotted Crake...all out in the open, feeding fearlessly while the conditions were good. The further north I followed the claypan margin, the more Sharpies I found. All in all, I counted 37 of the little waders, along with 17 Black-tailed Native Hen. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLHkWcdGgf7yXaNI5tGYs-hLUkZ6M9m0fYUZFRsFyV1cgHem9xnAouGSvSrhMM7hEQUi_CUIX9XrPhOvMs-i_90GM9aewn0EahV0YIv6JGwcPx3wvMhIRVa4fwKDuHRykN8nnRaF3BkLU/s1600/Sharpies+and+Crake+2+Resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLHkWcdGgf7yXaNI5tGYs-hLUkZ6M9m0fYUZFRsFyV1cgHem9xnAouGSvSrhMM7hEQUi_CUIX9XrPhOvMs-i_90GM9aewn0EahV0YIv6JGwcPx3wvMhIRVa4fwKDuHRykN8nnRaF3BkLU/s640/Sharpies+and+Crake+2+Resized.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sharp-tailed Sandpipers & Australian Spotted Crake</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1USRmy9Z6xAJ9vbAVsnyIom_vc1IPq91Q_hO3G5w2t3kU5bM06UeXsJkFzzMCbf-SmjKWpuhLt989MACQDEgGW_hhNXRkx4wcE8X3n2q0pwl_TxPVQPv-tE-kq1QF6oQz0WOa_zcciip6/s1600/Sharp-tailed+Sandpiper+4+Resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1USRmy9Z6xAJ9vbAVsnyIom_vc1IPq91Q_hO3G5w2t3kU5bM06UeXsJkFzzMCbf-SmjKWpuhLt989MACQDEgGW_hhNXRkx4wcE8X3n2q0pwl_TxPVQPv-tE-kq1QF6oQz0WOa_zcciip6/s640/Sharp-tailed+Sandpiper+4+Resized.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sharp-tailed Sandpiper <em>Calidris acuminata</em></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">After sitting and observing the Sharpies for a while I began to see a subtle size difference among the birds. The closer together they fed, the more obvious it became, with the male of the species recorded as appearing 'noticeably larger' than the female but otherwise identical. Whilst not a technically brilliant image I think the picture below illustrates the size difference nicely, with the larger male bird in the background.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXK7Y9nTI6ndoaBtFzGK_ioKFKiv3P2vcbmDgKVpqD7TTjVHODlmDq7D8aHfP_zmNNL1i1gOUFXmfM1d5lFDuot5vmwRlM95vKsIdF39PhOtIYfSRkeYVROWUuNrhOgYllpO6b5XSCv6z/s1600/Male+and+Female+Sharpies+Resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXK7Y9nTI6ndoaBtFzGK_ioKFKiv3P2vcbmDgKVpqD7TTjVHODlmDq7D8aHfP_zmNNL1i1gOUFXmfM1d5lFDuot5vmwRlM95vKsIdF39PhOtIYfSRkeYVROWUuNrhOgYllpO6b5XSCv6z/s640/Male+and+Female+Sharpies+Resized.jpg" width="522px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sharp-tailed Sandpiper <em>Calidris acuminata</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">As the afternoon wore on I decided to take a different path back to the car and opted for a long walk back via the larger, more easterly set of claypans. These claypans are almost devoid of thicker shrubby glasswort and samphire cover around the margins and in part are quite degraded due to trail bike riding. I wasn't expecting much but thought I may find some Teal or Shelducks out on these deeper backwaters. As I crested the small, shrubby duneset I was greeted by the sight of over 200 Banded Stilts sunning themselves atop of a sandbar in the middle of the largest claypan. A few hundred metres away, bobbing about on the water were a group of 6 Red-necked Avocet. Both new species records for me at this site. Excellent! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCiS9co38fjh8veuJLzgGWADjIcu8PyUTsNV6VrUwMt9_cQxmUJaGbBKx7n-Wdh7eEuJikjsDoC0bMKbD4F0tTMWO838hn_WcePLEqplg7f7Ym2fno8iPOtgjnBSRlcGEfiUXgI_ck_jM/s1600/IMG_6555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCiS9co38fjh8veuJLzgGWADjIcu8PyUTsNV6VrUwMt9_cQxmUJaGbBKx7n-Wdh7eEuJikjsDoC0bMKbD4F0tTMWO838hn_WcePLEqplg7f7Ym2fno8iPOtgjnBSRlcGEfiUXgI_ck_jM/s640/IMG_6555.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Banded Stilt <em>Cladorhynchus leucocephalus</em></span></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_i5kLsM-znGwrl6ESnjmWotj7FO_WSkpnAgC7lmoe71UuPvIklpJLD_RV8fcwFBXejTDYNhv07q-DwnodxAFOYH6ZQxyHziGG53UAAlwDNED5ljytFYSY-DBhbgu9oaB5_chthyphenhyphenC5_CO/s1600/IMG_6526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_i5kLsM-znGwrl6ESnjmWotj7FO_WSkpnAgC7lmoe71UuPvIklpJLD_RV8fcwFBXejTDYNhv07q-DwnodxAFOYH6ZQxyHziGG53UAAlwDNED5ljytFYSY-DBhbgu9oaB5_chthyphenhyphenC5_CO/s640/IMG_6526.JPG" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Red-necked Avocet <em>Recurvirostra novaehollandiae</em></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Not the greatest pictures I agree, but decent enough for my records at least. <br />
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Upon returning home I logged my sightings for the day and then checked my tally of total species logged for Thomspon Beach - I have just hit 75 birds in total, averaging a visit once every three weeks for the past 12 months. <br />
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Time for a 'self high-five'....<br />
<br />
....nerd. </div>Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-348735734451132262011-10-02T06:00:00.000-07:002011-10-02T06:00:43.767-07:00THOMPSON BEACH TURF WAR!I had not been out to Thompson Beach in quite a while. I was missing the solitude of the place and decided to head out for high tide and capitalise on a break in the gloomy pall winter had cast. The sun was rising as I left home and it looked promising. My good mood got a severe shake around the throat when upon arriving at the Central Beach parking area I found a giant lummox and his angry dog staring down at me from the beach. Not just a casual, <em>"who the hell is pulling up here this early on a Sunday?"</em> kind of look, he was staring intently, waiting to engage me....I could feel it. I have parked in the same spot many times before, birders are not exactly out of place here, there's info boards and trails everywhere, but he would not look away. Something seemed wrong, his face was contorting...pig-like, horse-like. Bloody hell....<br />
<br />
I always feel a bit vulnerable venturing off into sparsely populated spots with a few thousand dollars worth of kit in the car or hanging around my neck in a bag. Like running through a lions enclosure with a rib-eye steak around your neck.....asking for it, really. I feel especially vulnerable in parts of the country where 'blokier' blokes are engaged in more typically blokey pursuits, like shooting shit, catching shit, driving shit really fast and loud or just making a mess of shit.<br />
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I look up, the wind must have changed direction, because now his face is stuck....arse-like.<em> </em>I get out of the car thinking, <em>'what the hell could it be?'</em> Driving a Volvo wagon is certainly another mark against me....and wearing goofy gumboots. Oh, and equally goofy, ill-fitting hat....<br />
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Could have been any number of things he didn't like about me but he was coming over to tell me, right now!<br />
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<em>"Shouldn' park there...locals get pissed-off with ya parkin' there! Should move ya car....move ya car over, they launch boats there!" </em><br />
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Being a hot-tempered alpha-male, hooked on adrenalin and bent on beach domination myself (albeit whilst driving a silver Volvo and being worried about getting damp feet...) I took him on....<br />
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<em>"....uh, but....but...I though they launch boats on the southern end....uh, isn't that the boat ramp?"</em><br />
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Unimpressed with my feeble attempt to drum on my own chest, he amped up....<br />
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<em>"Yeah it is</em> (long pause)....<em>but locals launch here...</em> (synapses now barely firing)<em> ...Locals get pissed-off....pull in here..."</em> <br />
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He now demonstrates for me by way of motioning with his very long arms and ground-scraping hands that I should move the car - a metre to the left.<br />
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Worried about him having an apoplexy upon me asking another question of him, or setting his equally dim-witted looking dog on me, I relent and moved the Volvo - one metre. He has worked hard to communicate his concern with me, he walks off....exhausted. But not too exhausted to leave without firing one last salvo, <br />
<br />
<em>"You won't see much out there anyway....wrong season, birds not back 'til end of the year!"</em><br />
<br />
Hmmmmm. Well at least he has read the migratory wader information board....or had it read to him. <br />
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I walk off, head full of scathing insults (all of which had the good sense not to leave my lips) and more than a little peeved. Not about to let a shaved ape lecture me on how to party down with the waders.....<br />
<br />
Anyway, I was there for birding. On my last visit I managed to muster 43 birds on my list, a personal record for this particular site. I was now curious to see if an early arriving migrants had sneaked back form the northern hemisphere. As I walk off, I wonder what my Lummox friend would make of thousands of 'illegal' aliens from the northern hemisphere alighting on his beach every year, eating up resources, lazing on the shore....all without going through the proper channels. I'm sure he has opinions on that too.<br />
<br />
Well, the morning kicked off with some stonking views of one of my favourite little tourists, the Double-banded Plover. Taking a well earned break from the frostier climes of New Zealand and still wearing their best breeding outfits to boot. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZaTJGH5vvUo9YufG9-SPVw3wXFatS8Ay4RglhG_9zUwPrZAzrGMjnwjQMUdYoGvHi7I9nPGjVHzJJ__5dlbVS_cQX5dGfndrCpiRwCjtbg_itRpUiM_D3lQ0hem-yQC3GLm8AtGlvnOA/s1600/DBL+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZaTJGH5vvUo9YufG9-SPVw3wXFatS8Ay4RglhG_9zUwPrZAzrGMjnwjQMUdYoGvHi7I9nPGjVHzJJ__5dlbVS_cQX5dGfndrCpiRwCjtbg_itRpUiM_D3lQ0hem-yQC3GLm8AtGlvnOA/s640/DBL+resize.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Double-banded Plover <em>Charadrius bicinctus</em></span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVU_b17Wq3yiXk7GzmUiTRZIOWnuf0rpvOrfuRSMdi0NNaX7GRb8BnqkWkd1sFXaeHOmuXGXIhnpGrTgwHZQ3AE6X8lEIEmq_t0YIigeLP-xliYlscgPV53jP6kBCUkK9btG-wWv9ccuTV/s1600/DBL+resize+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVU_b17Wq3yiXk7GzmUiTRZIOWnuf0rpvOrfuRSMdi0NNaX7GRb8BnqkWkd1sFXaeHOmuXGXIhnpGrTgwHZQ3AE6X8lEIEmq_t0YIigeLP-xliYlscgPV53jP6kBCUkK9btG-wWv9ccuTV/s640/DBL+resize+2.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">...taking a very well earned nap.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Hard to believe that these diminutive and graceful little birds fly well over 2000 kilometres at the end of their breeding season to avoid the icy New Zealand winter (as well as the terrible accent and poor television) only to repeat the journey 6 or 7 months later in the same year. Equally as hard to believe is that they eat up to 1000 times their body weight each day of a rare type of rock only found on the shoreline of south-eastern Australia**</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Yes, hard to believe...</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="left">It was hard to draw myself away, the more closely I scanned the pebbles on the shore, the more of them I continued to find. I counted 11 in total on the central beach area. As I scanned northwards along the central beach I also caught views of Pied Oystercatchers, a couple of Ruddy Turnstones and a small gang of Red Knot. On the claypans to the north there were good numbers of Grey Plovers, looking decidedly 'slimmer' than those I saw in late March/April before they departed for the northern hemisphere. One or two had over-wintered here, but this large group of 32 were not to be found on my last few visits. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">But the real interesting sighting of the visit was a brief 2-3 second eyeful of a Spotless Crake. An unusual sighting for this area, given the hyper-saline water of the system of small claypans and tidal channels behind the coastal dunes. But in the 2 visits prior to this one, I had been stopped in my tracks by some unusual and high-pitched, "dog-chew-toy-like" squeaks that came from a section of heavy samphire & glasswort cover on a small tidal channel on the northern side of the beach. On the two visits prior, I had no luck seeing anything...I stood, waited...pished, waited....squeaked an Audubon's bird caller, waited. I did a lot of bloody waiting. For nothing. Well, nothing other than to have reclusive dog chew-toys squeak back at me from the impenetrable vegetation of a rank back-water. The calls would stop after a minute or two and the cover was so thick you could not see beyond the first 30 centimetres of vegetation. <br />
<br />
