For over 32 years we’ve very occasionally had spring visits from a White-winged Triller or two. This species is one of the many woodland birds which is under extreme threat in the Mt Lofty Ranges. Last year I saw one on one day before it apparently moved on. But this year we’ve had up to 7 (which I counted yesterday) &they’ve been around for 4 weeks, calling repeatedly as White-winged Trillers are wont to do.
Nice hopefully they willstick around.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Hey Dale. This party of White-winged Trillers has been around for about a month, much longer than they've stayed on previous spasmodic visits. Perhaps they're breeding & wouldn't that be great!
Yep that would be fantastic, do you know where the migrate to? I note they are sedentary in the North, not sure if that fits your patch or not.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
They’re certainly not sedentary in my part of SA, Dale. In fact, you’ve inspired me to do a little reading on this species. It seems that it migrates south in early spring & returns north in autumn. What I found most interesting is its spasmodic appearances in widespread places across Australia although rarely in your state of Tasmania. E.g., in 1981 it appeared in NSW’s Royal National Park for the first time in 50 years & it appears on the Nullabor in “good years”. It “often nests in loose colonies” (we seem to have a loose colony on our place at present) & appears “singly, in pairs or small flocks, occasionally in larger flocks of up to 70 birds.” This is quite consistent with what I’ve observed here. It’s movements make this a most interesting bird.
I think the White-winged Trillers have moved on. I haven't heard them for two days.
Took a stroll today. Not a White-winged Triller in sight or sound. Hopefully, they successfully bred.