Hi just returned from a great week on the North Shores NSW. Stayed in Dee Why where there were great Greenlink walks around the headland and out to Manly. Then moved up to Avalon, great headland walks, wetland walks and a lovely trip on the Hawkesbury River where I got a few pics of an Azure Kingfisher at Bobbin Head. Whipbird (which up till Dee Why visit had been very elusive to me) I think this is an Orange Chat? New Holland Honeyeater
Silvereye NH HE Male superb Fairy Wren (note size of dinner he brought back in comparison to Mum!)
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Great Cormorant red Browed Finch and finally.. a white Bellied Sea Eagle?
Got some great maps from the Manly tourist information centre for all the walks along the North shores, and found the area great for birding despite the weather which was far worse than Melbourne!
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Great shots, especially of the small birds. The silvereyes and finches are hard to get and yours are very sharp
Thanks Birdgirl, and do you think that is an Orange Chat or have you any other ideas? Pied Currawong Rainbow Lorikeet Little Wattlebird? Masked Lapwing Peaceful Dove? Barn Swallow on nest under Palm Beach bridge. Pelican, happy to be back on it's perching position, after the Narabeen Council took down the spikes that were supposed to stop the pelicans landing there. The spikes caused such an uproar from the locals that they were removed after only two weeks, the council blamed the electric company and the electric company blamed the council for putting them there..so even though no one admitted to putting them up they are now removed and the Pelicans happy!
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Sorry Hev, I don't know this bird. It is a very nicely backlit shot though - the bird looks as if it is yawning on a rainy morning
Nice shots, Hev. The no of species that you spotted is amazing. I'll happily stand corrected but I think your Kingfisher shot may be a Sacred KF. The other little one you suspect is a Yellow Chat is a Golden-headed Cisticola and the first NH H/E may be another similar-looking species (don't have my fieldguide at work) like White-faced or -cheeked (?) HE. The white BoP is probably an Osprey.
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Thanks for sharing.
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Cheers,
.
George
Cheers,
George
Melbourne, VIC
White-fronted. Check the birdfinder on this site. There are photos of all of them.
Cheers,
George
Melbourne, VIC
Hi George and thanks for the info, I have learnt so much since joining this brilliant site :)
I wasn't convinced about the Orange chat and your suggestion is spot on... the 'punk' head feathers didn't match the orange chat but definately do the Cisticola.
The HE I thought were all the same brand!But now that you have pointed it out I have gone back and looked at the other blurry images in my deleted items and cannot see the white iris particular to the NH HE. The behaviour matched the white-fronted HE too, noisy,quick moving frantic search for nectar, whereas the NH HE was content to survey the scenery from his tree top.hmmm, I'm thinking it was maybe a white cheeked HE rather than white-fronted? what do you think? I don't recall a red wattle by the eye and cannot see one on any of the shots.
Now, the jury is still out on the Azure Kingfisher that could be a sacred, he was definately blue rather than green and quite a rufous buff to his breast... I think the colour of the feet will be the clue I need so I'll have a look in my deleted items again and see what I can find!
Thanks again George.
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
No... you're absolutely right!couldn't find any feet... but he has a collar so can't possibly be an Azure. Still looks blue to me (guess I shouldn't apply to be a pilot!)
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
I am going for a sacred kingfisher also i think azure has more color, I alo have photos of the sacred and he looks very similar
Hi Hev,
What an awesome array of species! I can't believe you managed to get a shot of the whipbird!
Regarding the kingfisher - the azure kingfishers that I see in Brisbane have an almost bright orange front, rather than a buff wash. I often have difficulty telling the Forest KF and Sacred KF apart, but the orange front on the Azure KF means that I can never mistake another KF for an Azure KF. I'm guessing the azure kingfishers are the same around Aus - if so, look out for the orange front as a good indication that the kf is an azure. It's helpful because, even if you don't get to see the feet or collar, you'll almost always see the bright flash of orange.
Thanks for posting the photos. Still sulking about the number of birds you saw...
Regards,
Andy.