</div><div align="left">But, today I was lucky! Upon setting up my scope and picking a site with more cover a bird took flight from just in front of me and crossed the metre-wide stretch of grimy, green water...giving me a half-decent view of what was a very small, uniformly dark or sooty bird with a pair of reddish legs dangling beneath it. It dived straight into heavy cover, not to be seen or heard again. I gathered my thoughts and then pulled out the Pizzey & Knight to confirm what I thought I had seen. Ah, yes...third time is a charm! A life tick for me and new record for the site too. I finished off with a peek around the other side of the dune set to see if the Spotted Crakes were still putting on a show - sure enough, they were...well, at least one of them. I had to almost kick my way through Black-tailed Native Hens to get over the dune. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLMz1JtIiZqzorHF5xlnaktW3rTB2-sL3m8cy76sHC9JU_Wlvv_JaY_J7OfrDNmk51NmBczm97SPpdles-K0LvxeKBnqlZzwLZvMe1JJMrJN_IfTMK5gQ6sgWHV_6rsPr0Un4scH3gUDt/s1600/black+tailed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLMz1JtIiZqzorHF5xlnaktW3rTB2-sL3m8cy76sHC9JU_Wlvv_JaY_J7OfrDNmk51NmBczm97SPpdles-K0LvxeKBnqlZzwLZvMe1JJMrJN_IfTMK5gQ6sgWHV_6rsPr0Un4scH3gUDt/s640/black+tailed.jpg" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Black-tailed Native Hen <em>Tribonyx ventralis</em></span></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><div align="left">I walked slowly back to the car, realising I had whiled away a couple of hours and counted up my list. A new personal record for Thompson Beach - an even 50 species for the day. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">..and a big, sloppy <em>"Pfffffffthhhhttttt!"</em> to the nay-saying simian who bet I'd see diddley squat! </div><div align="left"><br />
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</div><div align="left">** a bigger, sloppier <em>"Pfffffffthhhhttttt!"</em> to anyone who scrolled down here with an eyebrow half-cocked, looking for an explanation of Double-banded Plover eating habits - everyone knows they prefer chips. </div><div align="left"></div><br />
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</div>Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-48144862294055908712011-10-02T04:44:00.000-07:002011-12-26T03:43:46.519-08:00WHEN STUPIDITY STARTS TO PAY OFF...Well, after searching for Scarlet-chested Parrots on two earlier visits to Gluepot in July I finally got myself an eyeful of these amazing little birds! I had scoured the north-western corner of South Australia looking for them, in habitat quite similar to that found at Gluepot & Taylorville Station, without luck over the last few years. Even considering the 800km return trip from the APY Lands to dash up to Docker River in the Northern Territory to see them when they were reported in that area twice last year. But patience and perseverance (and a good deal of stubborn-minded stupidity....) finally paid off with good views of 6 birds in total in the Gypsum Lunette area of Taylorville Station. <br />
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Unlike my first visit to Gluepot during the height summer, when the place was empty, this last visit felt like visiting a birding shopping mall. I arrived at dawn and pulled in to see the place was empty but by midday there were about 6 of us looking for these parrots in one small area of perhaps a half-square kilometre or thereabouts. Not exactly 'teeming' with people but when you're all there looking for the same thing the place suddenly feels a bit 'small'. <br />
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Interestingly, I was about to give up and have some lunch after about 2 and a half hours of walking the area back and forth, alone, when I bumped into Colin Rogers and John Cox, heading in for a look as I was coming out. I told them of my third unlucky attempt and mentioned that it felt like looking for a 'needle in a haystack' despite having some great, almost pin-point accurate descriptions of where to look for these parrots. I suspect they sensed in me that I was about to throw in the towel (or throw a monumental hissy-fit) as they agreed that three sets of eyes searching the area would rate us a better chance of seeing them and they kindly allowed me to tag along as they wished to photograph the Scarlet-chested Parrots. I owe them a big thanks, so...thanks John and Colin! <br />
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It was still close to an hour before we had our first glimpse of the Parrots, John suggested sticking close to the recently burnt patches of Mallee as these birds are noted for having a preference for this kind of environment...and this was where we found them. Sure enough, I spied one sitting as a silent sentinel while a second bird fed on the ground below. The second bird popped up momentarily before they both flew off 20 or 30 metres to perch again. Great views of a male but we were unsure of the second bird.....a juvenile or perhaps a female....we all had different views. <br />
They didn't appear to be too fussed by our presence, as each time we got near they would take flight rather unhurriedly and fly a short distance away, all the while maintaining a bit of a buffer. Each time they flushed they did so in silence....breaking the time-honoured Parrot code of bush-etiquette...<br />
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<strong>Article 2A : When flushed by biped hominids, proceed to squawk maniacally whilst flying like a scalded cat.</strong><br />
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I was really surprised at how quiet they were and how luminous they appeared to be. Amazing....<br />
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We managed to locate another pair closer to the Gypsum Lunette walk carpark, just south of the carpark. And, just like the famed tourist t-shirts of the 1980's <em>"My grandma went to NYC, and all i got was this lousy shirt!"....</em>I stalked these Scarlet-chested Parrots for hours......<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDXtM_pP0zsSBjhNWToRqNIbvaw7NEsLP78bBd5ea2dyYoXT0p9-YJOUMpr9d84pD2Qt2E5hr7WO7_yEdmz1OttTO-t4ZGAee3dYAJfGMgsBSa8ErbufMmvGBkknyTPT2-ukb5h7trvxY/s1600/SCP+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="354" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDXtM_pP0zsSBjhNWToRqNIbvaw7NEsLP78bBd5ea2dyYoXT0p9-YJOUMpr9d84pD2Qt2E5hr7WO7_yEdmz1OttTO-t4ZGAee3dYAJfGMgsBSa8ErbufMmvGBkknyTPT2-ukb5h7trvxY/s640/SCP+resize.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Scarlet-chested Parrot <em>Neophema splendida</em></span></div><br />
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....and all I got was this one lousy photo!<br />
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Well, at least a painter like Monet or Arthur Streeton would appreciate the 'impressionistic' sensibilities of my photography. Maybe they'd just sense I was a hack? Who knows? <br />
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But, if you stare long enough at the picture above you may get a real sense of the, <em>"JESUS!!! It's just landed there!...heart's racing too fast...palms too sweaty to really operate this bloody camera, ahhh, the Auto Focus is on.....shit! Why are my fingers so bloody thick and stubby? Now, focus, focus...oh double-shit! It's gone!"</em> madness that flashed through my mind in those brief seconds. At least that's the 'cleaned up for public consumption' account of what went on.....<br />
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Alas, we finally caught up with a third pair about 1.5 km's from the Gluepot road along the Gypsum Lunette walk itself but they weren't so obliging. Oh well, I was beginning to feel exhausted as by this point I had been on the go for close to 8 hours without eating or drinking much....strange how the lure of seeing something like this can drive you a bit nuts.<br />
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Despite finally getting great views of these birds, the other highlight of the day for me was a very close encounter with two Striated Pardalotes. They were checking a small nesting hollow and gave me a very good looking over as I walked past, sitting obligingly while I fired off a couple of pictures. I moved on quickly as I did not really want to disturb birds that were obviously busy preparing to nest or already nesting. When I got home I was really pleased with how the pictures came out. A couple of my best photos so far, I reckon. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiFQMLGGBft42L3gWQZ3Gq-TMM4mbQnTrRit-e1peNzbX1M-9AGyQdk7MydYxpJ3SCDLoacAM7IGkLo57fP-zOGzErbzkgQhYirBzC7iThn3y5OAERCvyNo8xH_qGq9M1Xrn-g-1lp3yX/s1600/pard001.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="412" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiFQMLGGBft42L3gWQZ3Gq-TMM4mbQnTrRit-e1peNzbX1M-9AGyQdk7MydYxpJ3SCDLoacAM7IGkLo57fP-zOGzErbzkgQhYirBzC7iThn3y5OAERCvyNo8xH_qGq9M1Xrn-g-1lp3yX/s640/pard001.jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Striated Pardalote <em>Pardalotus Striatus</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMcAgwpVc4OJbWov381NxjeQgrOfPWs2GRGq7MaIn4wf27YY-UzDqLhSFqlx5TFktoIBd0ukLuiS5fU88Y-PkMrrUF96ClcjudNMC37THB5G4sY9jqRtv5oTu7NbGkHiVCpEm5SPm5gfc/s1600/Striated+Pardalote+nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMcAgwpVc4OJbWov381NxjeQgrOfPWs2GRGq7MaIn4wf27YY-UzDqLhSFqlx5TFktoIBd0ukLuiS5fU88Y-PkMrrUF96ClcjudNMC37THB5G4sY9jqRtv5oTu7NbGkHiVCpEm5SPm5gfc/s640/Striated+Pardalote+nest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Striated Pardalote <em>Pardalotus striatus</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">I also managed to fire off a couple of 'record' shot of two other species I had until this point been unable to get decent pictures of. The photographs included a momentarily sedentary Brown Treecreeper and Jacky Winter, one of many seen throughout the course of the day. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBfjJHakHC5CDZQsj7UscEOCbstDbldUktD16LUYCNbJpXzaHxTgiDoU2FMk_yiziH5n314OjhnAtKTDctggfCp0x6LH2gONRliJpn7CTwSK4wth_0eJYIDpQBiDjkh8mRCSzccUz6Ooa/s1600/Brown+Treecreeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBfjJHakHC5CDZQsj7UscEOCbstDbldUktD16LUYCNbJpXzaHxTgiDoU2FMk_yiziH5n314OjhnAtKTDctggfCp0x6LH2gONRliJpn7CTwSK4wth_0eJYIDpQBiDjkh8mRCSzccUz6Ooa/s640/Brown+Treecreeper.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brown Treecreeper <em>Climacteris picumnus</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT-XilralLUNINHHPoliRv-Bd3DuhCe_hqsCF6wrO_J5_VVpw81X_R_jojlhQbK1ojLnIGDqNsmmsxilpVOEWcAwvXGhrVg1Qb06LFzKBFN_zORmdc-_K-8LJNIG8ZGm76IdO899fdQ4Z/s1600/Jacky+Winter+resize.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT-XilralLUNINHHPoliRv-Bd3DuhCe_hqsCF6wrO_J5_VVpw81X_R_jojlhQbK1ojLnIGDqNsmmsxilpVOEWcAwvXGhrVg1Qb06LFzKBFN_zORmdc-_K-8LJNIG8ZGm76IdO899fdQ4Z/s640/Jacky+Winter+resize.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jacky Winter<em> Microeca fascinans</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">So, despite not really having much to show for it, it was a pretty monumental day for me, almost on par with my stumbling across Princess Parrots in the middle of last year near Nyapari. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now, if I could just get out there again and try and get a picture of those parrots that really does them some justice.....</div>Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-66599031659719513842011-06-14T03:12:00.000-07:002011-06-14T03:19:31.893-07:00ONE VITAL TREE...<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, the monstrous River Red Gum in our next door neighbours' yard has turned out to be an invaluable refuge for yet another vulnerable species of bird. Today I finally solved the riddle of a certain call that has been bugging me in the neighbourhood for the last week or so. I've heard it calling from all directions around our house but by the time I scoot back inside and grab the binoculars, it's long gone. But today I took the bin's outside with me while I pushed Ivy on her swing...good thinking, Dad! I took the camera too but for some reason it decided today would be a good day to start creaking, moaning and not working properly (so excuse the slightly fuzzy pic's...).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hmmmm...a real pity because the mystery call belonged to....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5DuIgGIHo1ONphCxQe_e_BCtjept7cUfpHClh7afSDMcCtSUbY1NSYYmSghc4-fXIw47Qo2AxkSXbA6Oj6DHIXD7gxTmjnR0npbbCLe6VvsV8Gq_ItiiOIGZ_YFJLyZBkWEIdpjaVjSw/s1600/Black-chinned+Honeyeater+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5DuIgGIHo1ONphCxQe_e_BCtjept7cUfpHClh7afSDMcCtSUbY1NSYYmSghc4-fXIw47Qo2AxkSXbA6Oj6DHIXD7gxTmjnR0npbbCLe6VvsV8Gq_ItiiOIGZ_YFJLyZBkWEIdpjaVjSw/s640/Black-chinned+Honeyeater+4.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Black-chinned Honeyeater <em>Melithreptus gularis</em></span></div><br />
