Wow great set there Pip and good to see you being able to get out. The Regent and Mulga parrots would be lifers for me. Black Kites have that distinctive forked tail you can see in your photo so all good there. The female Splendid Fairy-wrens have that bright blue tail so I am more than happy to accept that one. I think your songlark is actually an Australasian Pipit but could be wrong.
Wow pip congrats on your 100. Love the ApostleBird, and I think your the 1st to find an Emu, May stand corrected. The light on the Black Kite is striking, and I love your Major Mitchell Cockatoo. The Regent and Mulga Parrots are also nice finds, I'd be happy with all your photos from an ID point of view.
Hooray, pip is back with a great selection! Well done on the century, some great birds there. Love all the parrots, haven't had a good look at any of those, and your chestnut crowned babbler is a beauty. Your splendid fairywren is definitive, but aren't they frustrating - the superbs seem to be the most happy to pose, but some of the other ones can take you on a great song and dance before letting you get a good glimpse. Good stuff, thanks for posting.
Thanks all, yes the songlark looked wrong in the photo but it was so big, even for a brown songlark, this was only my second (possible) sighting so i'm far from an expert but it was just way too big, and kind of robust, for a pippit. But i'm happy to not count if that's the consensus. I'll have me a clear shot of a brown songlark yet, i tell ya!
As for terminology, i thought 'Major Mitchell' cockatoo was replaced with 'pink,' not the other way around. Also been referred to as Leadbeaters cockatoo. Who knows? If it were up to me i'd go for 'Pink,' because it's accurate and they were here a hell of a long time before Major Mitchell was.
Your splendid fairywren is definitive, but aren't they frustrating - the superbs seem to be the most happy to pose, but some of the other ones can take you on a great song and dance before letting you get a good glimpse. Good stuff, thanks for posting.
Trying to get a pick at the male in full plumage was a mix of exasperation, fear (from crawling through grass and dry timber silently and imagining snakes), humour (everytime i missed the little blighter) and, as i mentioned, sunburn due to ignoring the sizzle of my skin for what was actually close to an hour before i gave up.
What fun though, damn! Hopefully i didnt traumatise the little group too much, i generally kept my distance.
Hi Pip, my apologies, if you thought in the field that the bird was big then it sounds like a Brown Songlark. The two birds can be quite similar except for size and photos don't help if markers are obscured or the angle is wrong. As to terminology, it is still Major Mitchell on E-bird and the Australian Working List but I may have missed an update. Looking forward to more from you
As to terminology, it is still Major Mitchell on E-bird and the Australian Working List but I may have missed an update. Looking forward to more from you
Interesting as the link goes to Major Mitchell's Cockatoo & if I try to do an E-bird checklist, only MMC is accepted and nothing comes up if PC is entered. No updates pending on E-bird app that I can see. I agree that Pink Cockatoo Is more descriptive. A mystery it seems but still beautiful.
Just to add, when I search eBird, only Pink Cockatoo shows, has the same scientific name (Lopochroa leadbeateri) as the Major Mitchell Cockatoo listed in BIBY bird finder.
Okay, now that is really weird and I have no idea what it means! Over to Alex and Dev for their input.
Sue
PS I have raised a support ticket with E-bird in an attempt to clarify. I am searching My E-bird Account and MMC is the only option! Same with my phone E-bird.
Very odd that that link can lead to different results. On phone and ebird.org I get Major Mitchell. I like "pink cockatoo" as well - but just to be difficult I'm going to call it Leadbeater's Cockatoo :P
Very odd that that link can lead to different results. On phone and ebird.org I get Major Mitchell. I like "pink cockatoo" as well - but just to be difficult I'm going to call it Leadbeater's Cockatoo :P
LOL
Is there a thread on names? I'm also confused about Australian wood duck and 'maned duck.' I never call them maned ducks, never met anyone who ever has.
Some are historic names but not sure if they were local names or on from the various taxonomic lists... just to confuse us. Has always been Australian Wood Duck for me but have heard it called Maned Duck. Some names were changed as the name was used for 2 quite different birds in different countries e.g. Jabiru became Black-necked Stork.
