Random Memories of Australia - Part 10

      It has been fun going through the pictures from our 2018 visit to Australia, and since COVID has thwarted two subsequent attempts to return, memories rekindled have been very welcome.

     Here are a few more of Australia's spectacular birds.

Variegated Fairywren (Malurus lamberti)

      These tiny birds, colourful, bright, energetic, feisty and promiscuous in the extreme, are enchanting!

      We did not see Variegated Fairywren frequently, so when we did the event was even more special than it might have been if it had been a daily occurrence.

     It inhabits dense scrubby vegetation and seldom gave us an unimpeded view, and even then by the time Miriam had the camera cocked it had flitted back into cover.

     The male above is unmistakable, but the female is frustratingly similar to a female Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneua), especially for visiting birders who are not used to seeing it. 

     I am fairly certain that the individual above is a female Variegated Fairywren, spotted in the same general area where we had sighted the male only moments before. 

     And unlike her male counterpart, she posed in full view. She gets full marks for that!

Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)

     Cracticus, the generic name for Grey Butcherbird, means "loud-voiced" and is particularly appropriate for this noisy species.

     The individual above announced its presence long before we saw it, as it engaged in a fierce squabble with a Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) for occupancy of a potential nest hole in a tree. 

     Butcherbird is a bit of a pejorative term, perhaps, assigned by humans who disliked its habit of preying on small songbirds - even as they ate their lambchops lovingly grilled on the barbecue.

     This male angled its head to view us with appropriate disdain!

     In a functioning ecosystem the balance between predator and prey serves to maintain a healthy and viable population of both, assuring that the carrying capacity is not exceeded. 

     The female of the species is a little more subdued one might conclude, although that hook-tipped bill is a reminder that she too is a formidable hunter.

Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus)

     The soft, fluffy-looking plumage of this species reminds me of the similar first impression of Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) and it is a very appealing bird, the sort that young children would like to cuddle.

     It is predominantly an aerial feeder, very adept at catching insects on the wing. It competently takes bees as prey and for this reason has been declared a pest in the vicinity of apiaries. While one might understand, and possibly sympathize with an individual beekeeper, it is remarkable that we domesticate (if that is even possible with bees) the prey of this species, in effect setting out a feast, and then curse the bird as it takes advantage of the food on hand. 

     My vote is cast in favour of the woodswallow!

Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)

     The distinctive black mask of this species, giving the impression of a highway robber of yore, is responsible for its name. Perhaps today compliance with COVID prevention measures might be a more appropriate association!

     Male and female are quite similar in appearance, but the mask of the female is greyer and less pronounced.

     This species has an easy, undulating flight, either over the canopy, or low over grass in breezes.

     We considered ourselves fortunate to discover an occupied nest.

Australian Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)

     As its name implies, this species is characterized by its loud whistle, or series of whistles, often ending in a whip-crack sound. 

     No doubt, there is logic behind the song, but to us it seemed that the males sang for the pure joy of doing so - and because they could! We always located this species in forested areas and generally heard it before we saw it. And it was delightful! It seemed to throw its whole body into making the most joyous sound imaginable. 

     I doubt that a female whistler would be able to resist the blandishments of these handsome suitors with their seductive song! May they get together often and produce the next generation of choristers of the forest!

     They put on quite a show for these Canadian visitors!

Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus)

     Our first attempt to see this bird was an exercise in frustration; we saw a little movement, a few leaves shaking, a hint of a bird, a loud whip-crack. But not much else.

     Here is what it says in The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (2012), Pizzey and Knight: "Noisy but secretive". Both qualities were true; it was certainly noisy, but it was determined not to show itself.

     Imagine our great surprise, and excitement verging on exultation, when we checked into our accommodation at Calalla Bay, NSW to see this individual in full view on the lawn.

     It pranced, ran, cavorted, tossed leaves aside, probed for insects, without heed to us, and generally did everything it is not supposed to do. It even posed for a picture or two.

     Sometimes you get lucky!