One Black-chinned Honeyeater!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is like winning bird lotto, again! A tough one to find in South Australia, especially in this part of the state. I did a bit of research and found that there have been odd reports of them coming into suburbia, more recently in the suburbs south of Adelaide. I also found a record of them being seen/heard at Altona Land Care Reserve in the Barossa Valley....not too far away from here. A paucity of sightings in recent years has lead to the conservation status of the Black-chinned Honeyeater (<em>Melithreptus gularis)</em> being determined as <em>'vulnerable'</em> here in South Australia. This is also evidence of how valuable just one large, suburban tree can be for our Avifauna...just as long as it's the RIGHT tree! I watched this little bird flit in and around the outer canopy of the Eucalypt for close to an hour, taking refuge when pursued by Red Wattlebirds and apparently feeding on lerps under the cover of thicker patches of foliage. This tree is like a beacon for birds in our area, it provides shelter and food as birds move from the riparian habitat of Dead Man's Pass out east toward the northern edge of Para Wirra Recreation Park, Sandy Creek Conservation Park and Altona Landcare Reserve. I hope to see the tree stick around for many years to come!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvaaeFzuwjh-TNPWVQB_Su-xPVFbRFBvGeNE57bEGXzNmXeRjjTqbe84QDM7d38aUuQEnkifkKSdVWecY55qFKz9gL27g5uo4AHywf1QH6OfVXsOcY5dTw2riaku5G1WCmysMN07FfJGI/s1600/Black-chinned+Honeyeater+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="394px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvaaeFzuwjh-TNPWVQB_Su-xPVFbRFBvGeNE57bEGXzNmXeRjjTqbe84QDM7d38aUuQEnkifkKSdVWecY55qFKz9gL27g5uo4AHywf1QH6OfVXsOcY5dTw2riaku5G1WCmysMN07FfJGI/s640/Black-chinned+Honeyeater+2.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">It's a worry that I spend more time peering into my neighbours yards with binoculars than my own...so far not a single police visit or half house brick tossed at my nerdy, gawking goggles! But there's a sad lack of taller native trees in our yard to give passing birds a place to perch, do a quick reconnoiter before dropping in for lunch or a quick drink. The previous owners of our place loved all things European, I spent the first months of our stay here hacking at Roses, pulling Palms and shredding a Birch tree. Nothing but Sparrows, Doves and Starlings utilise our enormous Golden Elm, a native to the much colder climes of the Northern Hemisphere. This, conversely, is evidence that plant species with local provenance are vital if we are to work towards gradually reducing the impact of habitat loss in the outer suburban and settled areas of our state. Hopefully my slowly maturing plantings of Eucalypt and Acacia will remedy this situation over the coming years and provide more shelter, food and nesting opportunities for some of these more vulnerable species. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXLl1BbRBDMmaL9khydCM8YX33s89VsbEw3ifxYEMYrETWSN_OTdUjXp2F8GtrhXZrGYgpboVU4SrfQxOQqOdd4dCZrV7WC_FW24kbkELVGGr8N2xdrgLXuDU6FWuEoR1f2DGwopslLf1/s1600/Black-chinned+Honeyeater+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="410px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXLl1BbRBDMmaL9khydCM8YX33s89VsbEw3ifxYEMYrETWSN_OTdUjXp2F8GtrhXZrGYgpboVU4SrfQxOQqOdd4dCZrV7WC_FW24kbkELVGGr8N2xdrgLXuDU6FWuEoR1f2DGwopslLf1/s640/Black-chinned+Honeyeater+5.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>...having said all of that, here's a shot of it in our Elm tree....hrrrmph!</em></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-18085698455862204282011-06-11T08:34:00.000-07:002011-06-11T16:22:22.380-07:00EYRE PENINSULA AND SURROUNDS...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">A while back, a mate and I decided to head from Adelaide out towards the area known locally as the 'Iron Triangle'. This area covers Port Augusta, Whyalla and Iron Knob but our trip was also to include an overnight stay at Lake Gilles CP, just north-east of Kimba. We were initially setting out to locate the myall population of Thick-billed (Western) Grasswren but we'd also hoped to spring upon some other west-coast locals such as Rufous Treecreeper, Western Yellow Robin and Blue-breasted Fairywren. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">The area is a pretty easy 3-4 hour drive north of Adelaide. A first-time visitor to this area would be well advised to stop in at Telowie Gorge and Mambray Creek if they were fond of spectacular views, wildlife and solitude. Nice spots, yes. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But we weren't stopping, our first port of call, as it were, was Port Augusta. I knew Mike was keen to get out to Whyalla and Iron Knob to get onto the Grasswrens, a new tick for him since their recent split. But I was curious to check a stretch of road north of Port Augusta called 'Yorkeys Crossing'. Mike didn't need too much convincing so we headed out past the Arid Lands Botanic Garden and onto this section of well-made gravel road. The road weaves its way through bluebush plains, salt lakes and some more wooded areas featuring the Acacia species known as 'Western Myall'. It's a great mix of vegetation types and arid habitats of the far north, all laid out in a convenient, smallish block, not too far from Adelaide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In no time we had stopped for our first small flock of Zebra Finch and then we spied a smaller Pipit-like bird darting for cover. Without any tall cover about to take refuge in, we had an idea that we may be looking for a Rufous Fieldwren. With some patient stalking (and Mike's more seasoned guidance....) we were afforded great views of this spectacular little bird within a few minutes. A 'lifer' for me and a great start to the trip! Along the first 5km's or so of this road we saw/heard a half dozen or more of these birds, it was a real treat to find them in country that most people would dismiss as a wasteland. In this 'wasteland' we also got great views of other aridland specialists such as; Southern Whiteface, Budgerigar, Cockatiel, Blue Bonnet, Black-faced Woodswallow, White-backed Swallow and Chirruping Wedgebill. The Chirruping Wedgebill's were the main reason why I had wanted to search this area, another 'lifer' for me, it was great to see these birds so easily. We had found a small party of them halfway along the road where the sparse vegetation and saltpans gives way to more 'generous' vegetation. In all, we saw around 35 species in this section alone which gave us plenty of 'pep' for the next leg of the trip.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next stop on our way was at Whyalla Conservation Park. Western (Thick-billed) Grasswren had been found at this park in the past so we thought it would be worth checking out on our way south-west. Within a few brief minutes and barely 500 metres into the park we had our first glimpse of Redthroat, with a bit of a chase and some hide and seek we got a decent view of a single bird. Nice! Then we set our minds to deciphering a mix of Variegated and Blue-breasted Fairywrens that proceeded to dart and squeak their way around us, sending us in all directions to get better views of them. For all of our efforts, I was not convinced we had seen the BBFW's we were trying to find. I am hopeless when attempting to distinguish between female Fairywren's, Mike was determined but I was frazzled....just give me a lurid-looking Male standing atop a conveniently located bush for goodness sake! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We did see some other great birds in this park including; Port Lincoln Parrot, White-winged Fairywren, Variegated Fairywren, Splendid Fairywren, Grey Butcherbird, Crested Bellbird, Chestnut-rumped Thornbill and one very "bleached blonde" looking Emu with young. We did a spot of searching around "Wild Dog Hill" (name???) within the park for our Grasswrens but to no avail. Onward....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had a tip from an SA Museum volunteer whom I met on the APY Lands that the road between Whyalla and Iron Knob was crawling with Grasswrens. I assured Mike, who at this stage was looking a little worried, that I had a highway full of birds waiting for him. We must have stopped and started the car 20 or 30 times along this one miserable stretch of road! We had views of just about every bloody Fairywren known to man but not a Grasswren in sight. Along this stretch of road, anywhere that trees gave way to a monoculture of bluebush we saw and heard more and more Rufous Fieldwren. So, our last site that we had any hope of finding them was just outside of Iron Knob. Pressing on....</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtvBpuLI1FMoNOPeMxbGBvWlFXAg3l2xZPreyulMC9gvCd3PvEgBC1dIMIJ4haTXLE6Hw3rlFq1BtkFAorp46lC2e24kGdzEnW_j9DlJtaGMbsi3q6sQhP1A8yuEtMLtv-Lvha-5ILSKW/s1600/IMG_4662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtvBpuLI1FMoNOPeMxbGBvWlFXAg3l2xZPreyulMC9gvCd3PvEgBC1dIMIJ4haTXLE6Hw3rlFq1BtkFAorp46lC2e24kGdzEnW_j9DlJtaGMbsi3q6sQhP1A8yuEtMLtv-Lvha-5ILSKW/s640/IMG_4662.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"What's wrong with you boy-o? This road is teeming with Grasswrens!" </span></em></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">At Iron Knob we turned onto the main highway and drove south-west for about 500 metres or so before turning off onto the road that leads to Mount Ive Station. On this stretch of road we finally hit paydirt, as it were...but not without the relief and joy being a little tainted. We did finally find our Western Grasswren but it had a couple of barely or newly fledged young with it that we soon realised we were almost standing upon. One of the poor beggars hadn't even formed his long tail feathers yet and he was calling desperately for some help from Mum or Dad, who we had cut-off from the young'un by virtue of our over-zealous bird chasing. We soon beat a hasty retreat to leave the family to regroup and settle. We also manged to see; White-browed Babbler, Zebra Finch, Redthroat, Southern Whiteface, White-fronted Chat, White-winged Fairywren and more Rufous Fieldwren. But there was another surprise waiting for us beyond the car. We managed to chase up some Slender-billed Thornbills that had much more bold 'tangy' yellow bellies and a brighter lemon -yellow rump when compared to the population/race found along the noerthenr coast of Adelaide. Very handsome indeed!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWBrbAmuxyJTC6xVIzTfcmPGVkwtC3ItzWwgZMiTfsKRsVOhmPIjdUaXVs5aJOJmDeyfdepIx_MO_rC0QaxQNO0AWGUp648Z4Fp_b4QVMt9elbQuAysK9HaN4vOQmRnALO_4PbyiN4pk2/s1600/IMG_4664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWBrbAmuxyJTC6xVIzTfcmPGVkwtC3ItzWwgZMiTfsKRsVOhmPIjdUaXVs5aJOJmDeyfdepIx_MO_rC0QaxQNO0AWGUp648Z4Fp_b4QVMt9elbQuAysK9HaN4vOQmRnALO_4PbyiN4pk2/s640/IMG_4664.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"..did I say THAT road? Oh,no boy-o...they're on THIS road!"</span></em></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Next stop, and our camp for the evening, was at the northern end of Lake Gilles Conservation Park. Here the Mallee dominates with many taller trees present, a nice change from the much less inviting look of Iron Knob and surrounds. This is a great spot and highly recommended for anyone who likes their camping to be people and generator-free...not another soul within cooee, nice! Despite having driven all of that way and birding like speed-fuelled junkies, Mike and I still managed to spot a bunch a beaut birds before sundown. Rufous Treecreeper, Restless Flycatcher, Jacky Winter and Crested Bellbird were among the many birds we feasted our tired eyes upon. As we ate and then quickly retreated to our tents, we were treated to the sound of a Boobook Owl calling and the screech of an Owlet Nightjar off in the distance. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmTw5dDTGnwUQi3evfnKIjHfilLBbhyphenhyphenqY_02ySkzBgTGqQaJKDxv8f8DPOGg3zW30ggO60iy2u7hOn2y7t-WFxo7OSrqWldpNnN_5ZU-UCp13esA8KouRFDU9Ymj-nutlJiG9D9bi4pHZ/s1600/IMG_4652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmTw5dDTGnwUQi3evfnKIjHfilLBbhyphenhyphenqY_02ySkzBgTGqQaJKDxv8f8DPOGg3zW30ggO60iy2u7hOn2y7t-WFxo7OSrqWldpNnN_5ZU-UCp13esA8KouRFDU9Ymj-nutlJiG9D9bi4pHZ/s640/IMG_4652.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><em>"Can you see any other humans about? No? Good, let's stop here...."</em></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The next morning we set off to explore more of the northern end of the park on foot. We still had to track down a Western Yellow Robin and some Blue-breasted Fairywrens. On our way to find these birds we were again treated to great views of Rufous Treecreeper, Jacky Winter, White-eared, White-fronted, Yellow-plumed and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters and finally a lone Western Yellow Robin. We did stumble upon another large gang of Fairywren, with Mike concluding that there were definitely Blue-breasted birds among them, but I was feeling totally fried! I will have to give them another go some other time...</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLIgkpz0LS-J4rAA9voph-u-0KZkr_7-x7pBs4YbK5hejdzZurNIf2osE8t_veFoKKVvlA52jxWG0Sa3C_TcYhfply2n09reEhC2tuRPuWOXOBaXPE-GrwGSHEyS7gbapITPqMUR1MqfB/s1600/IMG_4654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLIgkpz0LS-J4rAA9voph-u-0KZkr_7-x7pBs4YbK5hejdzZurNIf2osE8t_veFoKKVvlA52jxWG0Sa3C_TcYhfply2n09reEhC2tuRPuWOXOBaXPE-GrwGSHEyS7gbapITPqMUR1MqfB/s640/IMG_4654.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lake Gilles CP, Northern Section</span></em><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before leaving the area we decided to take a look at the southern portion of the park and followed a road the lead 10km's to Lake Gilles proper. Here we stumbled across a veritable 'festival' of birds. The species present here all seemed to be in plague numbers! We were swooped by Port Lincoln Parrots who decided to get better views of us by flying at our faces! Woodswallows were everywhere, as too were Common Bronzewing, Tree Martin and a few more Restless Flycatchers thrown in for good measure. It was a nice spot and would be well worth returning to to give the outer edges of the lake a good going over...I just know some Scarlet-chested, Princess or Night Parrots were smugly watching us from the other side of the lake...