Go to Birdlife Australia on this link http://www.birdlife.org.au/conservation/science/taxonomy and scroll down to the Working List of Australian Birds v3 August 2019 and you can download the following link for the latest version
Here's some shots from the water treatment plant in weribee. I spent a couple of days there and to be honest its a bit overwhealming for someone of my skill at shore birds. You look across a pond and see 1000 sandpiper type birds that all look the same but somehow not. Can't say i exelled at the photography either, but damn you can lose yourself down there. I'll start with the easy ones.
111. Black Swan. I can't believe i missed these. I saw about 500 of them today.
112. Brolga. Always happy to see brolgas in Victoria, they're not that common.
113. Straw necked Ibis. Another bird i see fairly often and always appreciate but hadn't taken a photo of until now.
114. Cape Barron Goose.
115. White Fronted-Chat. Strangely this was my first sighting for the year. One of the many birds that hide from me when they know i'm around. Male and female.
116. Whiskered Tern. I must've seen 1000 of these today. Possibly the most numerous species. Not a great photo though, i got sick of looking at them.
117. White-winged Black Tern. A first for me. They look like they're wearing headphones. I didn't see any adults in the black breeding plumage though. (Obviously they're the ones in between the whiskered terns).
118. Red Capped Plover. Sorry about the photo. They were scarce today.
119. Pied Oystercatcher.
120. Golden Headed Cisticola. My first. Very chuffed to see these. Only took the one photo but watched them flit about for a good while. Beautiful little birds.
121. Eurasian Skylark. Identifiable from the thick white edging to the tail feathers. I think a juvenile, due to a lack of distinctive crest?
122. Striated Fieldwren. I was a little surprised to see this.
123. Australian (Horsefields) Bushlark. I think the bill is the guide here, a little like a finch. Took me awhile to identify, a first for me (if i'm right). Lovely bird that looks grumpy.
124. Zebra Finch. Couldnt get close enough for a decent shot.
125. Fairy Martin.
126. Hoary Headed Grebe. Just have trouble capturing these water lovers. Constantly diving.
127. Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper. And now we hit the shorebirds. I invite correction. I am an absolute novice.
128. Common Greenshank. Saw a few of these but they were always a long way off. My biggest confusion is with these and Marsh sandpipers but the is size difference. Reasonably confident here (which isnt saying much).
129. Marsh Sandpiper. Smaller and more numerous than the greenshank, or so it seemed, and with a different jizz. My problem is, which is which. Pretty much just tried to match them as best i could to the field-guide and then later with internet photos.
130. Curlew Sandpiper. I feel ok with this one due to the downward curviture to the bill. Seemed to match other identifying features as well.
131. Red Necked Stint. Tiny little birds and hundreds of them.
132. Red Kneed dotterel. One of the easier ones to spot but not necessarily to photo!
133. Little Egret. Just couldn't get close enough to focus properly but you can see the bill colour and the general shape, hopefully.
I think i also saw a pectoral sandpiper and a long toed stint but i just can't tell so i'll post them in the identifications thread and see what others think.
Wow well done, a great variety there. About 4 of them would be new birds for me. I really like the Sharpie photo with that green background. Really makes th bird stand out. I agree completely about the shore birds being hard to identify. Your shorebirds ID look correct to me but I'm no expert.
Nice going pip, great sessions to get a good number of photos. At least 16 birds I am yet to photograph, with maybe 14, never seen. All of your photos are clearly identifiable (even if I can't identify them for you). Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Dale, i beat you to it. It was up to either of us to get a penguin on our collective list. I can't recall if there are any penguin spots in the Huon area. I wasn't much of a birder when i lived there. Maybe down toward Dover?
Wonderful shots, Pip. Werribee was very rewarding and the Little Penguin is a cutie. We do have Little Penguins in Sydney but a very small colony & little chance of a photo from here. Keep up the good work
We certainly have plenty of Penguin sites further down the valley, and of course Bruny Island, so I expect Alex will get some when he visits. Don't get out at or about dark much these days, so may be lucky.
