Rainforests | aussiebirder

Black-shouldered Kite

Australia is blessed with many different species of raptor. Raptors are probably the most popular birds photographed, and many birders only seek to photograph these bird species.. Since birding was not an option this week due to weather, and simply not seeing many at all in the forest on our birding date, I thought it good to showcase some of our beautiful raptors. These exceptional birds are the kings of the sky and their image is used to denote power and authority in defence forces, police and governments. Above a Black=shouldered Kite alights from the top of a dead tree. Let me list some of the important traits that group these amazing birds into a unique and beautiful class of their own.

Very elderly Wedge-tailed Eagle

⇒ They have the keenest and sharpest eyesight of any creature: They can see small rodents over one kilometre away and most of them, such as the Wedge-tailed eagle have, not only binocular vision, but also telescopic vision, as they are able to press out their eye socket in a way that zooms their eyesight making it over 5 times better than our own.

Wedge-tailed Eagle about to land on prey

⇒ They have powerful retractable talons: Unlike other birds they do not only have claws, but they have large scissor-sharp talons controlled by powerful muscles in their feet which they can advance and retract. This is how they kill their pray and carry it in the air. The Osprey has very unique talons designed for carrying fish with opposing toes. Wedge-tailed Eagles have been seen carrying in flight small lambs and and even young wallabies. Click on photos to enlarge them.

Sea-Eagle with fish

Eastern Osprey with fish

⇒ They have very strong hooked beaks: The hook on the beak allows them to tear flesh off their prey, which for the most part if smaller animals and birds. They lack teeth and have to break off pieces small enough to swallow whole.

White-bellied Sea-Eagle beak

⇒ They have very large wingspans which enable them to soar: One of the features of these birds similar to many other birds is their ability to catch the warm upper currents off land (called thermals) and once they reach a certain height using their powerful wing beats, they spread their wings and soar motionless with the winds up to 2000 meters, usually going up in a circular trajectory. This a good reason why keen eyesight is essential for these birds to be able to spot their prey from high in the sky. Not all raptors prefer this technique, but most can do it. They can move and turn in the air with barely a visible movement. The conservation of energy as they aeronautically soar on the thermals allows them to spend hours in the sky, but they can only do this by day..

Square-tailed Kite

⇒ They primarily prefer to hunt alone and prefer a very high 360° view when resting: Mostly lone hunters, though when breeding are training young they will accompany spouse and young. The place to look for these birds is usually on the highest point of a dead tree, or even green tree, when they are resting, as they like to purvey their complete surroundings, like a king surveying his kingdom, able to spot prey from some distance away.

Australian Hobby

⇔ They build some of the largest nests: Some Eagles build nests that weigh several tons and are many metres wide and deep. Our Wedge-tailed Eagle and White-bellied Sea-Eagle, being our largest raptors, build the largest in Australia. Here is a link reporting one of the largest reported from the USA.

A Wedge-tailed Eagle eyrie (with chicks in nest)

White-bellied Sea-Eagle eyrie (chicks just visible

⇒ They train their young for several years in every aspect of life: This not so for all raptors, but is for the larger eagles, however they require persistent adult teaching to learn to fly and hunt. Much of their learning is simple observation and listening, as it is for us. Adult eagles are known to push their young out of the nest if they do not brave it themselves, when they think they should.

Initially parent flies beneath fledgling

when the fledgling has fledged the adult leads it away

This is where the phrase “I carried you on eagles wings” (Exodus 19:4) comes from in the Bible, when God was referring to Israel being delivered from Egypt’s slavery. After pushing the youngster out of the nest, the adult flies rapidly beneath it. If it fails to fly it catches it on is back and wings it back to the nest to try again, as many times as it takes. Finally, as the youngster starts to fly of its own accord,it flies beneath the youngster until it can fly alone, and then leads it away to strengthen its wings in flight. These photos and this training process, among others appear in my first book. Notice in the above LH photo how the youngster looks down to check the parent is there.

⇒ They can deliberately hatch their young at different times: Most raptors, in particular eagles, usually only have one to three offspring at a time, and only two out of three may survive. This is because the mother deliberately lays her eggs 2 to 4 days apart, so they each are born larger than the hatching that follows. This can lead to the smallest becoming the weakest due to feeding priority given to the larger birds, and often the first born will compete for food being stronger, causing the youngest to eventually die. Because of the amount of hands on effort in feeding, teaching and raring the young for several years, it is to their advantage to raise only one healthy youngster in each clutch. Even though the juveniles are fully fledged, they continue to need feeding for some time till they learn to successfully catch their own without help, as it is with us training a child to use a knife and fork.

⇒ They are mostly monogamous: Most raptors spend their lives with the one mate and raise their families together. If a mate dies they may go looking for a replacement and continue breeding. It is not uncommon to see pairs of adults and junior tagging along as they soar on the thermals.

Sea-Eagle family out touring together

family of Black Kites (2 adults+2 juveniles LHS)

⇒ They vary between species in size and hunting methods: While the larger eagles and kites swoop down on their prey at speed from a distance above or from the top of a dead tree, Smaller Goshawks, Kestrels and Black-shouldered Kites hover above waiting for their prey to appear and then suddenly descend on it from above. Pacific Baza fly into the trees and catch their prey as they fly through. Harriers fly very low over the ground and drop suddenly down on their quarry. A Black-shouldered Kite shows us (below) an example of hovering over prey, but alas on a very cloudy day.