</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU9tJCJxpU41ImTjzP3bBsr_5k6kMOF4BxOsmiR_CrpOfTKSY9r8voXlspEe2iE-rAIb5UFX1Sx7uXTE5Z-mC-Jm6rGWiTuIqDc3XTkRWzKPgtfODJEdiDpF4niZEi0xjhUhfjCBb5M7i/s1600/IMG_4659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnU9tJCJxpU41ImTjzP3bBsr_5k6kMOF4BxOsmiR_CrpOfTKSY9r8voXlspEe2iE-rAIb5UFX1Sx7uXTE5Z-mC-Jm6rGWiTuIqDc3XTkRWzKPgtfODJEdiDpF4niZEi0xjhUhfjCBb5M7i/s640/IMG_4659.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Lake Gilles CP, southern section</span></em></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">So, that was the 'west', more or less...we fuelled up in Kimba and then almost drove into a Godzilla-esque Galah on the road out of town. Mike quickly identified the offending Cocky as a young, female bird...possibly the progeny of a Cassowary and Galah blind date gone awry....</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07ZixBF7pgsaVYWmhQvYVrioEGqxZabEhXYcAbNKp7MFXj2Wpvb7nu4I-LgkmbdgMcJIKWyi6gjSbRQHsumsI8QpjCPNmj2VDfn5aK2CYtGysJGibeU1mzhaGmxIKqQb-QnOkY3-dxOVX/s1600/IMG_4657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="556px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh07ZixBF7pgsaVYWmhQvYVrioEGqxZabEhXYcAbNKp7MFXj2Wpvb7nu4I-LgkmbdgMcJIKWyi6gjSbRQHsumsI8QpjCPNmj2VDfn5aK2CYtGysJGibeU1mzhaGmxIKqQb-QnOkY3-dxOVX/s640/IMG_4657.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">"Looook into my eyes! Looook into my eyes!"</span></em></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Our last stop on the way home was a brief 'hot chip' refill complete with great views of Banded Stilt and Red-necked Avocet at Bird Lake in the industrial wonderland just south of Port Augusta. Chips in one hand, scope in the other, viewing birds from the carpark of a BP service station. A strangely pleasurable way to complete a frenetic 48 hours of birding. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Wati Tjulpu</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-3546968550413777532011-06-11T06:31:00.000-07:002011-06-11T06:42:11.452-07:00MISSING, INACTION!Whoa, you take your mind off of all things birdy and before you know it, it's been two months since a bird-related posting on this here page. Jeez! Not that I haven't been out & about...just many other things going on of late. Well, I have a couple of older trip reports to write up and some local birding news too...along with the bird schtuff I've also had a birthday, so too has my daughter, Ivy, and we've all had doses of the dreaded 'flu. Urgh!<br />
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Today marked a break from the funk of sitting at home feeling sorry for myself, so when everyone else had gone out with other things to do for the day I thought I'd make the most of it and head out for a spot of birding. I thought I'd try my luck again at Thompson Beach, given that I haven't been up there in a few months since many of the visiting waders vacated the beach. Not many people seem to head out to the northern coast during this time of year so I thought I'd brave the cold and see what was about.<br />
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What a day it turned out to be, 43 species in all...a personal record for me at this site! A couple of oddities kept me energised despite some freezing cold wind and what's considered the 'norm' in Adelaide as far as weather goes at this time of year....grey, high cloud that doesn't seem to move to allow the sun to penetrate and provide your skin with any bloody warmth, day after miserable bloody day. Arrrrggghhhh...I miss my Central Australian not-winter. Boo Hoo!<br />
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Alas, I'm not writing a weather report.... <br />
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So, 'oddities' and other interesting things included close to 40 Double-banded Plover, 3 Eastern Curlew, 2 Buff-banded Rail and 1 Darter. Aside from the Plovers, these are all 'new' species for me at this site. I have seen a lone Eastern Curlew out at Port Gawler before but to see three of them quite well was a real treat. For some reason they seem a bit 'goofy' to me, no bird should have to suffer wearing a bill that ridiculous...the silly bill (as useful as it may be...) is only surpassed by their comical, grating 'honk' of a call. Still, I really find them captivating and wish I could have gotten a better shot of them but they had a 'forcefield' around them of what felt like about 100 metres or so. Each time I tried to get a better shot they flew further northward along the beach.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuO27N13aynyoyHKzVv-IGqlVTE136iXe_hH2ocBnr5yvT-SDuNe54f8wUcSbG-K5Kd4xaw0fQJo1OUpkMw-axYjmwkV28gf4i5g4B6WS00LVVr177lUMjYpA2YzduigjT_AOKMTzNx57-/s1600/Eastern+Curlew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuO27N13aynyoyHKzVv-IGqlVTE136iXe_hH2ocBnr5yvT-SDuNe54f8wUcSbG-K5Kd4xaw0fQJo1OUpkMw-axYjmwkV28gf4i5g4B6WS00LVVr177lUMjYpA2YzduigjT_AOKMTzNx57-/s640/Eastern+Curlew.jpg" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
The highlight of the day for me was not the Eastern Curlew though, I decided to brave the washouts and mud and drive a little further northward this time and was rewarded with crippling views of not one, but 11 Australian Spotted Crake! Anyone who has read earlier entries on this here blog would know that these have eluded me for some time...but not today! I was seeing them in almost every rank pool and claypan north of the Esplanade. Nice to get the little, spotty 'monkey' off my back!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxns8ztbc8NzX06Sc9Hyrrt95OkS2GXy_kY8QFaA5uKfO-ryqixk0OY4_E8tFWdwJ6hqIvlE_iBAkGLf3JCydgjacQdDkBWYNNL0veJRLOHZS9875F0cRGx_Y-70huUqxDlBVzjX_pT7K/s1600/Australian+Spotted+Crake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxns8ztbc8NzX06Sc9Hyrrt95OkS2GXy_kY8QFaA5uKfO-ryqixk0OY4_E8tFWdwJ6hqIvlE_iBAkGLf3JCydgjacQdDkBWYNNL0veJRLOHZS9875F0cRGx_Y-70huUqxDlBVzjX_pT7K/s640/Australian+Spotted+Crake.jpg" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7KTaNWgDjkKq4SEnS-l0AXGkkTBNrBWDbchNCxZYE3uz7YXFWJJbmT2G6uSmzz8IkN5Z0OuYHtr-cmPbuptIPYTgKo4NroPmq3Ir6Z4Uz6pBUmZ317PNt2co-fAVgNVHbMgDpKfHtRAw/s1600/Crake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7KTaNWgDjkKq4SEnS-l0AXGkkTBNrBWDbchNCxZYE3uz7YXFWJJbmT2G6uSmzz8IkN5Z0OuYHtr-cmPbuptIPYTgKo4NroPmq3Ir6Z4Uz6pBUmZ317PNt2co-fAVgNVHbMgDpKfHtRAw/s640/Crake.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><br />
I just happened upon a group of 3 in a small claypan with loads of slimy vegetation lining the edges of the samphire cover. They seemed unfussed by my presence and went about their business foraging in the shallow pool, often journeying out into he centre of the pool, metres from cover. After so much time spent trying to locate and photograph them earlier this year (battling the heat and mosquitoes of Greenfields Wetlands) I really felt like I'd won bird lotto today getting views of 11 birds in total. Each pool and small claypan seemed to have a resident pair who were busy "working their turf". It was truly one of those sublime birding moments.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6XS5PaDLJp7iTSNXS2ngUN0dBG-OeESaUx1gj6lqKbkEAL9oORs4tdKzrx4sVtfkqENrUnhNRUHp0itA2_QyhpmzqMLUeKHMt7aPhyOBnLG7yEPy0mBkmPlAmZz28CDBwasTx9yRTFEe/s1600/Australian+Spotted+Crake+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6XS5PaDLJp7iTSNXS2ngUN0dBG-OeESaUx1gj6lqKbkEAL9oORs4tdKzrx4sVtfkqENrUnhNRUHp0itA2_QyhpmzqMLUeKHMt7aPhyOBnLG7yEPy0mBkmPlAmZz28CDBwasTx9yRTFEe/s640/Australian+Spotted+Crake+1.jpg" t8="true" width="526px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf4EyFGYihbBZkJuYAhL2WvgDGznHxyFiYBhC6th6sIXoVXKkS7-diFd_JUdjPGd0GdDtFjWPoBZ_xL5h29aPqVofe4WGPHJ7kt04cGkPJYUbgOpkkHVz8vclhy-GubWLS9EQQ6dGvjlY/s1600/IMG_5294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf4EyFGYihbBZkJuYAhL2WvgDGznHxyFiYBhC6th6sIXoVXKkS7-diFd_JUdjPGd0GdDtFjWPoBZ_xL5h29aPqVofe4WGPHJ7kt04cGkPJYUbgOpkkHVz8vclhy-GubWLS9EQQ6dGvjlY/s640/IMG_5294.JPG" t8="true" width="496px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The good vibes continued. When scoping for a distant pair of Crake, I spied a Buff-banded Rail, the first for the day, poking its elongated head and striking white eyebrow into frame. However, the joy was brief as it soon slinked across the water and took deep cover in some samphire, refusing to show itself again. Later in the afternoon I caught a glimpse of a second BBR trying to slink into cover, thinking that I hadn't spied it out of the corner of my eye. This bird was at the far southern end of Thompson Beach, behind the houses on another small claypan. It crept into some thick cover and refused to come out, even after waiting 5 minutes or so. I soon retreated back towards the car only to realise that the same crafty bird had gotten past me through the cover and was now being mobbed by some White-browed Babblers. It quickly took flight with a dogged Babbler in hot pursuit and I was unable to locate it again. Dang! What a great, gaudy-looking bird! They look like they've gone and put on all of their loudest clothes at once and to top it off, when they take flight they look like a technicolour donkey trying to win the Melbourne Cup. The strained neck, the barely adequate wings, the heavy body and drooping feet.....ahhh, splendid!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Not a bad way to spend a frigid winters' afternoon!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Wati Tjulpu</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDnVtDDbhMFVmuS3i3yXXBKztXrQ4NbG_TOJMm-vutUTdO67RpE_-aWZaKH1lNkhXlUETgLjeXgKVwGVI4f1w0x5xbNhcS-Wi9C5Yc7jn7PBswQUjHhCQDT97U8Ep1jiL_E6D0htjVYAo/s1600/IMG_5289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDnVtDDbhMFVmuS3i3yXXBKztXrQ4NbG_TOJMm-vutUTdO67RpE_-aWZaKH1lNkhXlUETgLjeXgKVwGVI4f1w0x5xbNhcS-Wi9C5Yc7jn7PBswQUjHhCQDT97U8Ep1jiL_E6D0htjVYAo/s640/IMG_5289.JPG" t8="true" width="640px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">One very psychedelic Crake</span></div>Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-85524941203449609272011-04-11T01:23:00.000-07:002011-04-11T01:25:33.516-07:00CRESTED SHRIKE-TIT...For the second time in as many months I have been kicked into action by the unfamiliar sound of a Crested Shrike-Tit calling about our house. Funny how your hearing becomes accustomed to the familiar sounds of home so quickly...<br />
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The first time I caught a glimpse of two birds working methodically along the branches and outer canopy of our neighbours' enormous River Red Gum. They had a distinctive 'chucking' sound used to keep in contact with each other while they went about their business, sadly, they didn't allow enough time for me to grab the camera - they took off after about 45 seconds. <br />
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Good things come to those who wait....or at least, those who live next door to one of the biggest Red Gum's in the area. Anyway, on April 3rd I was working in the backyard when an unusually strident, double-noted whistle tipped me off that something was nearby. Not the 'chucking' sound I had heard before....but enough for me to grab the bin's for a closer look. Sure enough...a CST! I ran inside and grabbed the camera, hoping it would still be there when I got back outside. I had missed it, but heard it call from another neighbouring yard. I did my best to mimic the double-note whistle and within 5 seconds the bird was within 5 metres of me, looking around with frantic curiosity trying to work out who was doing such a shoddy rendition of such a lovely call. I gave up on the whistling upon seeing that the bird seemed somewhat agitated....and gladly it obliged me with some cracking views!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKjfSI0OUuvA0u42qLHO1WjZv2FA79IgGRgYXcCE9rFI_P0BgrvVAgB2QAAGscyD2y0AooMLOJkG2GdxITcN33pYL1QKsYJp2SreOqIVWDZraQXDys_QyQT9deNgNtk7_ULWlEsUI5zij/s1600/CST+resize+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKjfSI0OUuvA0u42qLHO1WjZv2FA79IgGRgYXcCE9rFI_P0BgrvVAgB2QAAGscyD2y0AooMLOJkG2GdxITcN33pYL1QKsYJp2SreOqIVWDZraQXDys_QyQT9deNgNtk7_ULWlEsUI5zij/s640/CST+resize+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Sadly, things are not going so well for this species in the Adelaide Hills and Plains with the Eastern subspecies <em>Falcunculus frontatus</em> now listed as 'vulnerable'.<br />
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Wati TjulpuWati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-74925272625154481052011-03-29T21:57:00.000-07:002011-03-29T21:57:33.943-07:00BLOG IMAGE ERRORS & BACKYARD TERRORS!For some reason the last post that I put up would not correctly embed the images in the text. They do work if you click on them but it's a bit of a pain in the posterior...not to mention that it leaves the page looking pretty bland. So, a test run today to see if it's a continuing fault or just a 'one off' event. <br />
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Working on ideas for a longer entry soon detailing the last 5 years of progress on my urban house block's 'bird garden' that has been an ongoing labour of love. It's fitting that in rolling these ideas over in my mind, we've had some interesting guests of late, namely two Crested Shrike-tits and today, a Collared Sparrowhawk.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00e52Asrs1niWEEva8G8lHrnJxgRgS85_H3qHdOZn3uUb30E8gqTgyZtdXoIbTeqMFfhFpHSkB-Op0JtI4HEgTb8XqazpLQA9YmKShWemM2Z0eFAyRARv6OOSgGaHYi74tTT2qlALPbgQ/s1600/Collared+Sparrowhawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00e52Asrs1niWEEva8G8lHrnJxgRgS85_H3qHdOZn3uUb30E8gqTgyZtdXoIbTeqMFfhFpHSkB-Op0JtI4HEgTb8XqazpLQA9YmKShWemM2Z0eFAyRARv6OOSgGaHYi74tTT2qlALPbgQ/s640/Collared+Sparrowhawk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Collared Sparrowhawk <span class="scientificname"><em>Accipiter cirrocephalus</em></span></span> <br />
