Mating season is progressing nicely in my back yard. Boat tailed grackles are bullying ground doves. Squirrels are chasing each other all up and down my oak tree, with some doing parkour onto my orchids. Mockingbirds are divebombing any bird, squirrel, cat or human they perceive as a threat to their part of my property. Apparently they think they own it all!
Listening to a cardinal calling now. I'm very much enjoying having my big window open in the mornings to hear and see all the commotion! It won't be too long until the window is permanently closed until next Winter. Or a few days in Fall if I'm lucky.
That reminded me that Darwin used mockingbirds to illustrate the variety of closely related species, as he observed S. American ones, e.g., Chilean mockingbirds. We are standing on the shoulders of giants!
A Brush Turkey is wandering around our street. We don't want him messing up our garden.
I've not been on board much recently, so I've just found this. Brush Turkeys returned here 40 or so years ago. Most people were happy that the environment had improved so much that they could now live here again. That happiness was short-lived when they made their true nature known.
@Gee D
I have heard that goannas take eggs from nests, and snakes/pythons take chicks; but people have got rid of most of them so that the Brush Turkeys proliferate.
I was intrigued by talk of brush turkeys, and was amazed that there is no parental care for the young. So the chicks have to survive predators, cars, etc. I think this is rare in birds, but for example turtles also have no parental care, and of course, many fish.
Went birdwatching yesterday down by the disused canal and while I was watching some coots an adder slithered past my leg and went for a swim to the other side. First reptile of the year for me.
Not usually wild, but while on a walk to some Aboriginal cave art yesterday afternoon I stumbled across a sheep, white with a black face, very cute, out from its paddock. It seemed put out I discovered it. 200m or so and 2 more came into view, and formed a group, and ran off farther into the bush. It was a single track and I spotted them coming back -- again, they gambolled off into the trees away from any farm they belonged to [a farm was nearby].
Adders are venomous, but you are only likely to get bitten if you tread on one or pick it up, and the venom is not particularly strong. There hasn't been a death in 50 years - Australia this isn't!
Coincidentally, a photographer friend offered to take me adder-spotting only last night, so we will take him up on that when we are his way around Easter.
We had 3 deer in our backyard last week. They periodically get attracted to our cedar hedges. Sixty years ago the area we live in was forested and farm land.
We had 3 deer in our backyard last week. They periodically get attracted to our cedar hedges. Sixty years ago the area we live in was forested and farm land.
Do you let them come and go, or do you shoo them away?
We had 3 deer in our backyard last week. They periodically get attracted to our cedar hedges. Sixty years ago the area we live in was forested and farm land.
Do you let them come and go, or do you shoo them away?
@Gee D
I have heard that goannas take eggs from nests, and snakes/pythons take chicks; but people have got rid of most of them so that the Brush Turkeys proliferate.
I'm pretty sure that brush turkeys are protected in NSW. In addition, I imagine that they'd be pretty tough to eat.
We were walking across Putney Common today and saw a buzzard circling overhead. That may not seem much, but buzzards were unknown here in Central London.
@Gee D
I have heard that goannas take eggs from nests, and snakes/pythons take chicks; but people have got rid of most of them so that the Brush Turkeys proliferate.
I'm pretty sure that brush turkeys are protected in NSW. In addition, I imagine that they'd be pretty tough to eat.
Goannas and Snakes are also protected and could be prosecuted for eating chicks and eggs. 😊
Adders are venomous, but you are only likely to get bitten if you tread on one or pick it up, and the venom is not particularly strong. There hasn't been a death in 50 years - Australia this isn't!
Coincidentally, a photographer friend offered to take me adder-spotting only last night, so we will take him up on that when we are his way around Easter.
Thank you.
Rock wallaby by some rapids where I was reading. Bounded away as I approached but then stood high on its rock watching.
Currawong at my campsite, or me at its home, watching me eat dinner.
Forgot to say, saw heaps of kangaroos and wallabies at all times of day while driving. I think I saw many whiptailed wallabies, most bounded away as soon as I came in sight, which I don't recall seeing before.