⇒ They have beautiful distinctive plumage: The main form of identification of these birds when they are soaring is their specific under wing plumage, as this may be all you see. Here are some examples…

Little Eagle light morph

Whistling Kite

Wedge-tailed Eagle

White-bellied Sea Eagle

Brahminy Kite

Nankeen Kestrel

Red Goshawk

Eastern Osprey

Black-breasted Buzzard or Kite

Black Kite (which is actually brown in colour)

Spotted Harrier “Harriering” low over the paddocks

Swamp Harrier male

Pacific Baza flying into trees (hunting style)

Brown Goshawk juvenile

Collared Sparrowhawk

Grey Goshawk

Brown Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

That is enough raptors for this week, otherwise you will be raptored out. This is a summary of the kings of the sky by day. Part 2 will look at the kings of the sky by night, the eagles of the night we know as owls.

Hope you all have an enjoyable week despite all the hardships that many of you are going through at present with both weather and virus. Praying you all keep alert and well during this unusual season in our history. Many have shared how bird numbers are reduced this season.

If this is your first visit to my blog, a warm welcome to you. Have a look around on my website pages from my menu or Home Page. I have updated several pages recently. Check out my book, I am the final stages of publishing process of my next book. Here is a last plug for my current one on an unused clip I found.

Here is a joke a dear friend shared on Facebook I am sure the ladies will appreciate:

White-bellied Sea Eagle – hunting instructor

Raptors carry an air of majesty and authority in the way they do life, which makes them the ideal emblem for use on law enforcement and defense force coats of arm. Their ability to soar for hours motionless, yet always moving with outspread wings is always a delight for every birder and for many who are enchanted by their presence. The raptor has the best of everything, eyesight, powerful body, hunting ability, is omnivorous to name a few. But as I shared above, and from my book (page example shown above earlier), the more complex, intelligent and able the creature, the more learning and listening is required of the trainee nestling and fledgling. These birds, similar to the Raven, Magpie, Bowerbird and Lyrebird take several years of training before they gain their full maturity colours and can breed. It is also interesting from recent research and personal observation that in a similar way to us humans there are good and poor learners with varying results of success in life.

The White-bellied Sea Eagle perched above has been trying to get its juvenile fledgling to hunt for itself, but it just remains in the nest squawking to be fed. The boat captain on the Arthur River laughingly said that these parents have been endlessly trying by example, to make this reluctant youngster hunt for itself. The video above shows the father adult catching a fish and carrying it away from the nest out of sight to eat it. This is followed by the juvenile trying to follow, but stops when it loses sight of it. This is old movie so it lacks quality.

reluctant juvenile pupil

Simply put the lesson is: no matter how well we may parent and set a good example for our children, it is ultimately up to the child what they choose to learn from and respect. Many hurting parents have shared their false guilt over how they blame themselves for their children not turning out the way they had hoped, after much loving commitment to their development and instruction. Each of us are ultimately responsible for our own destiny, and what we do with what we have been given. It is the hardest thing for many to allow their child to suffer the consequences for their bad decisions, but it is important that they learn for themselves and sometimes the hard way. We need to always show them love, acceptance and forgiveness , sharing our concern, but always letting them live their own lives and not try saving them, as this is also part of their normal growth and maturity Often they will have a light bulb moment and realize the error of their ways and apologise to the parents down the track. Many children become spoilt and dependent on parents, who eventually become co dependent to the child’s carelessness, bailing them out and suffering the use and abuse syndrome, with the child never maturing or learning to correct their bad habits.

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” – Proverbs 1: 8,9 (NIV)

“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.” – Proverbs 29:17

^“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” – 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

So we can 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.

It was mid-week and my wife and I decided to have a birding date preceded by a lovely breakfast at the local Nasho cafe before our rainforest walk, as we expected their would be less walkers and riders on the tracks, which to our delight was the case, in the early part. We met several couples, like ourselves, and some birders, enjoying a stroll along the track, which brought to our attention this Collared Sparrow-hawk while chatting.

It was quiet, but for some pockets of cicadas, which had driven many songbirds deeper into the forest, because of their loud incessant noise. Many birds had also finished nesting and are fledged, so their parents had become quieter. This was the first warm day we had in a week of most unseasonable cold, wet windy weather. We came across this Red-browed Finch, one of the Firetails, which could be called Red-browed Firetail, as you can see below. This little guy was using a small tree to position a blade of grass seed while he ate from it.

Extracting the seed

The firetail displayed

We just loved its little expressions as it wondered what we were up to watching.

Further on this female Superb Fairy-wren was preening in the sun. The male kept out of sight from us. The female is the unattractive one in the species and does not change its plumage during breeding like the male. This of course is of great value in keeping hidden from predators when nesting. Click a photo to enlarge.

To our delight I spotted the Rufous Fantail again. It has appeared now that several families of this bird, which mainly see in Winter for a few of weeks are now residing here, possibly because of destruction of habitat by devastating 2020 bushfires. It is always a buzz to both capture this bird in bright sunlight and while not moving around too much, both seldom occur.

As we approached the picnic clearing this Eastern Water Dragon was sunning himself on one of the seats. Males have a rufous chest that becomes bright red during breeding season.

As we walked further, one of the walkers was photographing this Short-nosed Echidna foraging by the track. These unusual monotremes, of which the Platypus is the other, are the only mammals that lay eggs outside their body.

These creatures were called Spiny Ant-eaters and are not at all a kind of Porcupine. The echidna has spines like a porcupine, a beak like a bird, a pouch like a kangaroo, and lays eggs like a reptile. What an interesting creature.

As we walked on I heard the chime of the King Parrot as he hid in the dark of a tree, but I managed to enhance his appearance for you.

King Parrot male

Finally, we saw a pair of juvenile Pacific Baza resting in trees high on the side of the track. The rufous neck markings indicate their immaturity. We have seen Baza here a year ago being harassed by Noisy Miners. However, the main diet of Baza or Crested Hawk as they are also known because of their head dress, is large insects, frogs and native fruits.

They have an unusual hunting technique whereby they fly into trees and catch prey as they move rapidly through the canopy. Here are some flight shots we managed to catch. Remember that these have had to be lightened up because of the dark under-story.