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Wati TjulpuWati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-46241835710456750812011-03-26T22:42:00.000-07:002011-03-29T22:24:24.074-07:00WAVING GOODBYE TO THE WADERS....ALMOST.Well, it's getting close now. My summer of getting to know our overseas visitors is coming to an end. I have spent 4 of the last 5 mornings/afternoons out at Thompson Beach trying to get some views and images to see me through until the waders return later in the year. <br />
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It's been a great chance to learn about a new sphere of birding, having done 99% of my birding in the bush, the scoping bug has bitten hard! From mid-December I have added a bunch of new species to my 'life list' and in retrospect (see earlier digiscoping post....) the purchase of a good quality scope and digiscoping attachment has really allowed me to enjoy the experience on a very different level. For me, being able to review the images at home and getting to see the birds and their ever-changing plumages in detail without wind or rain or burning sun to compete with has become very 'absorbing'. <br />
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So, I have decided to make the most of the tail end of the wading season. In the last 5 days I have managed to add Greater Sand Plover, Lesser Sand Plover and Double-banded Plover to my 'life list' and in making the effort to get out into the water at first light to scope birds, despite an ambient temperature of around 14 degrees, I was also rewarded with great views of Fairy Tern and (perhaps most surprisingly???) two Cape Barren Geese in flight.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSfaeRkyxRlUHko05l61ZTF3NH_TFdycd4vRJBrBw5hB-Jc_Kf5aOxKi4tRvyoF5p0Rn-y3IfFOWqv_uk3eWR-IqaLYhFagJoWMEoYQfKL4vqfNwtHQUK91l8L7KJJlJ-u5xciSee5n52/s1600/Fairy+Tern+%2528resized%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSfaeRkyxRlUHko05l61ZTF3NH_TFdycd4vRJBrBw5hB-Jc_Kf5aOxKi4tRvyoF5p0Rn-y3IfFOWqv_uk3eWR-IqaLYhFagJoWMEoYQfKL4vqfNwtHQUK91l8L7KJJlJ-u5xciSee5n52/s640/Fairy+Tern+%2528resized%2529.jpg" width="486" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Fairy Tern </span><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="scientificname">Sternula nereis</span></span></em></div><br />
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I had things set-up early on Saturday morning to digiscope both Lesser and Greater Sand Plover, the scope was 'on them' but I had left the digiscoping frame in the car. As I was heading back to the car, two local (more senior) birdo's walked past muttering, <em>"G'day"</em> and proceeded to park themselves about 15 metres past my scope and lined themselves up for some primo shots. I was only gone a minute but by the time I had gotten back to line things up, I saw that they had pushed the 4 birds too far and had scattered them. <br />
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Damn, double dirty shit and phooey!<br />
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I was pretty annoyed. Also adding to the sting, was the fact that the two Lesser Sand Plovers were in gorgeous breeding plumage and sitting flanking the other two Greater's in a nice little bunch. Argh! The light was terrible, which was little consolation. So, burning with rage (haha!) I moved on to the claypan/saltpans found at the Northern edge of the housing and Esplanade. As I trudged out onto the perimeter of the pans I saw very little in the way of wader action. A few Curlew Sandpipers and a few Red-necked Stint further east. As I panned across the Stint's I saw a larger bird dart across the field of view - Double Banded Plover!Yes, a nice pair of them darting in and out of the Stint's and keeping to the dead, grey Samphire cover found in the salty margins of the pans. A triumph! It certainly took the 'edge' off of my mood. <br />
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The day ended with a friendly chat with the couple who had earlier flushed the Plovers. I was glad they made the effort to have a chat, being mostly a 'loner' birder I tend to lean towards being a misanthropic git when little things like the 'Plover' episode happen. We talked a little about birding on the coasts and in the arid interior and then they asked me if I had seen the lone Black-tailed Godwit among the 100+ Bart's further along the coast. <br />
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<strong><em>Grip!</em></strong><br />
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Triple damn and shitty dirty shit and more phooey!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjItskWGbBX0_RhcD3FOJ8L1PxMlK1cqKvKB03KKdebC2O1F_G78pSxOmGnr6yBSzF4_l0z7pFHuwCPK2jq5T-0xxpHzNr1edFJghzyHOGbLI6H-DwmvIlwA6518X3GUY6KLtQ8cdyq_gx/s1600/Bar-tailed+Godwit+%2528colour+2+resized%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjItskWGbBX0_RhcD3FOJ8L1PxMlK1cqKvKB03KKdebC2O1F_G78pSxOmGnr6yBSzF4_l0z7pFHuwCPK2jq5T-0xxpHzNr1edFJghzyHOGbLI6H-DwmvIlwA6518X3GUY6KLtQ8cdyq_gx/s640/Bar-tailed+Godwit+%2528colour+2+resized%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Bar-tailed Godwit </span><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Limosa lapponica</span></em></div><br />
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Oh well, that's the way it often is when you spend your spare time trying to pin-down 'free' creatures for your own viewing pleasure. All in all, it wasn't a wasted day...the light was terrible and hence, no photos. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTjHjC_x23ucyAEhTsY21rDDWgfBA_t0b8zejGgoDMM5GINPxxLyUomvhH7GmVpLkSErV-iG9S-i7kGoXdTnCn_-7yMVuLvctVOmomhVqaljO4wykyxiXAGO23lsA1bp4-aDFEwjB17eb/s1600/Great+Knot+%2528colour+resized%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTjHjC_x23ucyAEhTsY21rDDWgfBA_t0b8zejGgoDMM5GINPxxLyUomvhH7GmVpLkSErV-iG9S-i7kGoXdTnCn_-7yMVuLvctVOmomhVqaljO4wykyxiXAGO23lsA1bp4-aDFEwjB17eb/s640/Great+Knot+%2528colour+resized%2529.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Great Knot </span><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="scientificname">Calidris tenuirostris</span></span></em></div><br />
The photos featured I took earlier this morning (Sunday 27/3) in poor light again but the real highlight was a low fly-by from two Cape Barren Geese. Big, fat and grey and pumping their broad, slightly arched wings along just 15 or 20 metres above the beach, heading due North. I was gobsmacked, as these birds are reported semi-regularly way south of Adelaide and down into the South-East and beyond. A new 'tick' and a great thrill - I momentarily fumbled with scope, camera and bin's trying to work out what to do. In a few seconds they were beyond photographing range so I followed them until they disappeared from view with the bin's. I was hoping they'd land, preparing for a foot-race along the coast to get a better view. No luck. <br />
You'd have to be a real hardened curmudgeon to groan about a day like that, and to think that it started with another surprise, catching a view of two Peregrine Falcons apparently nesting in a radio control tower on Shingleback Road just a few kilometres from Dublin and Thompson Beach!<br />
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Alas, I returned home feeling pretty good, despite the frozen and wet feet. I got home, made a hot cuppa and was startled back into 'twitching' action upon hearing a very close call coming from a Grey Shrike-thrush. Close....it was sitting at our front door, checking an old nest we have on sitting atop our porch light. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Grey Shrike-thrush <em>Colluricincla harmonica</em></span></div><br />
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Here's hoping they decide to call it home for a while!<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Wati Tjulpu</div>Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-7749549675971572492011-03-26T04:29:00.000-07:002011-03-26T04:29:09.507-07:00A MAD 48 HOURS....PART DOS!...So, hatching more stupid plans.<br />
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I had thumbed through my copy of Pizzey & Knight many times and gawked at the beautiful depiction of Purple-gaped Honeyeater as rendered by master illustrator Mr. Frank Knight. I had discussed this bird with another mate who has seen them a few times and he recommended a trip to Monarto CP, a great small patch of remnant Heath and Mallee that stands between Murray Bridge and the Eastern slopes of the Lofty Ranges. I had driven through this area on my way to twitch Latham's Snipe down at Milang and had made a mental note of the quickest route to it from my place in Gawler East. I (once again) begged for some leave from family duties and (again!) it was granted with the understanding of a saint! <em>(note : and accompanied by the rolling of the eyes of someone who has heard the same sad, tired pleading many times before...)</em><br />
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Taking the roads through the back of the Northern Lofty Ranges, the trip from Gawler to Monarto is completed in just over an hour. Pretty good in my opinion and easy enough to get to to warrant more regular visits. This was to be my first real 'reccy' of this little park and it turned out to be a bit of a surprise. The first half of the park, accessed by the main road linking Monarto and Langhorne Creek, features a short loop walk that begins and ends at the car park/entrance. This features a great stand of remnant Mallee woodland and Heath established on a very soft, white sandy soil. I was surprised to see plant species such as <em>Correa</em> and <em>Eremophila</em> thriving and flowering profusely in such free-draining soil. Sandy heath...a new experience for me! Despite the diverse flora, the bush was almost silent apart from the far-off clinking calls of a lone Grey Currawong. I had banked on late afternoon/early evening being the prime-time to see Honeyeaters in action but was beginning to worry the deeper I delved into the bowels of the park. I hung about a stand of Mallee in flower, hoping a bird of some description would visit the blossoms but all I got was another distant call carried on the now-strengthening (and very chilly..) wind. Still, I was using the lack of bird activity as an excuse to have a good old snoop about and take a closer look at some of the plants found in this part of the State that I have not seen in my 'patch' just one hour North-East. <br />
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I soon realised that the walking trail was all too suddenly looping back towards the car and I'd still not seen a trace of a Purple-gaped Honeyeater. I tried pishing, but to no avail, so I resorted to a good old 'thunder-clap' of my meaty hands and within a second or two I heard the call of something sounding somewhat Honeyeater-ish and within viewing range. I managed a fleeting view of the bird and it appeared to have all of the features of a Purple-gaped Honeyeater...but not a good enough view to see this much gawked-at-in-a-book 'purple-gape'. I thought it funny how such a small distinguishing feature of a bird can get stuck in your craw and bug you until you've viewed it to your (often ridiculous) satisfaction. However amusing I found the thought, I was not going to give up until I'd seen some bloody purple!<br />
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So, I skipped through spiky clumps of <em>Lomandra</em> and <em>Xanthorrea</em>, dodged spider-web's amongst clumps of Mallee and stumbled madly over stumps to get a satisfactory view of a thin strip of purple on a little bird's face. <br />
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But what a stripe!<br />
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I was feeling pretty smug once I finally got a decent look at it and felt properly vindicated, as it (to my mind) was a very beautiful addition to an already pretty little bird and worth trudging about like an uncoordinated lummox for!<br />
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I continued to follow the walking trail toward the car park and felt somewhat ripped-off that such a nice park had such a short walking trail. Then I spied a fire trail running along the northern boundary of the park. I followed it a little way and eventually found a patch toward the rear of the park where the more 'dense' stand of Mallee opened up into what appeared to be some rolder regeneration work. The woodland opened up into what I would best describe as feeling like a town park...a little more space between trees, less prickly grass cover, a thinner spread of dense shrubbery etc. It was down the back of the block where I got the biggest surprise. <br />
