BIRD OF THE WEEK!

 This is going to be, as it suggests a weekly entry, where we get the chance to highlight some of the wonderful birds of Oz. Please follow our blog and learn a few fun facts about our birds. 

MAGNIFICENT RIFLEBIRD - BIRD OF THE WEEK - WEEK 4 09/2020

One of Australia's Birds of Paradise  - the Magnificent Riflebird. This is a male.

Some birds that capture the imagination of everybody, let alone self-confessed birders would include the group named, imaginatively yet accurately, Birds of Paradise.

If you have never seen Birds of Paradise – shame on you – but you should check out this youtube clip; Introduction to the Birds of Paradise Project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTR21os8gTA ].

Now sadly a minute and a half into this preview they have shared with us the fact, that Birds of Paradise are found no where else on the earth’s surface than the island of New Guinea. 

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Here in Australia we are lucky enough to have four species of Birds of Paradise; one manucode and three riflebirds.

It is one of these riflebirds – the aptly named Magnificent Riflebird – that is our Bird of the Week!

This specie is found on New Guinea but also in the northern parts of Queensland’s Cape York Peninsular and it is a specialty specie that we will search for on our Wet Tropics to Cape York tour.

The male Riflebird, superficially at least, is more attractive than the female. It is his job to seduce through a showy combo of plumage, gape colour, sound, moves and posture.

His call, to me at least, sounds like old school seduction as it is a showy wolf whistle. In this, his call is unlike the two other Riflebird species that are found further south.

female Magnificent Riflebird on Iron Range

AUSTRALIAN BIRDING SAFARIS

Come birding with us.

Ken Cross - words and pictures

WELCOME BACK TO THE WADERS

High tide roost at Toorbul

Toorbul, perched looking over Pumicestone Passage and Bribie Island, is a great little birding locale on the southern end of the greater Sunshine Coast area. And it is a regular destination for a birding outing for the Birdlife Australia’s Sunshine Coast group. 

Recently I led a Saturday outing to Toorbul, especially to welcome back the waders!

A good group of birders enjoyed a good variety of migratory waders.

With the sun at our backs we enjoyed good views of the birds as they gathered at the high tide roost site.

Bar tailed Godwits, Australian Terns and the occasional Grey tailed Tattler

The larger species, Bar tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Far Eastern Curlews were present.

Red Knot centre. Residual red plumage noticeable on the bird's belly. Other birds include Whimbrel, Bar tailed Godwit, Grey tailed Tattler, Great Knot.

Great and Red Knots were present as were big numbers of Grey tailed Tattlers. Among the tattlers were good numbers of the charismatic specie, the Terek Sandpiper.

Terek Sandpiper[s] among Grey tailed Tattlers. How many can you find?

Ruddy Turnstones plus a single Red necked Stint completed the migratory waders.

Oddly missing were any Sharp tailed or Curlew Sandpipers.

Spot the Ruddy Turnstone!

Resident species such as Pelican, Swans and Stilts plus Oystercatchers completed the scene with a little help from both Australian [Gull billed] and Caspian Terns.

Words and pictures - Ken Cross