Though we did not see or hear as many species as usual on this walk, we were delightfully rewarded with some special moments, for which we are truly grateful.

Have a most enjoyable week. I have noticed our northern friends are experiencing extremely cold conditions at present, which in itself is a challenge apart from the Covid. We pray you all stay well through this season. We have been experiencing a colder and wetter Summer in contrast to the drought, heatwaves and bushfires this time last year. If this is your first visit to my Blog and Website, Welcome. Check out my Menu at the top of this page. Some of my pages have been recently updated. Don’t forget fellow Aussies to keep your birdbaths filled and cleaned, especially during the Summer months when you can enjoy your local birds calling around for a wash and a drink. To find our more about birdbaths Click here.

I was walking in my local park yesterday and sighted several immature Magpies. One of a pair was acting strangely. After walking about foraging it simply laid down by the track, unperturbed by my close presence. A little time later I found it in this position, which was even stranger. Was it sick or wounded, I did not know? Its sibling seemed to continue foraging normally.

It just lay peering into the weeds. Birds are known to lie down and spread their wings in the sun, but it was not doing this, and it was not sunny. It also occurred the bird may have just been resting in an unusual manner, or maybe It may not have been successful in its foraging and was undernourished. Such thoughts came and went. Many times when we hear and see people do things out of character we easily make judgments based on what we know or think when the person may be having a difficult or stressful time and just need some encouragement and someone to ask “How are you going ?” Just listening to a person share their pain and their story actually lowers their stress level and helps them process their thoughts, which gives better understanding to both them and yourself. A life can be saved simply taking the time, when we see someone acting out of character and removed and quiet, by asking and listening.

“let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—” – Proverbs 1:5

“To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.” – Proverbs 18:13

<<< Back To Top of Page >>>

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

So we can 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.

During the Australia Day weekend, we were away visiting family and friends up the coast in the area I lived and worked in before meeting my wife. We enjoyed quality time with people rather than birds on this occasion and relaxed enjoying the beautiful coastal area and a special time with my children and grandchildren whom I seldom get to see. After lunch we walked along a bush track to the surf beach, where I photographed my first bird in two days, this White-bellied Sea-Eagle. My daughter spotted it flying overhead, but I was only able to catch it flying off along the coast on its regular daily run.

Nine years before when I lived on the headland just down the coast from where we stood and was known in the small town by several people to have a ‘wild pet eagle’. This was because whenever this one particular eagle appeared it would always find me and remain above my head, so I would often get a call from someone when swimming or just on the beach: “Ashley your eagle is here !” and I would look up and there in the strong afternoon wind this eagle, without moving its wings at all, would remain dormant above my head some thirty to fifty feet.

As soon as I pick up my camera, it would just let the wind take it away, again without a any apparent movement of wing. This is the eagle featured in my book as it was doing its cliff run.

I remember on one occasions hiding in the bushes at the edge of the cliff hoping to catch it coming around the cliff without it knowing, but with its eagle eyesight (over 5 times better than ours) it flew directly to me and again hovered without wing movement as it looked into the bush where I thought I was hiding. After about seven seconds it continued its journey around the headland.

I would often see it returning with a fish for the nest, but the light would often be in the wrong place for the photo, which had to be taken immediately.

Sea-Eagle with fish

On our return we heard Little Wattlebirds and Noisy Miners. As we were about to leave my daughter’s family, our golden photo moment occurred. This was in fact the only real moment where we actually had a decent opportunity placed before our eyes. High at the top of dead branches in a nearby tree was a family of Australasian Figbird catching the afternoon breeze on this very hot Summer day.

These birds are in plenteous number here as there is much rainforest and many species of fruiting native fig trees, which causes them to often get high on the figs in a feeding frenzy as they compete for the ripest fruit. The male has a distinct reddish eye ring of bare skin and light green plumage and the female and juveniles, a brown flecked chest with brownish primary plumage.

Notice below the young males forming their eye ring, being pink and not yet red, and their plumage changing from that of their mothers. The young females have a bluish eye ring of bare skin and brown plumage, and can be difficult to tell the mum from the kids. The female looks very similar to the female and juvenile Oriole but lacks its red eye. Here is a closer comparison:

A teenage male takes flight, creating interest to the observing family.

The female calls as a male looks on:

Their call is usually heard with many birds calling at the same time and moving rapidly around the upper canopy of the fig tree, however they are resting at present. Even when we went further up the coast and dropped in on a longtime friend from my school days and visited the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, where my book is sold, we did not see any birds we could capture. The very windy weather there caused many birds to be quieter than usual, which made them all the more difficult to see in the dark rainforest foliage. The Catbird my wife saw was extremely elusive as usual. On arrival we discovered that all of my books had sold out in their shop, so I was able to replenish their stock for them.

The rainforest walk was very busy over the holiday weekend, and especially since most all of our state’s people are reduced to holidaying only in our own state during Covid, due to border closures. Here are some of the examples of the rainforest trees. Notice this Strangler Fig which has completely taken over the host tree.

Strangler Fig grows around host tree

Eventually the host dies and the Strangler Fig remains

This palm forest:

I love the way the light breaks through breaks in the canopy:

Oh yes, we did see this lizard:

You may be left wondering why I posted my hero photo with a caption, and with the words of Henry Ford, inventor and innovator of the first world car and of the car production line. He was a perfectionist and believed in quality and efficiency every time. For example, if the company did not produce good leather for the seats, he bought the cattle and the tannery and brought it up to scratch. His famous saying was when people started asking for different coloured T model Fords: ‘You can have any colour you like, providing it is black.” When you discover what Henry Ford went through to achieve what he did, and especially during the war years, you can appreciate his encouraging statement at the top of this page.

