aussiebirder

After our previous post on the Winter migration of the Critically Endangered Swift Parrot to our local Mt Annan Australian Botanic Gardens where we did actually see and photograph them, we decided a five days later to revisit the park for another birding date bringing our picnic lunch. It was another amazing crisp, cool though warm sunny blue sky day again which lent itself well to birding and photography. By the time we finished our birding date the legendary quote of Forest Gump came to mind again: “My mother use to say: ‘Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”

On our arrival we parked near the entrance where we were told that we would see many birds in the trees by the creek, which we did but very difficult to observe and photograph. While we were observing a family of Musk Lorikeet, which are often seen in the park. A lone White-faced Heron was strolling around nearby, Soon my wife heard a loud pecking noise as the heron was on the car roof pecking at its reflection in the car’s sunroof. We shood it away but it returned a couple of times till it got the message. It was lonely for a mate as it was wearing breeding plumage. Click on image to enlarge it.

The Musk Lorikeet were resting, preening and assisting to remove bugs and lice from their lifelong partners. Like most birds of the parrot family they form a life long bond causing them to pair for life. These nomadic birds feed on eucalypt blossom and nectar using their brush-tipped tongues to flick it into their mouths. They also enjoy lerps, insects and native berries and fruits. The Musk Lorikeet gets its name from the musky floral sweet scent it emits.

It was surprising, considering all the birders we saw several days ago here at the 2nd Banksia stop, how there were only a few present today. That was because the Swift Parrots had moved to another part of the parklands for the day, chasing the blossom as they do. So, similar to Forest’s box of chocolates, we never saw a Swifty to photograph, thou we saw two fly over. However, the Bell Miner clans were busy controlling and defending their territory from other honeyeaters, driving them out, even larger birds such as Currawong and Ravens which threaten their young. These are locally known as Bellbirds, though this is inaccurate naming as true Bellbirds are found in central south Australia.

The main reason the Bell Miners defend these trees is to farm them for the sugary lerps which covers the larvae of the Psyllid insect or tree lice which sap the life out of the trees. Because the miners mine the lerps and prevent other birds, such as Pardalotes from eating the larvae, they are actually slowly killing the eucalypt trees. The loud ringing sound they make to communicate with one another is also annoying to other birds due to its intense high pitch. It can be deafening and unbearable also to humans and animals in some forest areas where the population is so thick with these birds, as I personally have experienced. The image here shows the Bell Miner removing delicious lerps from the leaf. It is like sugar candy to the birds, most small forest passerines (perching birds) love it and it is a great food supplement for honeyeaters when nectar and pollen are scant.

Notice the brown dead spots on the leaves in above photo and video clip below where the larvae were present and the acid they excrete have killed the part of the leaf where it once was, thus making the tree more vulnerable to eventual disease and dieback. It is amazing how aggressive and brave these small honeyeaters are when they group together in a pack formation, in a similar way to their cousin the Noisy Miner.

We were told by some birders we met where to find the Scarlet Robin. When we arrived at the place we found three birders with long lenses pointing them into the pines along the pathway as we saw both male and female Scarlet Robin flying from branch to ground and back to branch, as they feed on insects mainly from the ground.

My second book Flight of a Fledgling explains the difference between the English Red Robin and our several species of red Robins and how we need to understand how we use our words in relation to the important personal quality regarding ones integrity of their character. Click on the image below to find out more.

Another birder tipped us off to this pair of Tawny Frogmouth sleeping on a near the road. Many people mistaken the bird for an Owl, which it is not, though it has many characteristics of one, it lacks important features. If you want to know why they are different birds I explain it in my popular book ‘What Birds Teach Us‘ and explain how we need to understand and research the truth about things we do not know about rather than assume and make blind judgements just from out blind observation. Click on the image below to find out more.

One of the features why many enjoy birding, in addition to it being a healthy enjoyable past time, is the fact that on each birding event, you never know what birds, animals or flowers you may encounter. While there are resident territorial birds in each area which may be present on most occasions, there are also migratory and nomadic birds which may or may not be present depending on the time of year or as we found with the Swift Parrots, we may see many one day and none the next, since these birds follow their food sources and the leader of their flock.

If we go out expecting to find a particular species in an area but do not, how do we respond to that ? Ae we disappointed or even angry or do we enjoy the the experiences as fresh and new each time, happy to receive what our Creator God grants us on each occasion, out of his grace and love for us ?

As many of my long term Followers to my posts know, my wife often prays on our birding dates when there appear to be few birds, asking our loving Father in Heaven to reveal His gifts to us uttering a short prayer: ‘Heavenly Father what gifts have you got here for us today ?’. He never disappoints when he hears that prayer, as my wife will concur. This is what Jesus told his disciples who were learning to trust him for everything they needed in their lives:

“Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” – John 16:23,24 (NIV)

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” – Philippians 4:12

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Adv. Dip. in Counselling and Family Therapy.

Member of Birdlife Australia

To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

And learn from them how to live a healthy and happy life.

NOTE: All photos, videos and music used on this website are photographed, composed, performed  by the site owner and remains his copyrighted property, unless otherwise stated. The use of any material that is not original material of the site owner is duly acknowledged as such. © W. A. Hewson 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.