More Robins and a Parrot

I am lucky to have seven species of Robins within a few hours of my place, and today I was lucky enough to find and photograph the most common sort; Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis. We pulled in for a picnic lunch at a roadside TSR (Travelling Stock Reserve) just north of Barraba and were greeted with a small number of these Robins and about six endangered Brown Treecreepers. As you can tell from the pcitures, the Robins like perching on any branch and are inquisitive. They dart onto the ground to catch their prey. They feed on insect, spiders and anthropods.

After we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the winter sun and out of the winter breeze we went for a walk up a nearby hill where this view welcomed us!

Panorama from the top of Lower Bottom Mountain TSR, Barraba

 After a short rest up top it was time to return to the car and continue on our journey. My wife headed off and arrived at our picnic spot first. I saw her motion for me and she had her "I've found a bird" look..... I was able to get one photo of the bird she found before my camera battery ran out of charge.

Male Turquoise Parrot

She had found a small group of Turquoise Parrots Neophema pulchella. They are endangered. In fact they were considered extinct in 1915 before returning gradually since then. They had been caught for averies and shot for pie-fillings! Their beauty is not really shown by that photo. 

Sadly, since my camera had ran out of batteries I couldn't get any more photos. Thus, the next bird landed in a low bush right next to me and it was a male Golden Whistler..... oh well let's hope I can get his picture next time!

Scarlet Robin's Braving the Cold Weather

I admit it I hate the cold! Let me also admit that I admire all creatures which call the cooler climates their home. Here in Tamworth our idea of cold is probably only mild to most people around the world but I'm a softie. One of our most colorful birds inhabits the cool mountain regions east of Tamworth. The Scarlet Robin is found in south-eastern and south-western Australia, as well as on Norfolk Island. In Australia, it is found south of latitude 25°S, from south-eastern Queensland along the coast of New South Wales (and inland to western slopes of Great Dividing Range) to Victoria and Tasmania, and west to Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. It can also found in south-west Western Australia. In these parts it is hard to find. In New South Wales it is listed as Vulnerable.

Scarlet Robin distribution map (source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlet_robin)

So I went out in search for this species as it is one of my favorite being among Australia's petroica "red robins". In many places they move during winter to the lowlands but it seems these days around here they don't bother anymore. Maybe its global warming, who knows! I found them only a minute after arriving in the Watsons Creek area in the right habitat: tableland open forest / farmland that hasn't been over-farmed. Initially the birds were some distance away as can be seen in the first photo. They feed by sitting on a perch and flying down to catch prey. As they returned to a new perch, each perch was successively closer until I could nearly touch them! The vividly colored bird is the male, and the female is pastel but still very beautiful! I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Around Manilla

Yesterday was a restful day at our house after a crazy busy week. The weather added to our need to rest as it was miserable; cold, showery and windy. Some places higher in elevation received a dusting of snow. Eventually after lunch I lured the family out for a walk to the river. We have a very pleasant short walk to the river here. Today was no exception apart from the shower of rain on our way home and the coolish conditions. Within 5 minutes I came across an Australian Hobby frozen (??) on the powerlines. He allowed a close approach an thus some nice shots on my Panasonic 60x zoom camera (which I am compiling a review of for those contemplating getting a non-SLR birding camera).

Australian Hobby posing nicely for the camera!

We continued down to the river where the birdlife was like the weather, dull. We avoided the local footy game nearby which was obviously being won by Manilla, and came and instead flushed a pair of Eastern Rosellas from the roadside. Unfortunately they hid in a bush and the rear-angle picture of the female below was the best I could manage.

Female Eastern Rosella

Hopefully things at home will begin to settle down and there will be more time for serious birding. I'm still working on a website, putting up some pictures and imagining how I could guide and assist birders around this area or wherever they like in Australia. Check it out if you like at www.climacteris.wix.com/redrobinbirding. Anyway, this last picture summed up the outlook around Manilla yesterday.

Rain clouds, sunshine and a quiet paddock in Manilla.

Move to Manilla

This year has flown by like a flock of Swifts!!! I have moved my family to Manilla and been very busy cleaning and trying to adjust to the new schedule. My wife remains sick so birding has been limited. Here are a few photos from this year (there are many more on my Facebook page Red Robin Birding).