Part of his success was because he surrounded himself with people who shared the same values, and worked with him, and not against him. This has been the success of our state bringing the virus to no new cases for 11 days straight. But it will the take continuous vigilant co operation of everyone, for the virus to be kept in check.

“Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.” – Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 (NIV)

“Treat everyone you know as well as those you do not, with the same respect, care, compassion and consideration you give to yourself.” – Luke 10: 27b [Ash’s Interpretation]

Have a wonderful week and stay safe. If this is your first visit, welcome. Please check out the rest of my blogs and helpful information on birding and learning from the birds, accessible from my Home Page and Menu at top of page.

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

So we can 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.

Last Thursday I baked a batch of Anzac Bickies, you guessed it, for another birding date with my wife the following day. We decided to take a drive up on the Southern Highlands to visit Barren Grounds Nature reserve, as it has been some time since we visited. Last time many months ago, heavy rain had made the road impassible and we had to turn back.

This nature reserve consists of many acres of low lying dense heath-land, under which the rare and endangered Eastern Ground Parrot dwells, or is meant to be found, though many a birder has come here quite excited and left quite disappointed. It is by providence that any one sees it, and then it is usually a flash of green as it flies back under cover. As you can see it is a beautiful bird. Click here and see eBird’s photo. I have posted the Eastern Bristlebird, another rare and endangered species, here in previous years, but neither of these birds were found on this occasion.

Eastern Bristlebird @ Barren Grounds 2016

On arrival at the car park after out 2 hour drive we proceeded to set up for morning coffee and bickies in the picnic shelter provided. It was quite warm but a lovely cool breeze made it pleasant. As we sat and chatted we noticed no birds, only the monotonous sounds of cicadas, classic of January, which can cause many birds stress due to their very sensitive hearing. To our surprise and extreme delight this unusual bird appeared foraging about eight feet from us, and though it saw us, continued foraging nearby.

At first I spontaneously blurted out it was an immature Bowerbird, but my wife with her binoculars said it looked like a Bassian Thrush, which to our surprise it was. An extremely timid rainforest bird which is usually only seen in the dark depths of rainforest crossing the track, is here in broad daylight for us to see, on this dry scrubby heathland forest. We saw this as gift, an unexpected blessing from our Father. We managed to get many views as it moved around the car park and we followed. These birds are usually found foraging alone. It made no attempt to fly away, but just kept its safety exclusion zone.

Blending, blending, blending just stay still

If you blend in well enough you won’t be seen parking

They can’t see me Parking so I’m safe

You may have already noticed from viewing the above photos a feature of this birds plumage. Yes it is a work of intelligent design that it blend in with whatever background it forages in. Usually under normal circumstances this bird will completely freeze and remain amazingly still for minutes after it sees you, blending into the background with its camouflage plumage, in a similar way to the Australian Logrunner, featured in the first edition of my book. We just admired it beautiful plumage patterns.

Eventually we set out on our walk, checking for Bristlebirds in the usual places, but none found. We did hear many Little Wattlebird calling to each other in the usual form as throw their whole body into the call. I love how their tail rises and falls after each call. You may recall me mentioning that a birds voice box or syrinx is deep down at the bottom or base (not at the top like ours) of the trachea where the bronchi separate into the lungs. This is how small birds can make such loud calls, and even call with their mouth’s full.

Birds have a very unique uni-directional respiratory system that allows them consistent one directional flow of oxygen to their lungs, unlike our bi-directional, breathe in breathe out. Click here to learn more. This is how they maintain their body cooling system as well as being able to call continuously without exhausting themselves, as they contain, in addition to lungs, several air sacks around their whole body.

As we walked we were surprised by the absence of many birds we usually see here, especially the Eastern Yellow Robin who always greets us at the same spot along the track. But we were delighted to hear and finally see the male Rufous Whistler. Unfortunately he did not want his picture taken at this time.

Along the track we noticed these Christmas Bells still flowering which added a lovely dimension to the green. In a few months this track will be ablaze with wildflowers.

As we walked I noticed how quiet it was, no engine noises, and the total absence of people, how the cool breeze tempered the hot day so well for us, reducing the humidity and making it a most enjoyable experience.We also noted the edge of the heath land where we enjoyed this beautiful wall of delicate ferns.

We saw and heard several New Holland Honeyeaters feeding from the nectar rich blossom of eucalypt trees.

We also discovered this unusual fungi.

But it was more of a discovery to see this lone juvenile Eastern Spinebill, another honeyeater common to these parts, though we did not see its parents.

We decided to walk down a track where we last saw immature Gang Gang Cockatoos a year ago, but the many spider webs and absence of birds caused me to turn back onto the main track.

Moving further along the main track we sighted a Brown Thornbill, but in the diffused light was a challenge as usual.

Before turning around and coming back we heard and finally located this White-throated Treecreeper, always a difficult bird to photograph at any time, as they ascend the tree, usually on the dark side and look identical to the bark.

Compare the before and after post production lighting.

As we walked to the car we were delighted that our little Bassian friend was there still foraging, but also this lying with flies over it on the drive way of the carpark. A dead Copperhead Snake killed by a car that had recently parked on the other side of the carpark. My wife was concerned she would see this venomous snake along the track, as we know they are active here. It was good to see what it looks like.

Copperhead Snake head

Copperhead Snake

We made our way to a lovely cafe Raw & Wild at Bowral, where we had a most enjoyable lunch looking toward the mountain. On the return journey we stopped in at the Southern Highlands Visitor Information Centre at Mittagong, and established a new market there for my book. We returned home thankful for a most peaceful and enjoyable birding date.

Have an enjoyable week. We keep you in prayer, especially those in counties where the virus is out of control. It appears that we will be limited in our interstate and overseas birding pursuits for some time yet, so it teaches us to be thankful for our local birds.

