Hello from Stanley

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FrankF
FrankF's picture
Hello from Stanley

Hi to all.

I'm up in Stanley Victoria on a hectare that has some open space, some native talls, some pines, some wattles, soem orchard and and a bit of native shrubbery up around the house.

I'm engaged in identifying and writing a little about the birds on or within easy reach of the property (eg on the walk to the post office). I'm writing a little spiel about the bird and one or more poems on an aspect of my personal interaction with the birds -- might be a book sometime, but mainly intended to help me get a good feel for what's on the place.

I've identified most of the common or distinctive birds and am now trying to get to who goes where in the canopy, and trying to work out who the very small birds are.

A delightful exercise so far, and am hoping to get some assistance in the task here.

Today's new bird was an olive coloured bird with a stripe over the cheek - about starling size). Behaving like a tree creeper - exploring trunk and branch, but not in my bird guide as such. Looks more like a honey-eater, if anything.

Any help much appreciated.

(BTW I've positively identified about 40 species so far).

Thanks for haing me.

Woko
Woko's picture

Hi there Frank & welcome. When you say you're "up" in Stanley does this mean Stanley is in the Alps?

It seems you have a nice bird project on your plate. That really makes life interesting, I reckon.

Identifying birds in the canopy is obviously difficult but it's amazing what can be seen with a good pair of good binoculars, assuming you haven't a pair.

The best I can do on your description is a white-plumed honeyeater, assuming the stripe over the cheek was white in colour (with a fine black band at the top of the white stripe, more noticeable in adult birds).

pacman
pacman's picture

Hello and welcome to the forum

Looking forward to hearing more about the birds that you ID

Sorry but I cannot help with the ID, I come from Qld and work in mid-north NSW

Peter

cathshane

Hi Frank,

Sounds like you have a lovely place to explore. Maybe one day we will see your work in print.

 I agree with Woko could be a White Plume Honey Eater.

40 Species so far, well done. How lucky are you, hope you find plenty more.

FrankF
FrankF's picture

Hi Woko.

Yes, up in the hills in North East Victoria - sub-alpine, I suppose.

Don't think it was a white plumed honeyeater, but I'll keep tracking the little darling down until I get the ID.

I have a pair of Gerber 7x21's. Easy to carry, and adequate so far.I'll let you know if I identify the bird.

Cheers,

Frank

FrankF
FrankF's picture

Thanks for the welcome, pacman.

Cath and Shane, Hi. Yes, this is a marvellous block, with lovely areason it - not so much rooms as walks. It's completely delightful to be up close to yellow tailed black cockatoos and the various others. I can't say I was much of a bird fancier until we got here, but I've been quite taken with them since we arrived a bit over a year ago.

Not sure if there's an appropriate part of the forum for things like poems or other appreciations of the birds. I'll perhaps post the odd one here from time to time. 

Hooroo for now.

Cheers,

Frank

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hi Frank, and welcome. Did the bird you saw look like this? A Lewin's Honeyeater? Or it could have been a Yellow-faced Honeyeater, can't find a photo at the moment, sorry.

DSC00840 (2)

M-L

FrankF
FrankF's picture

Hi Araminta. Thanks for this. The bird I saw did resemble this one, though nowhere near flowers or honey. It was rapid-darting along trunk and branches and seemed to be insect focused. Quite high up the tree - 20 feet or more.

If it is, it's completely unexpected. I'd not thought this species was around the property. I'll try to confirm with more sightings. Sadly I'm not much with a camera.

Must extend appreciation to the site here, as it helped me (earlier today) ID a brown thornbill that I've encountered a couple of times in recent days. Another very busy little bird.

Lovely to be here.

Cheers,

Frank

cathshane

Hi Frank, there is a social section on the forum.

 Your bird could also be a White Eared Honeyeater, according to Michael Morcombes guide they search for insects, and work over bark treecreeper fashion, and will take nectar and fruit when available. 

FrankF
FrankF's picture

Hi Cath and Shane.

Yes, I'll keep it in mind. I haven't yet managed to hear the bird's call, which might help. Think I may have glimpsed it again yesterday, but not well enough to identify.

Cheers,

Frank

FrankF
FrankF's picture

Hi again, just a little update. I think I've definitely identified the bird (above) as a white cheeked honeyeater. Thanks to all for your help.

I'm still adding new species to the collection - 3 positive IDs since last I visited. Getting close to 50 now.

I wonder if someone could point me to the best place to make a request? I'm wanting to ask folk here if they would be willing to share photos of birds that are part of my observed species? I can't really do photos, and am more of a poems guy. My wife and I have started putting some of the writing I've been doing re the birds on our website and I'm basically trying to do a picture, a description and a poem about each bird.

The first 2 are online and you can see what I'm on about here: http://www.noodlybark.com.au/noodlybark/category/12/74/Birds-of-Noodlybark.htm 

If anyone would be interested in allowing use of their photos for thsi project I'd be delighted to include an acknowledgement. I'd be happy to post a liust of the species of interest somewhere.

Cheers and thanks again,

Frank

Cheers,

Frank

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