Hello Pip - late to comment as I've been travelling. Great set from Werribee - what a cool place to photo birds. You have some awesome shots. Shorebirds can be really tough can't they? I'm wading through a bunch of photos I took in California and struggling with them as they are ALL new to me :-) The seabirds and shorebirds are the hardest. Your IDs look fine - maybe for 117 have a look at the juvenile form of Whiskered Terns as well and consider which migh be more likely.
I love your Little Penguin shot - very atmospheric. We have a tiny remnant colony here in Manly where I work, but its down to less than 20 penguins and strictly protected, very hard to see them let alone photograph them - hoping to see them in Tassie soon.
Not sure if I have misinterpreted Alex but 117 is clearly a White-winged Black-tern with those headphones. Quite definitive and they are being reported there at this time. Good one, Pip.
Try the Bird Identification Group of the World for ID of overseas birds, Alex. Just ensure you include location and time of year.
Merry Chritmas or Seasons Greetings or whatever suits, to all of you
Wow great set there Pip and good to see you being able to get out. The Regent and Mulga parrots would be lifers for me. Black Kites have that distinctive forked tail you can see in your photo so all good there. The female Splendid Fairy-wrens have that bright blue tail so I am more than happy to accept that one. I think your songlark is actually an Australasian Pipit but could be wrong.
Wow pip congrats on your 100. Love the ApostleBird, and I think your the 1st to find an Emu, May stand corrected. The light on the Black Kite is striking, and I love your Major Mitchell Cockatoo. The Regent and Mulga Parrots are also nice finds, I'd be happy with all your photos from an ID point of view.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
You are correct Dale well spotted
Hooray, pip is back with a great selection! Well done on the century, some great birds there. Love all the parrots, haven't had a good look at any of those, and your chestnut crowned babbler is a beauty. Your splendid fairywren is definitive, but aren't they frustrating - the superbs seem to be the most happy to pose, but some of the other ones can take you on a great song and dance before letting you get a good glimpse. Good stuff, thanks for posting.
Thanks all, yes the songlark looked wrong in the photo but it was so big, even for a brown songlark, this was only my second (possible) sighting so i'm far from an expert but it was just way too big, and kind of robust, for a pippit. But i'm happy to not count if that's the consensus. I'll have me a clear shot of a brown songlark yet, i tell ya!
As for terminology, i thought 'Major Mitchell' cockatoo was replaced with 'pink,' not the other way around. Also been referred to as Leadbeaters cockatoo. Who knows? If it were up to me i'd go for 'Pink,' because it's accurate and they were here a hell of a long time before Major Mitchell was.
Trying to get a pick at the male in full plumage was a mix of exasperation, fear (from crawling through grass and dry timber silently and imagining snakes), humour (everytime i missed the little blighter) and, as i mentioned, sunburn due to ignoring the sizzle of my skin for what was actually close to an hour before i gave up.
What fun though, damn! Hopefully i didnt traumatise the little group too much, i generally kept my distance.
Hi Pip, my apologies, if you thought in the field that the bird was big then it sounds like a Brown Songlark. The two birds can be quite similar except for size and photos don't help if markers are obscured or the angle is wrong. As to terminology, it is still Major Mitchell on E-bird and the Australian Working List but I may have missed an update. Looking forward to more from you
Sue
My E-bird account lists them as Pink Cockatoo.
https://ebird.org/australia/species/pincoc1/
Curious! Perhaps they've only very recently changed?
Interesting as the link goes to Major Mitchell's Cockatoo & if I try to do an E-bird checklist, only MMC is accepted and nothing comes up if PC is entered. No updates pending on E-bird app that I can see. I agree that Pink Cockatoo Is more descriptive. A mystery it seems but still beautiful.
Well, i'm no tech person but how can it be that our e-bird accounts list different names? I only opened my account late last year, perhaps? Weird.
I wonder what others have listed.
Just to add, when I search eBird, only Pink Cockatoo shows, has the same scientific name (Lopochroa leadbeateri) as the Major Mitchell Cockatoo listed in BIBY bird finder.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Okay, now that is really weird and I have no idea what it means! Over to Alex and Dev for their input.
Sue
PS I have raised a support ticket with E-bird in an attempt to clarify. I am searching My E-bird Account and MMC is the only option! Same with my phone E-bird.