Hi sulking Andy :) if it's any consolation re. the Whipbird shots... I have spent many an hour trekking through the bush and poised waiting with camera at the ready around the Dandenongs where I live, I have had fleeting glances and hear loads of calls even when walking the dogs in the park. I had begun to think they were a mythical creature and then I went to Dee Why... there is a great area there by Dee Why Lagoon, a small fenced off 'bush area' with a barely visible track so I'm guessing not many people visit it.I went out early one morning and just happened upon a whipbird, I think I was in it's nesting vicinity as he hung around for a photo session, I was over the moon (doesn't take much!) to finally get to see one. thanks for the Kingfisher tips, I will remember to look out for the bright Orange.
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
G'day Heva, Nice shots of the birds we have up here. Not many people post about the Northern Beaches, but it really is a great place for birds.
hi gelmir, well.... actually even though you were away you DID help... Denis put me on to your website where I got a link about the Greenlink walk around Dee Why and read about birds you had spotted along the golf course at Long Reef. (see my post in best photos re. Bright weekend.)
So thanks for your help (unbeknown to you!) and I agree great places around the North shore, I was absolutely delighted with the bird life there.
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
oops meant to post this in reply to your response in 'general' when I was asking about the North Shores!
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Hi Heva1
You did well on the North Shore trip.
Gelmir, as I knew you would not be watching traffic on this site for a few days I took the liberty of referring Heva to your Blog site. Seems to have worked a treat.
Some people have helped with names, already.
I agree with GeorgeP about the "first New Holland HE" - it is a White-cheeked HE. Large triangle of white below ear.
Cisticola for sure. The fact that it is sitting on a tall stick or reed and singing is a classic pose.
Welcome Swallow, not Barn Swallow. BiBY says Barn Swallow is an uncommon visitor to northern Australia.
See http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/bird/32
Your dove is a "Spotted Dove" http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/bird/41
Formerly known (in old books) as Indian Turtle Dove, or Collared Turtle Dove.
Nice photos of the others, exp the Fairy Wren pair.
Any photo of a Whipbird is a good photo. Your bird is a female (little white on side of throat)
Sacred Kingfishers colour on back changes from blue to greenish/blue depending on angle of reflected sunlight.
Check out these images on my blog
http://peonyden.blogspot.com/2008/11/sacred-kingfisher.html
The bird committed suicide on my windscreen, so I recorded it in detail, rather than have it's life (death) wasted entirely. The photos show the colour change depending on angle of the viewer and the sun.
Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
Hi Denis, and thanks as usual for all the great info.
What a beautiful bird the Sacred Kingfisher is, sad that yours commited suicide but it was amazing to see the photos of the bird up close. I see what you mean about the colour varying from blue to green.... maybe I could apply to be a pilot after all!
Denis, could you have a look at the bird I am about to post on ID forum (as it def. not the best photo)I think it may be the same as the one that George ID'd as Osprey in this thread but not sure, I have included a crow that was harassing it for size comparison.
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Oh by the way, I got two ticks while up in NSW, discovered them on my return to Melbourne, no damage done after removing with tweezers, except had what I thought was a bit of hayfever/start of a cold that lasted about 5 hours. Just thought it worth mentioning if you were in the bush while at Long Reef. Though I think I got them from North Avalon bush area.
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Hi Hev
Youe bird looks like a WBSE to me.
Ed Townsville NQ
Hi Denis, I looked up all the names you mentioned and didn't have any of them in my book!closest name I had was spotted Turtle-Dove but 1st pic doesnt look like this one that I took at Long Reef... this one has a definite spotted collar.
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Hi Ed, that's interesting because that was my first thought, then George suggested Osprey and I looked that up and felt it was a better match. Do you think the one on this thread and the one in ID thread are the same species Ed? Both birds were huge.
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Yes, both the same secies.
Ed Townsville NQ
Gidday Hev, Absolutely stunning,I loved all of your shots.
Thanks for posting Hev, I have not seen the Whipbirds before.
Hey Tassie, yup I was pretty pleased about the Whipbird, I have found them to be more elusive than Lyre birds.... and a real tease with thier loud call and then running and hiding in the undergrowth!
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
There's probably a 95% chance it's a peaceful dove. Tough to say though because you can't see the back of it, which has it's most identifiable markings.
Hi Heva
Your dove is almost certainly not a Peaceful Dove.
Size is a factor (always hard to judge in photos).
Population of Spotted Doves in the northern Beaches is huge. They are everywhere - in the suburbs and in the edges of the bush, there.
