Random Memories of Australia - Part 11

      Here are a few more birds of Australia to satisfy the curious mind!

Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)

     A member of the quite large family Zosteropidae, Silvereye is an enchanting little bird that we saw quite frequently, but we are nevertheless seriously lacking in photographs.

     The above picture was taken at Queechy Lake in Launceston, Tasmania, where this individual flitted incessantly in front of us, pausing briefly to enable this picture. Miriam and I actually got the same shot, but hers is better than mine!

     We were visiting Tasmania at the start of the breeding season when individual birds, or pairs were seen. Outside the breeding season this species is quite gregarious and flocks with congeners. 

Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla)

     Thorn birds probably first came to the attention of the world with the publication of the wildly popular The Thorn Birds by the Australian novelist, Colleen McCullough, which was made into a very successful TV series too.

     Thornbills are the classic little brown jobs that can drive birders into paroxysms of ID trauma! They also illustrate very well that a little advance preparation in getting to know their habitat and habits pays great dividends.

     It is pretty easy to identify a loud, colourful, ostentatious parrot, but it is in clinching the LBJs that your birding mettle is really put to the test.

     It can be frustrating at times, especially when the birds are in constant motion and/or in deep shade, but it is a challenge that I nevertheless always enjoy.

     And if you are able to get a good view, Brown Thornbill is beautifully patterned, well-deserving of a second look. I certainly was very happy to spend time with this species.

Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

     I think that all will agree that Welcome Swallow is a lovely name. At a quick glance it could be mistaken for a Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) by those unfamiliar with it, and it has the classic lines of a swallow in the genus Hirundo.

     

     It was indeed a Welcome Swallow, for we first saw it on the day of our arrival, hawking for insects in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney.

     In fact we saw it throughout our stay in Australia, in every state we visited. It welcomed us over and over again!

     It was always exciting to witness its swift, banking flight in pursuit of insects as large as dragonflies, often low over the ground. It is even known to walk behind starlings or other birds to capture insects disturbed by these other birds.

     The breeding season was getting underway and on several occasions we noticed birds gathering nesting material.

     The memories of this beautiful bird are etched in my memory forever.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)

     One quickly learned in Australia that when a fellow birder referred to a Sharpie he or she was not referring to the kind of pen with which Donald Trump signed his endless executive orders!

     

     Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was the sandpiper we saw more frequently than any other shorebird species.

     It is a handsome bird, with a rusty crown and a prominent white eye ring. The breeding range of this species is primarily found in Siberia, and its winter quarters encompass southeast Asia, and across Australia and New Zealand.

     It was extremely common at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee, Victoria, and barely rated a second glance from locals, but it was a lifer for us, and we were intent on studying it well.

     

     It was not especially skittish around human visitors and gathered in small to medium flocks. 

     Sanguine about humans though it may have been, a passing bird of prey caused a good deal more consternation in the ranks. As far as we know none became the plat du jour while we were watching!

Australian Pipit (Anthus australis)

     Formerly considered a sub species of Richard's Pipit (Anthus richardi), Australian Pipit has been accorded full species status by many authorities based on molecular evidence. This judgement is not universal, however, with some taxonomists opting for Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae australis).      Such nuances of classification are probably of little concern to most readers of this blog, and the mere discussion may induce yawns!  

     It is a handsome little bird and presents that upright stance so characteristic of all pipits.

     We were fortunate to see several at Narawntapu National Park in northern Tasmania, where pair formation was no doubt underway. 

Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera)

     This inordinately handsome pigeon was decidedly uncommon from our perspective, for we saw it only once - one bird, one time!

     It is an incredibly striking bird, and it is apparent at first glance how it came by its name.

     This species is widespread throughout much of Australia; from Pigeons and Doves (2001), Gibbs, Barnes and Cox: "A familiar bird throughout much of its range, most frequently seen in pairs and sometimes small flocks of up to ten, but when coming to drink hundreds may gather at the same waterhole."

     We were obviously in the wrong places at the the wrong time, but we very much appreciated the singleton we saw. 

     I hope there will be a next time!