I'm not on Ebird so I can't help you there sorry ladies
Very odd that that link can lead to different results. On phone and ebird.org I get Major Mitchell. I like "pink cockatoo" as well - but just to be difficult I'm going to call it Leadbeater's Cockatoo :P
Is there a thread on names? I'm also confused about Australian wood duck and 'maned duck.' I never call them maned ducks, never met anyone who ever has.
Some are historic names but not sure if they were local names or on from the various taxonomic lists... just to confuse us. Has always been Australian Wood Duck for me but have heard it called Maned Duck. Some names were changed as the name was used for 2 quite different birds in different countries e.g. Jabiru became Black-necked Stork.
Go to Birdlife Australia on this link http://www.birdlife.org.au/conservation/science/taxonomy and scroll down to the Working List of Australian Birds v3 August 2019 and you can download the following link for the latest version
http://www.birdlife.org.au/documents/BWL-BirdLife_Australia_Working_List_v3.xlsx
You can also do a life list on Ebird but I cannot see where or how to create an Aussie bird list to download.
Hope that helps
Here's some shots from the water treatment plant in weribee. I spent a couple of days there and to be honest its a bit overwhealming for someone of my skill at shore birds. You look across a pond and see 1000 sandpiper type birds that all look the same but somehow not. Can't say i exelled at the photography either, but damn you can lose yourself down there. I'll start with the easy ones.
111. Black Swan. I can't believe i missed these. I saw about 500 of them today.
117. White-winged Black Tern. A first for me. They look like they're wearing headphones. I didn't see any adults in the black breeding plumage though. (Obviously they're the ones in between the whiskered terns).
122. Striated Fieldwren. I was a little surprised to see this.
126. Hoary Headed Grebe. Just have trouble capturing these water lovers. Constantly diving.
Wow well done, a great variety there. About 4 of them would be new birds for me. I really like the Sharpie photo with that green background. Really makes th bird stand out. I agree completely about the shore birds being hard to identify. Your shorebirds ID look correct to me but I'm no expert.
Nice going pip, great sessions to get a good number of photos. At least 16 birds I am yet to photograph, with maybe 14, never seen. All of your photos are clearly identifiable (even if I can't identify them for you). Thanks for sharing.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
134. Little Penguin. Taken at St.Kilda pier tonight. One of the rare occasions we southeners have the edge over the amazing northern birds.
Love that Little Penguin, obviously returning for the night. Nice glow with I presume the setting sun behind it. Nice find and well captured.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Thanks Dale, i beat you to it. It was up to either of us to get a penguin on our collective list. I can't recall if there are any penguin spots in the Huon area. I wasn't much of a birder when i lived there. Maybe down toward Dover?
Wonderful shots, Pip. Werribee was very rewarding and the Little Penguin is a cutie. We do have Little Penguins in Sydney but a very small colony & little chance of a photo from here. Keep up the good work
We certainly have plenty of Penguin sites further down the valley, and of course Bruny Island, so I expect Alex will get some when he visits. Don't get out at or about dark much these days, so may be lucky.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Very nice Pip. I managed to see these guys when I was on Bruny.
Hello Pip - late to comment as I've been travelling. Great set from Werribee - what a cool place to photo birds. You have some awesome shots. Shorebirds can be really tough can't they? I'm wading through a bunch of photos I took in California and struggling with them as they are ALL new to me :-) The seabirds and shorebirds are the hardest. Your IDs look fine - maybe for 117 have a look at the juvenile form of Whiskered Terns as well and consider which migh be more likely.
I love your Little Penguin shot - very atmospheric. We have a tiny remnant colony here in Manly where I work, but its down to less than 20 penguins and strictly protected, very hard to see them let alone photograph them - hoping to see them in Tassie soon.
Not sure if I have misinterpreted Alex but 117 is clearly a White-winged Black-tern with those headphones. Quite definitive and they are being reported there at this time. Good one, Pip.
Try the Bird Identification Group of the World for ID of overseas birds, Alex. Just ensure you include location and time of year.
Merry Chritmas or Seasons Greetings or whatever suits, to all of you
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