Galah and Corella infestation outside my bedroom window.
There’s a lot more but I can’t get them all in frame.
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A few of BH’s recent pics
#Zebra Finch-Western Treatment Plant. A handsome devil.
#Black Kite-WTP. Looking regal and unbothered.
#Goldfinch-Balbirooroo
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#Magpie Goose - Serendip, Lara.
Now some pics are difficult for a variety reasons, these from today were straight out excruciating! Came here for the Magpie Geese which were out in huge numbers, several hundred and then some, which was impressive, but nowhere near as impressive as BH’s scream from where she was squatting to take the pics. At first I thought it was a squeal of delight but when she starting jumping up and down and slapping desperately at her clothes I knew something was amiss. Here’s her posting notes from her birding site.
“I hope you enjoy these photos because I sustained multiple injuries to get them.
#BullAnts
#Yeeeooowwww!!!
#sevenbites”
We were 120ks from home and I made her locate hospital emergency locations while I drove, which she did reluctantly. In retrospect she was lucky because she’s had nasty reactions to single bullant bites before, never mind 7 of them, largely because she’d taken an anti histamine before we left as she suffers from asthma and was concerned about pollens in the air. Popped another in after the attack and always carry Stingose Gel.
Typical birder though, had to basically drag her away after the attack because she wanted better pics. Go figure!
PS She thought flies were crawling on her but didn’t want to shoo them away and wreck the shot, not until the first one took a chunk out of her. There were dozens of them all over her, including on her hat. I didn’t get a shot of any bullants but she got the birds!
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Saw this owl last night in inner city Melbourne. Not a great photo, but curious if anyone can identify it.
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Looks like a Tawny Frogmouth with its facial bristles- but I’m happy to be corrected if others think differently.
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A trio of BH’s pics from today’s trip the Western Treatment Plant
#Black Falcon - always a treat to behold, unless your young are potential prey and as a result it was chased away moments after this pic by a pack of ravens.
#Wood Sandpiper - yes I know all waders look alike but this was the prime target of our trip today and was successfully found after a few laps of T Section. BH was delighted and it helps that it’s a lifer and that heaps of other birders have been camped by the crake pond waiting for it to appear too.
#Banded Lapwing - the lesser known of the lapwings and BH reckons an opportunity was missed and it should be called the Aviator Lapwing.
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Love them all- you’re right about the lapwing and his goggles!
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Where were you? I’m with @loyalandproud looks Tawny Frogmouth to me. There are a few places inner city where you can find them.
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Was wandering around Albert Park. Had never seen an owl in the inner city, very pleasant surprise!
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#Forest Raven, Apollo Bay. Now I’m not a birder as such, I consider myself more of a birder’s squire, but I do appreciate corvids. So how do you distinguish Australian Ravens from Forest Ravens (BH tells me Little Ravens are the most common Vic Ravens but are smaller and lack heavy beaks and therefore are easier to distinguish)? According to BH there are 2 clear defining features, firstly location, and you do not find Australian Ravens in the Otways where BH took this pic a few days ago, and secondly, and more interestingly from my perspective, the Forest Raven does not flap or flutter its wings when it calls, clearly shown in this pic, whereas the Australian Raven does. Just love secret birder business.
PS The real dead give away is the call which alerted BH in the first place but ain’t a feature of a still pic.
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