aussiebirder

We finally received a beautiful Autumn day amid the preceding unpredictable weather, so my wife and I decided on a birding lunch date in our local Royal National Park with our turkey and cranny rolls. We had only just sat down on a seat by the river’s edge and this beautiful Azure Kingfisher landed on a branch about 2 metres from us. It just sat brilliant in the sunlight looking at us and bobbing its head as they do to maintain their focus. It was not peering at the river but at us. I could not believe my eyes. Here I was unarmed with my camera in the car only two mitres away. I carefully went to the car and returned but alas it had flown down the river. I looked down the river and there it was looking into the river so this is what I caught. Click on image to enlarge it.

These cute tiny birds with tiny delicate feet fly up and down the river each day, nesting in the river bank. They feed mostly on small fish and insects. They have extremely accurate binocular vision which is able to correct for the refraction of the water, allowing it to fly with great speed into the water and catch its prey. It often returns to the same branch which is usually hanging over the river.

One of the reasons there are less birds at this time of year is that the nectar producing flowers are very few as the bush rests from a busy Spring and Summer. Above are the main Autumn flowers we saw. The Mountain Devil is an important little red flower, especially to the Eastern Spinebill. Thankfully, different species of Banksia, a most important staple for nectar in the bush, flower at different times. Banksia spinulosa is currently flowering while Banksia ericifolia and Banksia serrata have a rest.

Other small birds typically seen here this time of year that we saw were the Eastern Whipbird, Brown Thornbill and Rufous and Grey Fantails. It was unusual to find this Yellow Thornbill this close to the coast, but it was certainly bright yellow, though it did not stay still long enough for a better shot.

It is always a a laugh when we see an immature Laughing Kookaburra learning its laugh or call. Similar to most immature birds, learning to preform the adult call of their species takes training and much practice, as it does when learning to speak or play a musical instrument. Listen to its attempts.

If you have not heard or seen a male Eastern Whipbird in action here is a good example of one. Immediately after the whip sound you will hear the ‘chick-a-chick’ of the female response. She is nearby.

You can learn more about this bird in my book “What Birds Teach Us”. Click on the image below to find out more.

Have a wonderful week ! We are moving closer to the publish date of my third book. Here is a promo

If you would like to learn more about how we can learn from the birds how to live a more stress free and peace filled joyful life: CLICK HERE

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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, 2026