A new visitor . . .

Sulphur-crested cockatoo visiting the feed station 

I have been playing with shooting in black and white in camera recently, just as an experiment to learn about enhanced tonal range and improved contrast in my photography.  This chap turned up at the feeding station in the backyard of Casa da Ayre and I just like the effect.  

My first Topknot pigeon observation

I observed my first ever Topknot pigeons Lopholaimus antarcticus on Tuesday 8th November at Catherine Hill Bay.  It was a scorching day, and just before noon.  I could hardly believe my eyes as a flock of eight adult Topknot pigeons circled and landed in a stand of mature Banksia spp trees on the western side of the Catherine Hill Bay Cemetery.  It was just as I was heading off to an appointment and I was not able to stay to watch them for long.

To be absolutely clear, these were definitely Topknot pigeons, Lopholaimus antarcticus, NOT Crested pigeons,  Ocyphaps lophotes.  I have been hoping to see real Topknots for years, and finally I have ticked that box.  They were distinctive, very large pigeons with an obvious bar transversely across their tails, and the "topknot" was only discernible when they were at very close range.

I returned the next day with all of my camera gear, and naturally, there was no sign they were ever present.  I recorded the sighting in the Atlas of Living Australia.  It's so typical.  I didn't have my camera gear and a bird I'd wanted to see for years appears . . .  

Breeding Spotted turtle-doves

Spotted turtle-dove squeakers on their flimsy nest, almost ready to fledge, 13th November 2016. 

Spotted turtle-doves, Streptopelia chinensis are not known as the brightest birds in the flock.

For the last three weeks, Amanda's car has been getting covered in small twigs while parked in the carport.  We were wondering where in the heavens these sticks could possibly be blowing in from.  All was revealed when we caught a pair of Spotted turtle-doves in the act, trying to nest on top of one of the fluorescent lights in our carport.  The stupid birds kept putting twigs on top of the light, and a few moments later the twigs would blow off, landing on Amanda's car.  Instead of flying down and picking the twig up and trying again, the adults would diligently fly off, returning with another twig - for the same result.  This went on for three weeks before we couldn't stand it anymore and blocked the space on top of the light, thwarting their best efforts.

About two weeks ago we found a Spotted turtle-dove, Streptopelia chinensis nestling wandering alone in the backyard.  It was barely able to fly; clearly it had prematurely fallen from its nest.  Strangely there were no adult doves watching nearby, and we had not observed any nesting behaviour this spring in our back yard.  So I popped it in the tree near the feeding station, and went about my business.  It had disappeared fifteen minutes later.        

We have numerous adults of this feral species living in close proximity to Casa da Ayre, and they are a common sight around the back yard feeding station.  Fortunately the native Crested pigeons are still the most common species.  We are very happy to note that both species of dove breed in our backyard regularly.

On Sunday I was doing some maintenance in the backyard and found yet another Spotted turtle-dove nest, this time with two young squeakers doing their best to flatten themselves into the bottom of their shallow platform of sticks.  I took a quick photo, wished them well and went back about my business.



     

Minor sighting - Tawny frogmouth owl

I have previously recorded a Tawny frogmouth owl calling in the immediate vicinity of Casa da Ayre - while I was putting the bins out a few moments ago (9:17pm) I observed an adult sitting on the power cable in the front yard.

A rustle in the hedge . . .

Mantis with meal 

My wife and I had planned to spend the whole weekend afloat, just cruising on the Lake, but the forecast soon changed that - a near gale warning is current for Hunter Coastal waters. We seem to be enduring an endless procession of such weather at the moment, and the Bureau of Meteorology gets it right far more often than wrong these days, so it was a golden opportunity to catch up on some yard work.  

While I was trimming one of the shrubs, I found a young Praying mantis enjoying a hover fly, and managed to get a couple of shots.  I can't decide about the Mantis' expression; is she thinking "keep your hands off my dinner" or "just a little closer mate - you're next" ???    


  

Sacred kingfisher

Sacred kingfisher, Warnersbay 30th September 2016 

I was enjoying a twilight stroll along the cycleway from Cherry Rd, Eleebana to Speers Point on Friday evening with my beautiful wife, when a rapid, flitting silhouette caught my eye.

A gorgeous little Sacred kingfisher was perched in the stand of mature Casuarina trees, right on the edge of the lake.  It was twilight and very difficult to get close, and the bird was darting quickly between trees. I managed to get a couple of quick snaps before moving on.       

Sacred kingfisher silhouette, Warnersbay, 30th September 2016  

 

The Eastern koels have finally reached Belmont...

The distinctive call of the Eastern koel has been echoing through my street all day this afternoon.  They are such a unique and unmistakable call, but I have missed them.  I am almost certain I have seen that other major migratory species, the Dollarbird for the last three weeks, but it's been in areas I couldn't stop and confirm the sighting.     

This is the first time I have heard an Eastern koel calling in Belmont for Spring 2016.  This is nothing important, just an an anecdotal occurrence record of this migratory species for 2016.