Sunday surprise

There are a couple of woodland bird species that seem to be struggling locally – the Speckled Warbler and Southern Whiteface. Despite many visits to  suitable sites over the past few years they have been very difficult to locate and certainly haven’t bounced back following the breaking of the drought. It was a pleasant surprise then late today to find a pair of Southern Whiteface Aphelocaphala leucopsis, on the interface between woodland and farmland along Cemetery Road.

Southern Whiteface, Cemetery Road Newstead, 20th May 2012.

They are a rather nondescript little bird, largely grey-brown, without any distinctive markings apart from two prominent white tufts between the eyes. Once you see their face then they are quite unmistakable.

No mistaking the Southern Whiteface from this angle.

The Southern Whiteface frequents a variety of different woodland and shrubland habitats, especially where there is a mixture of shrubs, grasses and open areas. Around Newstead on the rare occasions I’ve found them they have been in the type of habitat where this pair was spotted today. Their decline is apparently associated with a loss of shrubby understorey – it was terrific to see some new plantings near where I found them this afternoon.

Saturday snapshot

There was not much time for birdwatching today, but I did manage to fit in a brief visit to the garden. Here’s what I spotted.

Superb Fairy-wren calling, Wyndham Street Newstead, 19th May 2012.

New Holland Honeyeater feasting on Salvia nectar.

A curious White-browed Scrubwren.

Bellbird encounter

I have written before about the charismatic and elusive Crested Bellbird. There are a number of pairs in the forest north of Newstead and while they are regularly heard calling, they are generally very difficult to observe close-up. Last weekend was one of my closest encounters for some time, a male bird fossicking for food on the ecotone between the forest and adjacent farmland.

Male Crested Bellbird, Muckleford State Forest, 13th May 2012.

Keeping a close eye on the intruder!

Little Brown Birds #2

Sometimes you only get a fleeting view of one of those LBBs (Little Brown Birds) and while they can be confounding and difficult to identify don’t ignore the challenge. The trick is to look for what are known as ‘spotting characters’ – distinctive features that when noted can help separate similar species. With one group of LBBs, the thornbills, iris colour is a really useful spotting character. I came across a mixed flock of thornbills along Bruce’s Track near Newstead late on Monday afternoon. The light was failing but the white iris is a give-away feature of Buff-rumped Thornbills – tick!

Buff-rumped Thornbill, Muckleford State Forest, 14th May 2012.

Their companions were darker, boldly streaked below, with a rich, musical voice – much deeper than the Buff-rumped. The iris of the Brown Thornbill is a deep red – tick!

Brown Thornbill, Muckleford State Forest, 14th May 2012.

Getting to know these spotting characters is a great way to quickly narrow down the possibilities from what may initially seem a baffling set of options.

Flames in the forest

I was lamenting recently my inability to capture a male Flame Robin with the camera. Well my luck turned yesterday, a loose party of this beautiful species, including a number of adult males posed for me in the forest north of Spring Hill Track. There were at least three coloured birds in the group, a couple perched close-by, allowing fantastic views.

Adult male Flame Robin, Muckleford State Forest, 13th May 2012.

This bird seems pretty pleased with itself!

The slaty-grey upperparts are a great contrast to the orange-red underparts.

I had never noticed it before, or at least forgotten that the crown is suffused with pale orange on the tips of the feathers – this is quite apparent in the birds pictured above.  There has been some concern about a drop in Flame Robin numbers in recent years although I must admit they seem to be doing well locally with a terrific influx this autumn.

Thinking of nesting?

As we head into winter it seems strange for birds to be thinking about breeding. Raptors though, are a bit unusual, often commencing their nuptials around this time of year with nest-building or refurbishment over winter. I came across a pair of Whistling Kites yesterday at Joyces Creek that I suspect may be in the early throes of courtship. They seemed very interested in an existing nest, perhaps their own from last season. The pair was keeping close company while perched nearby, uttering their unmistakable calls a number of times before flying off. I’ll keep a watch on this site over coming months.

Whistling Kite perched near potential nest site in Sugar Gum, Joyces Creek, 12th May 2012.

The same bird in flight displaying the characteristic silhouette and underwing pattern.

A front-on view of the Whistling Kite

Purple honey-pots

Salvias are proving a magnet for honeyeaters at the moment. While our Pineapple Sage has featured a number of times recently it was ‘next-doors’ magnificent purple Salvia attracting a bevy of New Holland Honeyeaters this morning.

New Holland Honeyeater feeding on Salvia flowers, Wyndham Street Newstead, 12th May 2012

Another visit to the honey-pot!

Salvia derives from the Latin salvere, “to feel well and healthy” – it seems the honeyeaters agree!