If you have not already checked out my book or not seen the promo for the next one which is currently with the publisher click here.

Is function determined by one’s ability or one’s capacity to perform it ?

Capacity is inherent but ability is learnt, and is the developed use of capacity, so both together are important. Interesting enough, birds did not have the ability to grow wings and develop feathers and fused aerated bone structures so they could fly, they were given the capacity first, and then learnt the ability from their parents as nestlings. It is the same in our lives. Many of us never reach our full potential in life because we feel limited by our doubtful view of our capability and ability, and have not learnt to explore our true capabilities. Capability is the unrealized potential of our capacity. There are many true stories of people who, while they did not appear to have the capacity comparatively to achieve a particular accomplishment, believed that they would, against all odds, and with patient unrelenting training, defied the negative capability assessment of others, and developed their ability to achieve. The true story of Roger Bannister who first broke the 4 minute mile, when they said it could never be done. They said it wasn’t just dangerous it was impossible. This was portrayed in the movie Chariots of Fire.

We can only achieve what we believe. To doubt is to miss out.

Faith is such an important part of our daily lives. I will be dealing with the importance of it in my new book “Flight of a Fledgling” soon to be released. Many mistakenly think it only pertains to religious matters. Everything we do, every day, contains important elements of faith, without which, we would never survive. Roger Bannister combined his belief in himself with his belief in God (the source of all faith) to achieve the unthinkable as many have done previously and since then. By combining objective faith with unconditional love, based upon a firm hope for the future we can. These three are the very fabric of life and relationship as we know it.

“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” – 1 Corinthians 7

‘And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’ – 1 Corinthians 13:13

‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.’ – Hebrews 11:1

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

‘So we can 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.

Green Catbird

One of the features of a recent walk with my wife in our local Royal National Park (The Nasho) was that many of the birds we saw tended to be rather shy species which most walkers and cyclists would never see, even birdwatchers may have difficulty. Even if it was only several birds it was enough to delight us both, since a feature of birding is that you are always surprized each time you go out, as you never know what you will get, epitomized in Forrest Gump’s mum’s box of chocolate analogy. As we walked on this beautiful Summers day after a week of rain and cold winds, quite uncharacteristic of the time of year, we heard the classic catbird sound and looked up to get this unusually good footage in sunlight, of this most difficult rainforest bird.

We could see two of three Green Catbirds (an extremely shy and difficult bird to see amid the dark green canopy), loudly fleeing the opportunistic attack of a Pied Currawong which was pursuing the youngster in the family, leaving this one on watch. Eventually the Currawong left without a meal.

Green Catbird on Carrington Drive (best)

The Pied Currawong stealthily steals birds from many surrounding nests to feed its young, possibly taking at least 20 to 40 nestlings. It actually positions its nest after surveying the nesting population in a territory. As I have shown in previous posts they fight other Currawongs furiously for prime territories. The Second Edition of my current book features this bird as Opportunistic. That sneaky bright yellow eye will secretly peer at you waiting for the right opportunity to act.

Pied Currawong resting with prey in mouth

As we walked on I could hear the call of a Sacred Kingfisher next to its arboreal white ant nest, which they use, along with Kookaburras to nest in. They can be difficult to spot when they are sitting in the shade along the river’s edge. We would not have noticed it high in the tree had it not been yapping with its advertising call.

As we passed the palm forest we are always hopeful for the return of the rarely seen and most difficult to photograph beautiful Rufous Fantail, but again not found there today. But we did hear the melodic call of the Black-faced Monarch warning its mate which flew away. This shy, elusive rainforest bird which is here during Summer months, normally keeps out of sight. It freely preened as it did not notice us some distance away. Today we got some good views, rather than grainy shots hidden beneath dark canopies.

From the side of the track we saw a flash of red as a very small bird disappeared in among the grass, which we saw after much observation to be a Red-browed Finch feeding on grass seed. This flighty little bird remained for a short while as the flock fled.

Red-browed Finch feeding

Red-browed Finch

Of course the Golden Whistler male came and made himself known. Usually he is shy and keeps away and the female curiously comes for a look, but she may be with her young or in the nest. As the male hunts down the odd insect for his nearby nestlings. He is easy to find when he calls during Spring and Summer, but very quiet and elusive during the non nesting Winter months.

As we reached the end of our walk for the day we turned to walk back and there hanging off a tree was a young Lace Monitor sunning itself. This huge reptile is seldom seen, and always scurries away when spotted. He saw we were there but did not move at all.

Here’s a close up of his face…

On our walk back we saw another fast elusive small bird, the Brown Gerygone, a couple of juveniles which had not long left the nest, so they tended to rest, allowing us to a photo moment, more than their extremely active parents.

Of course the loud call of the White-throated Treecreeper is always a treat. The fun is in trying to locate the bird climbing the tree. It is so well camouflaged against the brown bark that most people hear the call of it ascending the tree, but never know where to look to find it. It is another mindful skill one gains over time. After reaching the top of the tree foraging for insects and grubs it flies to the foot of the next nearby tree and repeats the process.

As we walked on we saw this bird fly off under a bush several yards up ahead. I sensed from its profile it was the seldom sighted Wonga Pigeon, which puts out its loud monotonous call throughout the rainforest for hours at time. I managed to get this flash shot (I try to avoid flash photography with birds).

As many of you know, my wife often sends up a prayer during our walk asking our God if he has anything special to show us, which we are often rewarded with an unexpected bird sighting, and yes we did, we actually saw for the first time in over a year, one Rufous Fantail, which caused several passers bye to stop and enquire as they saw and heard our excited activity. We tried desperately to catch a glimpse and photograph this fast moving elusive bird when it came out of the bush into sunlight. This is all we got of any value:

For this we were truly grateful to our gracious Father, for we had not seen this bird all winter and believe many hundreds of these birds were lost while nesting down south during the horrific bushfires last year and early this year.