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This place was teeming with bird life. The birds, as I've been surprised to discover in other parts of Australia, seemed to prefer the more 'clapped-out' patch of bush adjoining some more dense, protective cover. Within a span of 5 or 10 minutes I had seen a bunch of great birds, including; Southern Scrub Robin, (the not-so..)Shy Heathwren, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Yellow Thornbill, Mallee Ringneck, Variegated Fairy-wren, Diamond Firetail and a few other species too. But it was the amount of activity that startled me most. Each shrub I walked past I seemed to flush little gangs of a dozen or more birds, often in mixed flocks, all bursting out in a blur at once. It was a little overwhelming trying to keep up with the activity. So, I opted for sitting beneath some cover and tried to pish up a storm...I figured it may trick a Shy Heathwren into stumbling before my lens. The best photo in poor lighting is featured below, the result of a protracted and hilarious 'dance' beneath the bushes with a Southern Scrub Robin.<br />
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All in all, another productive afternoon spent chasing the 'boids' as I try to climb to 200 species for the year thus far! I really recommend checking this patch of scrub out if you're visiting Adelaide or if you live nearby and have never been there, the nearby Ferries-McDonald park is also said to be a great birding site but it'll have to wait until my next visit.<br />
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Wati TjulpuWati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-17031111896747752632011-03-26T03:14:00.000-07:002011-03-26T03:14:34.726-07:00A MAD 48 HOURS...(Original draft written on the 14/03/11...put to rest while I worked on some Uni tasks...)<br />
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Long weekends can be a blessing and a curse. I feel like I should get some jobs done about the house or do some more reading but I get itchy feet and need to get out of the house. So, Saturday morning I took off at sunrise to Thompson Beach for a wader count and to photograph some birds. Sadly, the southern section of beach was a little 'light-on' compared with previous visits. I managed to snap a few pictures of the surrounds, as on a calm morning, its a beautiful and tranquil place to spend some time. <br />
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Above : The view looking south, great remnant coastal vegetation (typical of the site) with Mount Lofty in the background.<br />
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Above : Masses of weed wash up on the shore, making walking on shore difficult and often wet, but it provides the perfect camouflage for birds like Ruddy Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit and Pacific Golden Plover.<br />
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Above : Perfectly still, for once!<br />
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In scanning the beach I saw the usual birds, albeit in lesser numbers, Grey Plover, Common Greenshank, Red-necked Stint, Pacific Gull and Silver Gull. One thing I wasn't counting on seeing was a lone Curlew Sandpiper in partial breeding plumage. As I moved closer to get a decent photo I took one step too many and it took off along with the Stint's and Greenshank's it was roosting with. Dang!<br />
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A little further south along the shoreline, hidden amongst the weed, was a little gang of four Pacific Golden Plover. These birds have been in the what seems like the same spot for the last month or two. I was relieved to be honest, as I had driven all of the way to Thompson's in the hope of getting a better picture of them before they depart for the Northern Hemisphere. I shot about 40 pictures of them in total, none of them really doing justice to the gold flecking in their plumage....maybe I need some disco lighting??? Here's an example....<br />
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After a quick bit of scoping and photography at Thompson's I returned home to take on my role as <strong><em>'Domestor'</em></strong> the handyman...but 'Domestor' only completed about two and half minutes of housework before he became <strong><em>'Distractor'. </em></strong><br />
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Once again, hatching plans of where to get to in order to see some birds. I asked for some leave....it was soon granted. I planned to hit Gluepot and return Monday morning and soon began packing the Troopy. I set off at 3:30 and hit the highway from Gawler via Nuriootpa and onwards toward Waikerie. But I was feeling uneasy about just flying off in pursuit of birds when I have other 'resposibilities' waiting for me at home...and a great 2 year old daughter and a very understanding and loving partner. I got cold feet (they had turned from itchy to cold....amazing feet!) and turned off of the highway where it's signposted 'Yookamurra Sanctuary' heading to the east. I had always wanted to visit Yookamurra, given its interesting history, so I reached a compromise in my own head, spend a few hours in this section of Mallee, see some birds and get home by late evening....and resume role as 'responsible' father/partner. <br />
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It was a good decision in retrospect. Although I was unable to get into Yookamurra (by appointment only...) I found some great spots not too far away. Just 200m before sighting the homestead/buildings of the sanctuary I stopped to find a large mob of Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, one of my favourite little arid land specialists! At the end of the same road that Yookamurra is situated on (barely 500m on?) I stopped the car to have a look and listen. And sure enough, I heard the piping whistle of a Gilbert's Whistler coming from a tree not 5 metres from the roadside! I was pretty chuffed as this is a bird I've only seen briefly before, and at some distance, whilst at Gluepot earlier this year. <br />
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Below : not the most 'technically proficient' shot I've taken but it gave me a little chuckle all the same.<br />
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1,2,3,...jump!<br />
I got great views of this bird along with White-fronted Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater and managed to pull a 'lifer' out of my hat in the form of a White-eared Honeyeater too. Not the most elusive of birds, but elusive enough that I have not managed to get onto one in my recent Mallee visits. A little further along the road that follows the pipeline towards Swan Reach I stopped to find a decent number of Chestnut-crowned Babblers, Southern Whiteface and White-fronted Chat all giving great views as if to thank me for selecting their little patch instead of the more glamorous Gluepot. After all this excitement I returned home to check out my photo's, get some rest and see my family.<br />
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....and to hatch more stupid plans of where to head next.<br />
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Wati TjulpuWati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-67636503297522198852011-03-13T03:37:00.000-07:002011-03-13T04:18:05.101-07:00ABSENCE & APOLOGIES...Sorry for the delay in posting...have spent the last 2 weeks getting my head back into study after 7 years of teaching full-time. Hopefully I can find the time to pop some stuff up here with some regularity, between assignments, classes and domestic duties. <br />
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Cheers. <br />
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Wati TjulpuWati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-87902972098036184072011-03-13T03:35:00.000-07:002011-03-13T03:35:23.262-07:00TELOWIE GORGE AND BIRD ISLAND REPORTI had been planning a weekend trip to Yorke Peninsula for some time and when I got a message from a mate that he was back in town for a limited time it seemed like a good excuse to spend 12 hours out and about trying to catch some interesting species. We left Gawler at 5 a.m. to get out to Telowie Gorge Conservation Park at first light...close enough, we arrived at 7:30. No sooner had we left the bitumen and we were on to our first Spotted Harrier for the year. It was great to catch a another view of these impressive raptors, one of my favorite 'bird meanies' from my birding days in Central Oz. It appeared to be a younger bird and was flying very low over a paddock full of Stubble Quail with the odd Brown Songlark calling in the distance. We were barely 2km's from the highway and in the same spot we got great views of a small gang of Elegant Parrots along with 3 Ringnecks...it was shaping up to be a great day!<br />
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Once we were in the park 'proper' the birding became even more frenzied with most birds in a frenzy of calling and skirmishing with one another. Right at the park entrance we got good views of Rufous Whistler, Golden Whistler, Grey-fronted Honeyeater, Grey Shrike-thrush, Silvereye and Peaceful Dove. Unlike Mambray Creek further north, Telowie seems as if it may be spared the heavy camper/hiking traffic of the other park.A great little gorge no less, with a very healthy looking understorey of grasses, herbage and shrubs.<br />
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Our target species for the park however was Chestnut-rumped Heathwren so we tried in earnest to get a view of this elusive species. Mike produced some notes that he had and mentioned that the terminus of the path along the gorge was the place to find them. As we headed 1.5 km's along the bottom of the gorge we were stopped dead in our tracks by crippling views of not one, but three beautiful Yellow-footed Rock Wallabies, one of which had young Joey peeking from it's pouch. A nice bonus to the great birding and beautiful surrounds. As we neared the end of trail we began to search for suitable looking cover for the CRHW's, but the understorey of shrubs seemed to open up more and more the further we walked in until reaching a series of small waterholes. It was at this point that we noticed more cover on the steep sides of the gorge. We had a poke about for a few minutes before giving up to try the areas detailed in Mike's notes. As we tramped back, talking busily, we were interrupted by a call that sounded somewhat similar to a Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, the call was longer and more 'musical' in sound and this tipped Mike off. We were close the bird but it eluded us by falling silent just as soon as we did. This continued as we made our way back down the gorge. Each time we heard the call, we stopped and stared intently only to have the little buggers do the exact same thing to us. We got a couple of glimpses of them high above the gorge trail but not good enough for a 'life tick' for mine.<br />
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So, from Telowie Gorge to Wallaroo, Bird Island and the adjacent beach on the mainland to be precise. We made it down to Bird Island Beach just after 1:00pm to find the wind blowing hard, making any chance of digiscoping out of the question. I left the kit behind but still carried the scope to scan the shore for waders. Mike told me that on the road approaching Bird Island Beach last year a small posse of Little Curlew were found amongst the stubble of what looked like a care paddock. No such luck today though. Down to the shore we went in search of Rock Parrots. <br />
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Mike was spot-on. The site he described, among the small mangroves and samphire, was chock-a-block full of Rock Parrots. I took a rough count of 40, many of them being juvenile birds, but there could have been as many as 50-60 in the small area we covered. They're a funny little parrot, they didn't seem to fly to far when we approached. Each time we flushed a few, they'd fly only far enough away to fall back into low cover - often keeping half of their body exposed to keep an eye on us. I was feeling pretty bummed about the conditions being too windy for snapping some pictures, it's not the most handy location in relation to where I currently live and it's a long way to drive back just to snap some photos of one species. Hmmmmmmm.<br />
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As the wind strengthened we cut our plans short, we explored a little more of the shoreline and turned up a few Grey Plover and Cormorants but not much else. On our way back to the trail we spied some Banded Lapwings huddled amongst the samphire on the surrounds of a tidal pool. I was unaware that they are not commonly seen down here, having seen them reliably for three summers on the APY Lands at the Murputja Airstrip. I'll have to pay more attention to these things now, given the new birding spots I'm visiting.<br />
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Our trip was coming to an end so we decided to have one last scout of the nearby paddocks for any hiding migratory shorebirds....without luck. Our last stop before getting back to town was the Wallaroo Water Treatment Works on the edge of town. There were hundreds of feral pigeons and Silver Gull, we also spotted lone Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Pacific Gull and a single female Musk Duck. This was a highlight for me, Muskies are top little ducks!<br />
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A good day out with a few surprise birds popping up along the way. Now to plan my return trip for some Rock Parrot pictures.........<br />