We saw a male yellowhammer on the bird feeder at the end of the garden yesterday, we have never seen one before and it was surprisingly bright yellow. Then today we saw a male reed bunting on the feeders near the house (where the squirrel proof feeders are to allow small birds access to seeds). I’ve seen reed bunting before at the lake 15 minutes walk away, they nest in the ditches around there and I assume it must have travelled out to us.
We saw a male yellowhammer on the bird feeder at the end of the garden yesterday, we have never seen one before and it was surprisingly bright yellow. Then today we saw a male reed bunting on the feeders near the house (where the squirrel proof feeders are to allow small birds access to seeds). I’ve seen reed bunting before at the lake 15 minutes walk away, they nest in the ditches around there and I assume it must have travelled out to us.
How exciting! I went to see an old school friend this week who lives in North London and saw a Tree Creeper in Highgate Woods. Can’t remember the last time I saw one.
All new to me. And wonderful from the photos I found. And what a difference I saw in I'm guessing males and females [or juveniles/adults] for the reed bunting. Thank you both. The new discoveries, from faraway lands, is one thing that makes this thread wondrous.
All new to me. And wonderful from the photos I found. And what a difference I saw in I'm guessing males and females [or juveniles/adults] for the reed bunting. Thank you both. The new discoveries, from faraway lands, is one thing that makes this thread wondrous.
I'm so glad my amateur birding report brought some joy. The Tree Creeper is so adept at running up and down the trunks of trees, truly mesmerising. I could have watched the jaunty little fellow for ages 😍
I have a friend who loves birds. Spots 30 or so more species at a time on jaunts. His love is infectious, even if I do not have the knowledge: or patience.
Forgot to say, on my last camping trip I was talking to a couple about birds and a woman came over from the next site and loaned me a field book on Australian birds (my quiet voice ha ha). Very interesting. The different parrots in South and Western Australia particularly for me -- different colouring.
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Listening to a cardinal calling now. I'm very much enjoying having my big window open in the mornings to hear and see all the commotion! It won't be too long until the window is permanently closed until next Winter. Or a few days in Fall if I'm lucky.
I've not been on board much recently, so I've just found this. Brush Turkeys returned here 40 or so years ago. Most people were happy that the environment had improved so much that they could now live here again. That happiness was short-lived when they made their true nature known.
I have heard that goannas take eggs from nests, and snakes/pythons take chicks; but people have got rid of most of them so that the Brush Turkeys proliferate.
Not usually wild, but while on a walk to some Aboriginal cave art yesterday afternoon I stumbled across a sheep, white with a black face, very cute, out from its paddock. It seemed put out I discovered it. 200m or so and 2 more came into view, and formed a group, and ran off farther into the bush. It was a single track and I spotted them coming back -- again, they gambolled off into the trees away from any farm they belonged to [a farm was nearby].
Adders are venomous, but you are only likely to get bitten if you tread on one or pick it up, and the venom is not particularly strong. There hasn't been a death in 50 years - Australia this isn't!
Coincidentally, a photographer friend offered to take me adder-spotting only last night, so we will take him up on that when we are his way around Easter.
Do you let them come and go, or do you shoo them away?
Are they young and tender enough to eat?
I'm pretty sure that brush turkeys are protected in NSW. In addition, I imagine that they'd be pretty tough to eat.
Goannas and Snakes are also protected and could be prosecuted for eating chicks and eggs. 😊
Rock wallaby by some rapids where I was reading. Bounded away as I approached but then stood high on its rock watching.
Currawong at my campsite, or me at its home, watching me eat dinner.
How exciting! I went to see an old school friend this week who lives in North London and saw a Tree Creeper in Highgate Woods. Can’t remember the last time I saw one.
I'm so glad my amateur birding report brought some joy. The Tree Creeper is so adept at running up and down the trunks of trees, truly mesmerising. I could have watched the jaunty little fellow for ages 😍
I have a friend who loves birds. Spots 30 or so more species at a time on jaunts. His love is infectious, even if I do not have the knowledge: or patience.