Thankfully we have sighted two families since, residing here now, away from the burnt bush down south. Though we have not been able to get them in the light to photograph. So we rejoice that at least these have survived to breed.

Have a most enjoyable week despite the circumstances we all share at this time, some more affected than others. As we move into a new year it seems like the beginning of the last all over again, but for the absence of extreme heat and bushfires.

However, one aspect to bear in mind is that ‘happiness’ depends on what is happening in current circumstances, where as joy is a much deeper more consistent attitude of one’s soul, which exists regardless of the circumstances. This is an aspect dealt with more fully in my next book “Flight of a Fledgling”, and again is something we can learn from birds. We now know from recent research that many songbirds as well as communicating with their song, also sing for the pure joy of it as it gives them a feel good release as endorphins are released in their brains, in a similar way when we laugh, encourage people, do spontaneous acts of kindness and also when we sing.

A male Golden Whistler joyously whistling

As mentioned on previous occasions, when we consistently choose to maintain a positive encouraging attitude of gratitude, we develop (hardwire into our personality) a joyous spirit or persona. This healthy state of mind and emotion actually improves overall health and longevity. To name a few, it improves our immune system, sleep, lowers stress, lowers blood pressure, releases feel good endorphins in the brain, endears us as a friend, makes us more creative and productive, enables us to better endure pain and misfortune, can maintain a more youthful appearance and make us feel more energetic. Smiling and laughter are part of this persona which also include the above benefits. The attitudes that work in reverse and are most unhealthy include unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness and unresolved anger. The greatest help that has been found to encourage a joyous state of being, is to have a firm and settled hope for the future through faith relationship with God our Creator Father. The efforts of modernism, secular humanism and political correctness to remove God from our vocabulary and life has only served to heighten the confusion, fear, anxiety and uncertainty many are currently experiencing.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine [brings healing], but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) – from King Solomon one of the world’s wisest and most successful of men.

“And forgive us our debts, [in the same way as we have forgiven others] as we also have forgiven our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12 – the reality and profundity of Jesus words is often missed when this prayer is repeated by rote. In other words a person will not feel or experience forgiveness from God through Jesus sacrifice on their behalf, if they refuse to forgive. Jesus explains in a parable that unforgiveness creates a prison of self torture. (see Matthew 18:34)

“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” – Job 19:25-27 – a most remarkable man in history who tragically lost everything, and suffered great loss, even his health was afflicted, but maintained his hope and faith and love, and later had everything restored to him in greater abundance than previously.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrew 11:1

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

‘So we can 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.

As time unrelentingly drives us into 2021 we all hope for a better year, but for many it is already appearing to look a lot like the last, as new spikes and clusters occur and restrictions are again enforced. The lone Royal Spoonbill stands high on a dead tree overlooking Lake Albert in Wagga Wagga pondering the New Year on its first day, as the wind blows through its breeding plumage.

The Australian Pelican joined the Spoonbill possibly curious as to what it was seeing up there, and then a pair came to also see, finally one left for the water, having failed to catch the Spoonbills vision.

What unknown events and experiences lie before each of us in this new age of uncertainty and rapidly changing circumstances, only time will tell ? Our year started with the morning chorus of the Australian eastern Magpie calling to another magpie from a nearby clan. This little guy is still immature and about 2 years old. Listen to the changes in vocal content communicated between the birds as these highly intelligent birds converse.

An older and younger Magpie greet us on New Years Morning

Later my wife’s niece showed us a walk along the Murrumbidgee River in Wagga Wagga where we saw beautiful old River Gums and a very large flock of Long-billed Corella grazing on the grassy horse paddocks nearby. These birds have become more frequent in eastern Australia in recent years and vary from the Little Corella (which we have at home) in that they have a longer beak, bright red lores and a red neck line marking. Similar to others of the Parrot family they pair for life.

Long-billed Corella

Pairs of Long bills

River Gum

This one caused me to consider on this first day as he scratched his head pensively while looking at me.

Young Nikki, my wife’s niece, has been confined to a wheel chair for several years and she said she would love to see a Sacred Kingfisher by the river. I sent up a silent prayer for one to appear, as we could hear one calling but could not see it, and one appeared to me on a branch just then on a nearby tree in the horse paddock, which was an instant delight to us all, as she viewed it through my wife’s binocs.

The local council had developed lovely walks and wetlands access to a portion of the river where we saw this small brood of juvenile Australasian Grebe with parent displaying breeding plumage.

My wife sighted a black snake swimming rapidly in the water nearby, but I was not able to capture a shot of it as it approached the grassy bank. Later returning to the lake we saw a pair of Galah, a bird commonly found in large flocks out west, another member of the Parrot family that pairs for life.

But the bird I wanted to see again was the Dusky Woodswallow which was nesting last time we visited and now has a couple of juvenile offspring which the parent guarded relentlessly, attacking approaching birds and even myself at times.

Dusky Woodswallow adult

juvenile Dusky Woodswallow

juvenile Dusky Woodswallows

juvenile Dusky Woodswallow

It was good also to review the PeeWee (Magpie-lark) family as we saw the mother with her hungry child. Notice the face markings, as these determine both sex and maturity.

Mother with hungry child

immature PeeWee waiting

mother and child PeeWee

Another bird we love seeing here are the Red-rumped Parrot pairs, and yes they were here by the river feeding on grass seed and resting in the shade with their young. The female is green with a green rump and the male has a beautiful iridescent turquoise head with a red rump. I was delighted to see a juvenile sitting with its mother in the shade, as well as an unusual view of an immature male sitting near a Little Friarbird in the shade..

adult wards me off from her youngster

mother and child

Male adult

Immature male resting with Little Friarbird

the parrot pair

Male Red-rumped Parrot

Female Red-rumped Parrot

Male returns to be with his wife

The tiny White-plumed Honeyeater, another bird we see inland here had a youngster also she was feeding.

gathering food

White-plumed Honeyeater with food

resting/rubbing ones head

mother feeding youngster

immature White-plumed Honeyeater

We saw a lone Little Friarbird, which is another honeyeater also quietly foraging.