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Wati TjulpuWati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-6206278724166190282011-02-19T23:58:00.000-08:002011-02-19T23:58:26.365-08:00A NEW 'TICK' AND CHICKS W/ CHIPS!Spent most of Sunday (today) driving through the mid-north with the family in tow. We were on our way to view some 'bush blocks' around the Laura/Wirrabara area that we were curious to see...Rosanne and I have been looking for a nice, big block of land to do some re-veg work on and some small-scale organic farming for a while now and today took us out into the mid-north.<br />
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Had to throw the bin's, camera and field guide in the car just in case we happened upon something or (if time permitted?) we took a short trip to a nearby Conservation Park. So, we set out in beautiful weather....cool, cloudy and a little breezy - very nice for late February! As we made it to Clare, I decided to take a detour via the golf club/country club in search of Little Lorikeet but aborted the plan a few minutes into the search as our noisy and restless daughter was thinking only of the horse she had spied on a neighbouring street...so, I conceded defeat and opted for indulging in some horse petting much to Ivy's delight. I figured I'd make it back to Clare soon enough and would be better off searching for these little buggers on my own!<br />
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About 11 or 12 km's north of Clare I thought<em> </em>I spied a Black Falcon, Rosanne also weighed in, saying that she also saw the same bird as we whizzed by and she described a <em>'very dark raptor'.</em> Nothing for it but to pull a U-turn and hope that the bird was still nicely perched by the roadside. I saw the silhouette off in the distance and didn't want to chance flushing the bird, so I grabbed the bin's and camera and set off toward it on foot. Within about 50 metres of the car I could see it was a Raven, but at 110km's with a split second view these things happen. On the way back to the car I could hear a call that I just couldn't place, coming from the paddock nearby and it sounded like a number of birds spread across 100-200 metres of field. Without any birds in sight, other than a solitary Brown Songlark, I thought they'd have to be Stubble Quails. Despite living so close to large areas of broadacre cropping I've never gone out looking for these birds and consequently never given them the 'tick'. I approached the fenceline of the property and as soon as I got within touching distance of the fence, one plump little Stubble Quail burst from the grass and flew for a good 20-30 metres before taking cover again. <br />
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It felt pretty to good to get such a great view with such little effort....lazy oaf that I can be! <br />
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So, onward we rolled toward Laura with a quick stop-off for some burgers and chips (loads of fresh salad on the burger and damn good chips too, I must say!) which we promptly took to the nearby park. As we sat there on the well-shaded bench, hoovering down some delicious deep fried vittles, an odd call pricked my ears and I was <em>'UP!'</em> like a Doberman Pinscher ready to patrol a fenceline! It took a minute or two to get onto the little bird, which turned out to be a Brown-headed Honeyeater, which was keeping to thicker cover in some of the trees. But within a few minutes I got some great views of a bird I'm used to seeing only in relatively 'untouched' areas of bushland. It was flying back and forth from the shade of the eating area, out into the parklands and back with food, so I knew that young chicks must be about. Sure enough, two little fatties, that appeared to be recently fledged, popped out onto a nice bare little branch and began to 'pipe' their lungs out! Given the dappled shade I wasn't too confident of getting a decent picture of these birds but they came up alright, I reckon! I wouldn't normally seek out a bird with young to photograph but given the location and the fact that the birds seemed unperturbed by our presence, I thought it would be alright to take a few quick snaps. <br />
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Not bad for a "day off"!<br />
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Wati TjulpuWati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-78160990246907442322011-02-19T04:48:00.000-08:002011-02-19T04:48:34.485-08:00...WHEN A CAGE COMES IN HANDYThe last two days could not have been more diametrically opposed. Yesterday, I took my daughter hiking and bird-watching at Kaiser Stuhl Conservation Park in the Barossa Valley and today I hauled our sad bottoms around the 'tarted up' concrete, steel & glass of the Adelaide Zoo.<br />
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Firstly, Kaiser Stuhl is a top little park. A great place to walk among remnant woodlands north of Adelaide and see some birds! Ivy was able to see Kangaroos at close range and White-browed Babblers too and I was able to get great views of a pair of Red-browed Finches looking to build a nest as well as a good number of Honeyeater species (White-naped, Brown-headed, White-plumed, New Holland and Eastern Spinebill) and other common local species. I bumped into the president of the 'Friends of Kaiser Stuhl' in the park and had a chat about the current 'news' to do with the area. She told me that the group had had a recent 'victory' of sorts, as the Barossa Council had plans afoot to <em>"improve the profile of the park"</em> and add more parking, paths etc. to give the park a make-over to accommodate for higher numbers of visitors...the 'friends' group lobbied hard to oppose a 'facelift' for the park and for the time being Kaiser Stuhl CP will retain its 'untouched' charm! As we talked briefly, we both agreed that this place offers that 'untouched' feel that larger Adelaide parks such as Parra Wirra, Morialta, Black Hill cannot...it'd be a shame to meddle with it!<br />
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Park, good. Zoo, not so....<br />
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I caved-in on Thursday and for a sad lack of other exciting ideas of 'things to do with a two year old' I decided to take Ivy to the Adelaide Zoo (sad lack? maybe a 2nd trip to the Stuhl?) I thought it would kill a few hours and she is still far too young to despair at the thought of animals living in such confines so I made the trip into the city with Ivy in tow (or perhaps the other way 'round??) <br />
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My first impression of the 'new' Adelaide Zoo is that there seems to be less animals 'packed in' and more space overall...probably a trend in most Zoo's in most 'modern' cities today. I remember vividly my first trip to the same Zoo as a wee boy...you could ride on an Elephant by the rotunda for loose change and the Polar Bears lived in an enclosure in full-sun that looked like a backyard swimming pool with some lumps of man-sized Styrofoam thrown in for an 'Arctic' feel. Things have changed, but it would take a strong argument from a person well qualified to convince me that these places do more today for conservation than 'cheap thrills' for bored bipeds for big bucks.<br />
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Anyway, cynicism aside we were on the quest for birds (perhaps the saddest animal you can witness in a cage?) as Ivy shares my passion for things with wings. She seemed rather non-plussed at the sight of a half-dozen Pelicans in a small yard, despite begging incessantly to see <em>'Pehhhcans?'</em> on our way through the gates. She turned out to be more interested in the Crested Pigeons that were making the most of visitor's clumsily fumbled food by the kiosk, she tried in vain to pat one...wily city Pigeons staying a good foot ahead of maniacal toddler at all times. <br />
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The most interesting find of the day was the presence of a raptor on the 'outside' of the Native Bird enclosures. A young Brown Goshawk was dive-bombing and landing heavily on the string of older aviaries and poking its talons through the mesh roof trying to grab an easy meal. It sat on top of one enclosure with a few Scarlet-chested Parrots in it and all of the 'contained' birds were absolutely freaking out. They were clinging to the mesh walls closest to the gawking public just to keep out of reach of the Goshawk. This set-off all of the birds in and out of the aviaries with a shrieking chorus of alarm calls. With no real means of escape besides pressing themselves like sardines against the mesh walls of the cage, most of the birds were looking a little 'stressed' to say the least. That said, it was probably the one time I'd feel the birds were better off on the wrong side of the mesh. At least I was spared the sight of said Goshawk snacking on a headless Gouldian Finch or SCP!<br />
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Despite the improvements I think it will be another 25 years until I pass through those gates again, I'm sure Ivy would rather see her <em>'Pehhhhcans'</em> looking more relaxed and flying free somewhere else like Greenfields Wetlands. <br />
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Maybe our next outing?<br />
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Wati TjulpuWati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-19237490919535408892011-02-19T04:10:00.000-08:002011-02-19T04:10:05.891-08:00SERENDIPITY...PART I...A blab about those great moments when the right bird materialises when you've been out all day, seen bugger-all and have lost the will to live (well, almost!)<br />
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It's happened to me a number of times, I've been out looking for a particular species, spent so much time listening, watching and waiting and finally 2 seconds before packing it all in - the blasted bird appears! Sometimes it won't be the 'target' species but something just as peculiar or even more staggering...to the point where at times I've felt like I've won Avian Lotto...anyway, pour yourself a hot cup of something and let me begin....<br />
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Note: this could get very 'Mills & Boon' as it 'evolves'..or very 'Mind-numbing & Boring'....you've been warned!<br />
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<u>THE BIG ONE.</u><br />
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As I have mentioned in the last entry, I lived in the remote NW of South Australia for a number of years. I did most of my birding alone. One Saturday in May 2010 I spent the morning out on some remote 4WD tracks stopping at intervals of roughly 1km or wherever the vegetation seemed to change markedly. I wasn't looking for much in particular as I had driven much of this track almost every weekend for the last 4 months. I went home after a relatively quiet morning and on my way back into the community one of the roving relief teachers based in our spot was home for the weekend. He waved me down as I drove the one-way road toward home. He asked if I'd seen much in my travels, I replied with a dull, "no..." he asked if I planned to go out again that evening, I hadn't planned to but I hadn't really had a good whinge all week so I said, "sure....see you at 5:00pm". Soon enough 5:00 rolled around and me and my incredibly fast-talking friend were on our way back down the very track that I had scoured hours earlier.<br />
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At this point I must explain that my friend talks at a-mile-a-minute, I am a fast/non-stop blabberer but he makes me feel like an amateur. Anyway, we're driving along and he asks, <em>"So.... what are you looking for?"</em> I explain that nothing out of the ordinary usually shows itself in the far west until the hotter and wetter seasons bear down around October/November and to 'just look and listen and point out anything unusual'. He assures me that he's a good observer and with all of his km's under his belt on the APY Lands he's well qualified to spot <strong><u>ANYTHING</u></strong> out of the ordinary. For a moment I start thinking, <em>"hey...maybe I should do this with him more often ....hmmmm, he does see a lot of the country and he's dead keen....bit too much yabbering, but 4 eyes are better than.........."</em> when all of a sudden he yells, <em>"LEFT!...what's THAT????"</em> he grabs for the bin's I've loaned him and by the time he's got them focused I see (without the aid of such tools) that he's fiddling like a madman to get a better view of a Magpie. <br />
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So much for that idea.<br />
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Despite it all we stay out a while, I tell him to 'ease up' after the fourth or fifth, <em>"ON YOUR RIGHT!......WHAT IS IT????", </em>after jamming on the brakes, time and time again, for another bewildered looking Magpie. Don't know what it was about the humble Maggie that was getting him in such a huff...it was odd. So, we stayed out a while and once he calmed down he seemed genuinely interested in learning about which species were out and about at this time of year. He was chuffed to see Varied Sitella in a small gang, noisily hopping from one Desert Oak to the next. He remarked that, to his eye, these birds were "plucky little buggers!" and this comment alone 'wiped the slate' as far as the earlier Magpie faux-pas went. I was having fun showing him about and he seemed just as excited as me to be getting about looking at birds. <br />
