Between Christmas and New Year’s Eve we just wanted to get out of the house and be out in the fresh air again, so my wife and I took off to the Nasho for our last walk of the year. Time to reflect and project into the coming new year, seeking our all wise God’s direction. It was a lovely warm day, not too hot for a change, and no one much was on the track to our surprise, as many were preparing for the coming celebrations into 2026. We were delighted to see male and female of both species of Fairy-wren found in the park by the river, the Superb Fairy-wren and less common Variegated Fairy-wren with both males in their beautiful Summer breeding plumage. Click on images to enlarge them.

male Superb Fairy-wren
female Superb Fairy-wren

The male Variegated is much brighter iridescent blue in appearance and the female has a blue tail and a deep chestnut facial eye mask.

male Variegated Fairy-wren
female Variegated Fairy-wren

It was relatively quiet walking along the track with the occasional call of the Lewin’s Honeyeater warning everyone of our presence. This is our most common east coast rainforest honeyeater.

Lewin’s Honeyeater

To my alarm I almost stepped on a small juvenile Lace Monitor as it moved across the track. It did not seem afraid as the very large adult monitors are. These lizards grow to about 1.5 to 2 metres long and weigh up to 20kg or more. They are one of Australia’s largest lizards, similar to the size of the Yellow Spotted Monitor we saw up in Morton, Cape York, QLD. It is quite a shock to meet one

Probably our most surprising and exciting find by my wife was this Green Catbird foraging alone quietly by the track in the bush, something which is quite unexpected of this bird. These birds have a very peculiar call like a cat growling or baby crying. Like the Australian Magpie they also have the unique dual syrinx allowing them to make two sounds at once. This gives the stereo almost musical sound to their call. I did not manage to get a shot of its brilliant green back plumage. The Catbird is a member of the Bowerbird family.

Green Catbird

For those who have not heard their call here is a sample from a previous walk.

It was lovely to see the Banksia flower heads replenishing again giving food to the honeyeaters as there has been an absence of wild flowers in the last few weeks. But the Pine-leafed Geebung flower (seen here) are all out and looking beautiful again. I always love to see this flower each Summer as it brightens us the flowerless forest when the sunlight makes it glow.

Two other young birds we saw were this juvenile Dollarbird recently a product of this Spring, since the Dollarbird migrate here to breed and return during our winter north. We also saw a Sacred Kingfisher alarming high in a tree but could not determine the cause, not sure if it had its nest raided.

juvenile Dollarbird
Sacred Kingfisher

That’s all for this week as we are now into the new year. May you all enjoy a prosperous and healthy 2026 and may you be blessed with many unusual and exciting bird sightings.

Here is the best way to face the many uncertainties in these Last Days as we enter the unknown of 2026 (Climate Changing; atypical weather, nations at war and in threatening unrest; increased crime and lack of respect and kindness; waning love for God and people). Jesus warned that when we see these things happening we are close. Jesus said in these days everyone would cry “Peace !” but there would be none apparent, especially within ones heart where fear and anxiety lurk. To know the love of God through Jesus via the Holy Spirit is the only true sustaining peace we can know:

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Posted on 15 By aussiebirder Australian Birds Posted in Australian Birds Tagged #, , , , , , , , , , ,
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aussiebirder

My wife and I share a love of bird observing and bird photography which takes us all over Australia. We love sharing our experiences. Birds live in the beautiful parts of our country. We always get blessed with beautiful gifts of new birds and unexpected experiences each time we go out birding or just walking in the parks and reserves in our wonderful land. We love Australia, and the variety that each state and region offers in its wildlife and nature aspects. Join us in sharing our love. We have always found other birders enthusiastic and friendly people who appreciate the good things in life.

15 Comments »

  1. Hello Ashley,
    Sitting in the sweltering 40+c day today, and thinking how nice it would be to be able to walk amongst the cool shade of the bush.
    We came home the other day after working with a couple of recently fledged Brown Falcons, and like your young Lace Monitor they had yet to develop an awareness of humans.
    I’m pretty sure there is a verse or two about the trust that children have, and these young ones were so busy learning the skills and craft of their kind that everything was interesting and had to be examined.

    Made me ponder, as you suggest about where 2026 will take us and how we can keep ourselves in tune with the wonderful natural world around us.

    Best for 2026 and hope to see more of your insights for the year.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks David for your kind comments and intuitive wisdom. Yes the simple trust and sense of safety that young wild birds experience when we are in their presence is a great delight. Our young Magpie stays behind and is curious about me allowing me to watch him bathe when his parents have flown off. He has even followed me in the court yard. My Butcherbird male is calling to me as write these words. They usually sing after their drink and wash. What a treat to be up close to those young Falcons. I think the Brown Falcon is a beautiful bird when the sun captures its feathers in flight. We had a sample of the heat again today but only 33°C here which is hot enough, though our 40°C + is coming in a few days. All the very best to you and your wife for the new year and looking forward to more of your amazing photo moments and quality captures.

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    • Thanks Deborah, we always love seeing these birds when they are out and about, especially the Variegated Fairy-wren and Catbird. Though we usually find the Catbird by its loud cat-like call but not in this case as it was quietly foraging alone.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I just love the Fairy Wrens and the Honey Eaters, AB – i’m not sure we have either in North America. And what an interesting treat to find a Green Catbird! We have the Gray Catbird, which is beautiful and truly makes a cat like sound, but I had no idea there was a Green Catbird. I’m glad you missed stepping on the monitor! How large is it and is it dangerous for humans?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks BJ, yes the Fairy-wrens are very popular and beautiful little birds here. You may not have Fairy-wrens but your Hummingbird is a honeyeater and has been found to really enjoy some of our native wild flowers also when people in your country have surveyed. We have about 74 species of honeyeater which is probably the most in one country. We have the Green and the less common and more elusive Spotted Catbird in the far northern rainforests. We saw both last year and both are green and spotted so the name just differentiates the species. Have a wonderful New Year my friend. It is always a delight to communicate with you, it always brings a joy to my spirit for some reason.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Hello Ash,
    A very Happy and Blessed New Year to you and your wife.
    You make the perfect team, your wife’s sharp eyes spotted many beautiful birds and you were able to photograph them beautifully☺️

    Like you, we feel the necessity to clear our heads and spend time in Nature. My husband & I look forward to our first birding date tomorrow. May you have a blessed week ahead.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks Takami, so glad you are both going to enjoy a birding date tomorrow, we so love that it is more than just birding but time to enjoy a meal or coffee out and chat about our life and things we can appreciate together often with spontaneous prayers and thanksgivings being offered up as we walk through the park. Praying you both enjoy a wonderful new season of blessing and prosperity in all areas of life.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Lovely photos Ashley. I also found it quiet out and about in nature over the Christmas and New Year period. I love the sound of the green catbird, it certainly does sound like a baby crying! Happy New Year!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks Sue, hope you have an enjoyable and prosperous New Year in all areas of life. So glad you also enjoyed a quiet moment out and about over the crazy celebration period. We always get excited when we hear the Catbird calling. It is usually being chased by another bird when it cries, or when it is a youngster it calls continuously.

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