Peaceful Doves are uncommon in Sydney district - generally.
That's not to say that do not occur on the northern Beaches, but the probabilities are much, much lower.
Your first photo is taken from the front, and the second from the side. The spots are only on side and back of neck.
Peaceful Dove has blue around the eye and face. Your bird does not.
Peaceful Dove has fine barring on the neck, down to the wings. Your bird does not.
Peaceful Dove has white throat and pale pink belly. Your bird is uniformly pinkish fawn on the throat and belly typical of the Spotted Dove.
Please check the BiBY page:
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/bird/357
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
Hi Denis, hope you are tick-free! yes, it's difficult to compare when one is a side shot and one front-on... I agree, all the evidence suggests spotted turtle dove.
Now if I could just wangle another holiday to Sydney to collect more definitive evidence...
Hw did you go with your pommie birdwatchers? bet they were impressed by the birdlife here, my sister is always blown away when she comes over... even with the Cockatoos, which she encouraged onto the balcony with seed and then of course when she left they decided to eat the balcony in the abscence of seed... she will be banned from access to seed when she comes over in Feb!!
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Hi Heva
Yes, thankfully I am tick free.
I had lunch with people who grew up in that area, and the talk was all about ticks (and dogs, mostly). Seems it is definitely a "hot spot" for ticks.
Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
Hey Denis.... haven't heard from you for ages... everything ok? hope all's good with you and you are just having a quiet time.
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Hey Hev, I have been wondering the same thing. I miss Denis's interesting info and you can always rely on him for ID's etc. Hope you are fine Denis and just vacationing somewhere.
Hev are these photos still available on flickr as I can't seem to see them. I realise that this post is older so that may be it.
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
hi Birdie, yes I delete old photos on flickr as I can only have so many in my account. I just posted to this thread as I remembered Denis lived /had friends he visited on the north shore and that he had posted on the thread.
where are you Denis? we miss you!
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
HI Hev
Yes I figured that was it. I used to delete too until I read that they will automatically delist the oldest first and you can keep as many as you like on the site.
Have never seen this thread , don't know why. great shots of the whipbird, they are such a challenge aren't they. You get all excited with their call and then they hide!
The only day I have been close to one in the bush was when my battery died at Mary Cairncross Park. The , the other day when I went back there, fully equipped - there wasn't one in sight!
Your pics that I can see are great . Must have been a good trip.
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Hi Birdie, do you pay for your flickr account? maybe I should just bite the bullet and pay! I can have 300 photos when I get close they send a message saying I need to upgrade (pay!) or delete some photos.
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
No Hev, I don't pay. but I have never gone over 200 photos. Then I get the message that says to upgrade if i want all of them to be available. My husband kicked up about paying for something we don't need, and when I looked it up it is $49USD so I don't need it that bad I guess!!! I only use it for this forum anyway, so I suppose I don't really need that much storage.
By the way, seeing your new avatar reminds me of our trip to the bush the other day, I'll have to post the huge monitor lizard we saw climbing up a tree.
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Here it is Hev, it was about 350mm from tip to tail.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Sorry make that cm not mm!!
Sunshine Coast Queensland
wow thats big! mine was a little(in comparison) Boyds dragon taken on a night walk in the Daintree rainforest. I think it had wings from what I can remember.
Thanks for the info on flickr...I didn't realise they delete all the old photos for you if you go over 200 a month. Now I don't feel such a scrooge if you don't pay either!
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best
Gidday Hev and Birdie, I use photobucket and have just over 300 images stored there and still have more to go.
Just thought I would let you know.
I am with you pair I hope Denis is ok.
Hi tassie, howz things?
I am back to work in two days so I guess my bird outpourings will be less frequent!! However I am moving locations to a new construction site in a country area. I heard lots of small tweetings when I had a look around so there may be some wrens etc in the area. That'll save me from extreme boredom some days I guess :'D
Tassie and Hev, have you got any idea how old a Koel chic would be when it is about the size of its host figbird parent?
I've been watching one and haven't had a camera to catch it with .
I might check Denis's blog out and see if he's OK
Cheers
BIrdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Gidday Birdie, sorry I can't really help with the Koel chick.
I think you should at least another week off so we can see more of your pics :)