Lastly the other bird we love to see here which is only found inland south, the Yellow Rosella which is strangely classified as the Yellow Crimson Rosella.

A wonderful New Years Day birding gift to start the year, for which we were truly thankful. There were of course other birds, but it just all gets to big to include them.

Have a lovely first week of 2021 as best you can considering the current circumstances.

If this is your first visit to my blog, you will find lots more interesting info on birding and bird behaviour in my web site pages and at my Home Page.

I will let you know more about my new book as we move through the publishing process in the month ahead.

One of the topics covered in my new book is about flying with purpose and the importance of using our time wisely by having good achievable life goals for each year. The adult Dusky Woodswallow below is flying with purpose to protect its offspring from intruders and possible predators. It is wise for me to have a sense of purpose and direction for this year, even though some areas are closed to me, such as school talks due to the continuing Covid. I seek the Lord’s guidance, since the manufacturer knows whats best for the product he has made, and it is wise to follow his instructions for a enjoyable and fulfilling life. Below are some words from one of the world’s wisest and wealthiest kings, Solomon, to take us into the new year:

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” – Proverbs 3: 5-8 (NIV)

Sadly, James the Just, brother to Jesus, wrote these words to people who had lost focus on their primary life goal and become selfish, self focused and distracted:

“You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” – James 4:2-3

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

‘So we can 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.

Thank you my dear friends for following my blog throughout turbulent 2020. This will my last word for the year. Interesting enough I went for a walk today to exercise, as Sydney is dealing currently with another Covid outbreak. After the rain and almost winter-like weather of the past few days it was very quiet in my local bush park, with very few birds and people. So I figured this last one will be simple and short. We are all very thankful that our government is very proactive and responsible to the health and well being of us all, and grateful that we have made it thus far in what is the most extraordinary year in our lifetime.

Australian Christmas Bush flowers

My Christmas card above features the Scarlet Honeyeater male, a bird that appears before Christmas, coinciding with the flowering of our native Christmas Bush, as well as, the call of the Eastern Koel in the early morning.

These among many other signs tells us that we approach the time for us all to kick back , relax and celebrate both the birth of Jesus and the coming new year, as we put the passing one behind. For many this will be a time of grief, suffering and sorrow. We pray for the comfort and recovery of the hundreds of thousands experiencing this in this moment. Every one of us has lost something or someone this year, we are all grieving at different levels. No one escaped loss, just as if it were a world war, and it is not over yet. As I walked along the quieter than usual bush track I stopped to watch and hear something very special and unique. A Grey Butcherbird conversing with a pair of Australian Magpies. In my recent studies and research I have learned that many of Australia’s intelligent birds can communicate between species, as they learn their languages by listening and observing intently. I apologise for the loud Cicada background, yet another sign of Australia’s bush Summer. I recorded this:

What one needs to be aware of it that the Butcherbird is quite capable of copying and speaking with the Magpie, as is the Magpie to the Butcherbird. The call of the Butcherbird in the above recording is not one of his usual Butcherbird calls, he is actually speaking in Magpie. For example, listen to this immature Butcherbird practicing, and recalling mimicry it has learnt from other birds.

This exercise between birds is not only good for improving relationships, but is very useful in times of emergency when either of the birds need assistance to locate and mob a common predator or warn to take flight. This brought me to think, what have we learnt this year? Great challenges are opportunity for greater learning.

Eleven lyrebirds around a small farm dam with smoke in the air.

Eleven lyrebirds can be seen in the image as a bushfire near Wollombi approached (Supplied: PJ Wallis for ABC News 30th Jan 2020)

Bushfire, drought, flood and Covid were all great challenges in 2020 from which many positive lessons were gleaned, to help us navigate the future. They rallied the community back to the mate-ship of the Aussie battler, that made Australia great back in our early post convict days when ex convict married ex convict and toughed it out in the bush to carve out a home and a family, because they could not afford to go back to Britain. My ancestors also married as ex convicts and established a town in NSW. For those interested rediscover the old the TV series “Against the Wind” to get an idea of the difficulties. These new settlers (all mostly ex convicts) learned to trust and assist each other through the difficult times of establishing a living from nothing, from which arose the Aussie mate-ship, which carried us into the world wars and helped make our nation famous for the ANZACS and the friendly warm helpful reputation we once received from other nations.

The Superb Lyrebird knew what to do to save itself from the firestorm, gathering their mates they fled to the dam. Many species managed to survive using amazing survival skills, learnt and possibly passed down from somewhere in the past.

The Australian Wood Duck has always survived well because both parents have their priorities always before them, keeping them faithful in both relationship with each other and care of the family. Many have rediscovered the importance of family and family relationships, and had to modify the importance of the peripheral things of life, such as job, possessions, sports and money, which for many had taken the place of THE most important – family relationships. The Covid made us all aware of our own fragile humanity, and that we are all vulnerable and all need each other to survive. We are not a rock or an island as Simon and Garfunkel once erroneously suggested. For our northern friends this song is set ‘in a deep and dark December’.

Thankfully we already had the technology to create such meeting places as Zoom to tide us over the Covid lock downs, and create new and more efficient ways to work from home, and have more family and home time. We began to carve out a new kind of normal. A list of new words arose which became common place in daily conversation, and a new awakened responsibility for one’s own health and the health of those in their daily life. The Australian White Ibis in my book “What Birds Teach Us” is an example of support, security and strength in community.