Male Red-rumped Parrot

Noisy Miner

Grey Butcherbird

Dark phase Brown Falcon. Notice the unfeathered legs and upright stance differentiating it from the Black Falcon.

Borah Reserve

This morning Isaiah and I took off for the hour long drive to Borah Traveling Stock Reserve near Manilla. It is one of the favorite birding places in NSW for a number of birders.

Typical bushland at Borah Traveling Stock Reserve.

We arrived around 0940 and were welcomed by Dusky Woodswallows and Jacky Winters. A little further were a pair of beautiful White-browed Woodswallows too!

A Dusky Woodswallow checking us out from the safety of his vantage point.

I was just chilling with Isaiah when a larger bird flew into view and landed within my newfound digiscoping range. It was an immature Pallid Cuckoo. Later on a pair squabbled while we had lunch.

immature Pallid Cuckoo

We checked out a few other areas here and perhaps the most intriguing find was the following creature:

Yes, I found another tick! Well actually Isaiah found it. When he seen it crawling on our blanket I had laid on the ground he called out, "Daddy, spider!" I am still waiting to confirm its identity.

I was unable to add anymore to my TRC year tally, but overnight news may yet add some. Walcha Shire Council to my east has been forceably amalgamated with Tamworth Regional Council. Thus my survey area has broadened. I will check out if I have any extra records from up there this year that I can now slip in.....

Here is the link to today's birds:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26370169

Locks Lane

After a crazy day again at work I decided to take the long way home. Locks Lane is a dirt lane that is nearly in the middle of Tamworth and follows the river for a kilometre or so. In summer the long grasses along its verge make ideal habitat for finches, and they can easily be found then. Today I pulled over near the creek crossing as I had spotted some Chestnut-breasted Mannikins. I tried digiscoping through my Zeiss binoculars with my Samsung phone and the results are below. Mind you, it would have been much better if I was fast enough to take the photo when the Mannikins were only 2 metres away, but alas a car whizzed by flushing them to 30 metres away. There were a couple of Plum-headed and Double-barred Finches about too, but they didn't pose for me.

Chestnut-breasted Mannikins at Locks Lane, Tamworth

Further up the road I came across a gathering of Australian Reed Warblers and a Golden-headed Cisticola. I drew upon my time in Karumba with the Ferryman to pish up all the Cisticolas. Then they popped up everywhere, including right in front of me. So I digiscoped it too! It is a bit over-exposed but I am still learning!

Golden-headed Cistiola that responded to me pishing

Here is the link to the complete list I found in my quick drive through:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26280629

MORNING AT CHAFFEY DAM

This morning I decided to leave the challenges of life and head to Chaffey Dam again. I thought I may be able to add to my TRC Big Year total of 215 for 2015. Once again I dragged my son along. He is used to the setup, and either has a go at spotting the birds, or plays with his cars, or today, play with my car!!! 

I arrived at the western side first. There were many boats zooming around so the birds were hugging the banks. Initially there was not much to note, but upon my third stop along that side I found what looked like good wader habitat: muddy edge, some green weedy cover and a good number of birds already present. I did find 5 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, but no other migratory waders were present. There was also a lone Red-kneed Dotterel among the Black-winged Stilts.

So off to the eastern side. This side is the main entrance to Chaffey, and the best birding is up around the entrance to the dam. So we headed up there. Swans, Pelicans, Cormorants, Ducks, and a good number of Great Crested Grebes greeted us (see picture below). They were using an old road which is mostly underwater to roost along. While I was out checking the edges unsuccessfully for more migrants my son remained at loose in the car. He pulled out his favourite CD from the CD player; now it doesn't work. He had fun pretending to drive, and then tooted the horn. Well, at least that flushed a few birds nearby lol. He had alot of fun!

Array of species together: Pelican, Little Black and Great Cormorants,
Great Creted Grebes in water behind. Black Swans were just out of shot to the right.

On the way out a Australian Pipit posed for his photo too. I obliged from the car.

Australian Pipit posing.

I totaled 55 species in just over an hour, but did not manage to add to my year tally. My complete listing for today is on eBird here:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S26260198