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To cut a short story long (again?) we had a good time and just before dusk we were on our way back when, 'WHOOSH!'....just to the right of the car, sitting low in a Casuarina, a very light looking raptor belts out of the tree and up above the dense canopy of the Desert Oak forest. We jump out for a better look and manage fleeting views as the bird skims the treetops as it heads right to left in front of us.<br />
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I already have an idea of what I think it may be but I ask my 'partner' to describe it to me. <br />
<br />
"<em>What do you see Martin?"....</em><br />
<br />
<em>"ummm, it looks light, very light...grey, are the legs yellow?....yes, yellow!" </em><br />
<br />
I was not 100% satisfied that we saw a Grey Falcon, despite both of us agreeing on the pale, uniform shade of colour and quite 'bright' yellow legs. He looked in the field guide and assured me that's what it was, but I've been duped before...Brown Falcon's of the arid interior have caught me a number of times and I mean, <em>"jam on the brakes, slide the troopy to a halt despite the gasps of wife and child , run like a demon and get onto it!"</em> kind of 'caught'. <br />
<br />
We return home eventually, him feeling elated at having chased some birds and me feeling duped again at not getting a good enough view to even rule out a geriatric Brown Falcon...the feeling lingers and I want another shot! Even if it turns out to be a Brownie, at least the doubt will be erased.<br />
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By this time my long-suffering partner has had enough, her wise words of, <em>"just eat your dinner, go to bed and try again in the morning!"</em> temporarily halt my thoughts of going out in near-dark conditions and having another look....<br />
<br />
The next morning I'm up at 'Sparrow's Fart', dressed and ready...enough water for a month in the desert and about to go when aforementioned 'long suffering' partner emerges bleary-eyed from the bedroom. She asks, <em>"why do you always go on your own...you never take us out with you? C'mon, take us out today and we'll help you look!??".</em> I go through the "rules" of being a 'passenger' in the bird-mobile (as it was known, to me at least, on weekends...)...no inane chatter, no music, no toilet stops, no questions......etc. etc. Despite making a dictatorial 'arse' of myself in outlining my conditions, she merrily replies, <em>"you're on...we'll be in the car in 2 minutes!".</em> And sure enough, in 2 minutes flat, we're off!<br />
<br />
Same track, same modus operandi. <br />
<br />
A few kilometres down the track Rosanne starts getting distracted, talking about how nice the spinifex looks, how wet it has been and so on....despite a severe reprimanding for talking too much and despite (again!)suffering my supreme 'arse-ness' she agrees when I ask, <em>"would you please just look to the LEFT...not my side, just the LEFT??"</em> And onward we roll.............<br />
<br />
Barely out of second gear after a stern 'telling-off' (that required pulling over, for extra effect!) Rosanne turns and casually asks, <br />
<br />
<em>"Did you see those parrots?"</em><br />
<em>"Which parrots?" </em><br />
<em>"Those......." (pointing to my side of the car)</em><br />
<em>"Where?.....oh, must be Cockatiels!" (he says pompously & barely even looking to the right)</em><br />
<em>"No...these are dull green and really big!"</em><br />
<br />
....JAM! SLIDE! GASP! RUN! <br />
<br />
The group of birds had now landed in a large Desert Oak, I could see their silhouettes on the "outer" edges of the big, round-crowned tree. At this point I am nearly wetting my pants...Rosanne's description, where they were in the tree, I was hoping.....PRINCESS PARROTS! As I stalked closer I lifted the bin's for a better view through the wispy foliage of the canopy....AND THERE THEY WERE!<br />
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8 Princess Parrots. <br />
<br />
I had been looking for them on the APY Lands since 2004. I had torn the Princess Parrot colour plate out of my fathers copy of A.H. Lendon's <em><u>'Australian Parrots : In Field and Aviary'</u></em> at 6 years old. I had it hidden under my bed for yonks and would retrieve it at night and copy my interpretation of the Parrot into my drawing book at night. 27 years of wanting to see one had finally come and not just one, but eight!<br />
<br />
To this day Rosanne still reminds me that I would have just passed them by without her alerting me to their presence...I argue that she would never have got the chance to one-up me had I not spent years scouting for the right habitat and driven her right through it on that very day. A weak retort, I admit...but at least I had won first division in my 'Avian Lotto'....of all the birds I could have picked!<br />
<br />
...note : the pics. were taken using Martin's camera, an archaic 3MP pocket jobby that had a hamster in it that spun a cog to 'zoom' the lens in and out. I had no such camera with me on the day...I asked Rosanne to stay under that very tree until I returned with one to photograph the birds (if the birds were still there at all???) I drove that narrow 4WD track at an insanely unsafe speed, something I'd never do again. Once I got home I strafed through drawers and cupboards looking for my camera....no luck. Sprinted to Martin's, flung the door open (he was sitting down with visitors, enjoying a chat and a cuppa) and yelled, <em>"Martin, can I take this?'</em> I swiped his camera from atop his telly without waiting for a reply and headed back out to the tree at the same warp-speed that I left in. <br />
<br />
Madness.<br />
<br />
Even madder, the birds were still there after my 40 minute idiot-blitzkrieg. Rosanne had the greatest of views, she saw them feeding on the ground, not more than 5-10 metres from her, as her and Ivy quietly sat waiting for Captain Clodhopper to return. She stills reminds of that too.........<br />
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Alas, I got some photos and spent some time viewing the birds myself. They sat about for what felt like ages and only Ivy's crying pushed us to leave such a special moment. We had to walk away from the Parrots! Amidst it all, I didn't take any notes of sexes, apparent ages of birds or any of the 'finer' details...I was literally gobsmacked! Definitely my 'number one' moment of what felt like birding 'serendipity'.<br />
<br />
Nice.<br />
<br />
Wati TjulpuWati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1233941177314164886.post-21282703589970621742011-02-13T04:09:00.000-08:002011-02-13T04:09:04.244-08:00BUSH KIDS & BUSH BIRDS : PART IOrrrighty...this is part one in a few shambolic & sentimental rambles about my time spent birding & teaching in the far north-west of South Australia on the Anangu PitjantjatjaraYankunytjara Lands.<br />
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Let's start...<br />
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I have lived and worked on the APY Lands for 5 of the last 7 years in two communities in the far NW corner of the state. I lived way out west of Ernabella and Amata and many of the larger communities in the 'far east', preferring to live in two of the smaller, mnore isolated communities. My partner and I moved there for a bunch of reasons initially, but over time I really became attached to the idea of being able to wake up, get in the car, drive in any direction for 5 minutes and feel totally alone. Some people dread this feeling, but I really love it. To stand in the middle of what is essentially relatively uninhabited land and feel the silence ringing in your ears is a truly wonderful experience... only bettered by the silence being broken by the calls of Arid Land specialists like Crimson Chat, Black Honeyeater, Banded Whiteface or Dusky Grasswren. In my 5 years in/on 'The Lands' I put together a loose list of 117 species, I say loose because one or two sightings were made on the periphery of the APY Lands in the east. However, the majority of my birding was done in and around the Mann, Tomkinson and Musgrave Ranges.<br />
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So few 'white' Australians ever get the chance to spend a decent amount of time out there that many people don't give the area a second thought. But in my experience, it has to be one of the great untouched wilderness areas in the country, particularly the country due west of Amata to the W.A. border. This area supports a vast array of Arid Land habitats/ecosystems that, in turn, support a vast array of Avifauna. In this area pockets of Desert Oak forest border enormous stands of Mallee and Mulga woodland, vast Spinifex plains and the highest Ranges in South Australia. The variety of plant life, particularly in the last three 'wet' years, is astounding to a first-time visitor (who looks closely, of course!)<br />
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I did the bulk of my birding alone, the way I usually like to do it, but during my second stint in the Mann Range I began to let the kids in on why I would pull the school bus over a any given time to run off into the scrub chasing things. I was lucky to be given the chance to work with a small bunch of kids for three years on the trot. Which meant by the time I left, they were well and truly used to my idiosyncratic behaviour and yabbering and many of them grew to love it! At the beginning of 2010, and after many hours of blabbing on ad-infinitum about 'my plan', the school principal decided to give me a chunk of the school budget to spend on a year long unit of work centred on 'Bird Watching'. I decided to structure the unit around educating the kids in identifying/distinguishing species, analysing how birds have 'specialised' according to habitat/diet and how to record and report data. These skills have a 'knock-on' effect for the kids who wish to move in to the area of Land Management (one of three 'real' employment opportunities in the whole area). So, I set about writing things up and the boss loosened the purse strings.<br />
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In no time at all we had blown about $2700 on Binoculars and field guides - but, to see the kids eyes as they adjusted the straps on <em>their </em>own bin's and thumb through <em>their</em> own field guides. It was a sweet moment! I then spent time making the requisite speeches explaining how these weren't 'take home' gifts and how the kids had to look after them. So, I taught them how to clean the bin's, fix loose straps, adjust the eye cups and (one of the lessons they enjoyed the most) how to focus the bin's quickly at different distances AND under pressure. <br />
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I set up a kind of 'bird-nerd' Olympics in which kids had to work in teams to read notes from different distances and decode them to win points - they were mad for it! I also printed different sized images of bush birds from the web and placed them at varying lengths away from the kids and (again...) got them to work in pairs to i.d. the birds using their bin's and field guides. As they got better and better I reduced the amount of time they were given to view the different images....this drove them wild but also forced them to work quickly and, maybe most importantly, quietly. We spent time in class learning the names of the different physical features of birds and worked on expanding our technical vocabulary. This part was crucial as many of the kids had a limited knowledge of the many parts of birds and how they related to making field notes and decent observations. I even managed to link this to some art activities where the kids had to illustrate and colour images of birds according to a written description (eg; red lores, yellow lower mandible, red rump etc...) All of this helped to better equip them for our weekly field trips and turned our outings from all-out madness into relatively pleasant and organised excursions. <br />
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By the end of term one, there was a palpable sense of 'something big' going on with these older kids, especially some of the more difficult boys. I would go into the store on weekends and I would hear kids telling their parents and grandparents about the birds they had seen on our recent trips, the kids were then getting a double-dose of schooling as interested family members began to impart local knowledge about certain species we had encountered. This all fed back into our class work and really energised our (usually...) lack-lustre afternoons. We had Science lessons slated for three times a week and the kids continually bugged me, <em>"When do we do more Birds?"</em> - it was a buzz! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG88vxs2XH_Te6Qxvnyt8ukLEC1GVA1C3XcEgulxnpZ3cP6hijVMdELGDwvxoTanywPtfakv3LtswBVC36wicVyjH6aENdCLzIGCHdgObUk55vzZxKq4J5D4Dww86FT4_463GEH6soqXJK/s1600/road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG88vxs2XH_Te6Qxvnyt8ukLEC1GVA1C3XcEgulxnpZ3cP6hijVMdELGDwvxoTanywPtfakv3LtswBVC36wicVyjH6aENdCLzIGCHdgObUk55vzZxKq4J5D4Dww86FT4_463GEH6soqXJK/s640/road.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Wati Tjulpuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11767231697879420882noreply@blogger.com0