I wish you all a very enjoyable Christmas and a healthy, blessed and prosperous New Year. May it be better and may we all grow more resilient and mindfully learn to experience peace and contentment in what ever circumstance we find ourselves in so that we can be comfort and strength for others. Regardless of what popular opinion has become in recent years, and the removal of Christ from Christmas, he remains: The Reason for the Season. It still amazes me that one so loving and kind, who has brought so much good into our world and our culture, can be feared and despised by so many, even fear from declaring his name with respect, fear that even drives people to kill and injure people who love him and live the life of love he encourages, which continues to be the case in many countries in our world today.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3,4 (NIV)

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

‘So we can 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.

White-browed and Yellow-throated Scrubwren

Last week I needed a walk so I went into the darker part of the rainforest beneath the thick tall tree canopy of the Royal National Park, or Nasho to us. I was hoping to complete my walk before the the cloudy windy weather set in, but it came earlier than predicted, and suddenly dark the forest became. I did not see many birds on this occasion, and the photos I have featured here have all been light enhanced, so evidence of image noise will be apparent. With rainforest photos it is often unavoidable, especially when the sun is hiding. The one delightful find was to see several active White-browed Scrubwrens jumping, flitting and chattering loudly around about me, as if I was invisible. The icing on the cake was to find among them a different species we seldom see, the Yellow-throated Scrubwren (both pictured above). One little guy had an insect and was wanting to take it to its nest but would not move till I turned away, so as to keep the nest location secret.

Many of Australia’s rainforest birds spend their time foraging among the dense damp leaf litter on the dark forest floor. I would not have seen the Yellow-throated Scrubwren, and easily mistaken it for is cousin, had I not due to poor light, just taken images willy-nilly, as it was not till after post production at home that I detected the difference.

One of the features of the rainforest are the Bird’s Nest Fern, epiphytes found high up in the ancient tall straight rainforest trees, which some birds, have been known to nest in.

One of the most commonly seen birds in rainforests, the Eastern Yellow Robin will always make its presence known along the track, due to its curious nature, and the hope that as you walk you will turn up and disturb insects on the ground. I saw this guy for several minutes, but he sat in darkness, so most of my photos are of very poor quality. This Robin feeds primarily from the ground, diving on insects and worms, then returning with them to the same branch. This guy watched me from a distance, which was unusual.

This is how we usually like to see it, up close and personal. Notice its curious look…

Many of the tall rainforest trees here produce native fruits which provide food which is why most of the canopy dwelling birds, such as Top-knot Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-dove, Green Catbird and Satin Bowerbird are fruit eaters.

Topknot Pigeon

Male Satin Bowerbird

Female Satin Bowerbird

Green Catbird with fruit

They follow the fruiting trees feeding high out of sight above the canopy, and are seldom seen, just the sounds of falling fruit is heard. While these birds fly frequently, most of the forest floor foragers seldom need to fly. These include the Eastern Whipbird, Bassian Thrush, Australian Logrunner and Superb Lyrebird, all of which are found in the area I was walking. Here are photos from previous walk sightings here. Note the beautiful camouflage plumage of the Bassian Thrush and Logrunner. Both these birds stand perfectly still when they sense being observed, and so blend in well with their surroundings. Data from research on rainforests has stated that the foraging of Lyrebirds and other forest floor dwellers contributes to prevention of bushfires in forests they inhabit.

Bassian Thrush

Logrunner

Male Superb Lyrebird

Male Eastern Whipbird

The Wonga Pigeon is an exception to the other fruit eating pigeons in that it tends to forage on the forest floor similar to the other floor foragers, eating insects and fallen fruit. If you listened to my Avian Aria last week, this bird was the very first bird calling.

There are other birds that feed above rain forest canopy which include the Sulphur-crested and Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, but do not live in the forest, which is why they are not included. The featured birds above are the most common residents I see on my walks. The only way they can be noticed is usually by their call. If they remain silent you could walk through the forest and easily miss them as they are all good at camouflage and remaining still when observed. One unique bird which is heard loudly calling here, as it ascends the tree, and inhabits both lower and upper canopy areas, is the White-throated Treecreeper. Most untrained observers can never detect it, as it blends into the bark of the dark tree, and usually climbs on the dark side of the tree. This is a female, noted because of the orange ear marking.

Of the lower canopy feeders the Lewins Honeyeater (also a fruit and nectar eater) is the most common, along with the Scrubwrens (featured earlier) and the Brown Gerygone (featured last post).

For those who listened to my Avian Aria last post and tried guessing the bird calls click here for the answers.

I congratulate Sue from My Wild Australia blog for getting closest to the answer, well done Sue ! Check out Sue’s blog where she has recently been featuring beautiful and interesting birds and places in Tasmania.

Have a wonderful week and remember the perfect gift for your loved ones, to encourage them in birdwatching is only a few clicks away.

The encouraging news is that my next book is now with the publisher and on course for an early 2021 release.

A Big Thank You to the many loyal blog followers who have already purchased the book, and shared how they have enjoyed it. You can also read some of their reviews at the foot of the purchase page.

As mentioned above, one of the challenges of birding in rainforests is poor light, and the way birds either hide on the forest floor beneath bushes and palms or high up in and above the canopy, both very dark places for observation, even more so on an overcast day. Birds tend to move about more and call frequently when the weather is crisp, warm and sunny, with no more than a slight breeze. This enables the birds to see the colour of blossom and source their food more easily, communicating their whereabouts as they go. Birds tend to be much quieter and less detectable in very hot, windy or rainy weather. This is why we see less bird activity in the middle of the day during Summer months. Singing and moving about burns energy which creates heat, so many birds rest in shade and are quieter in the heat of the day, as was featured in my recent post. It is wise to conserve one’s energy and work with the current conditions or circumstances rather than angrily react against them, because they do not fulfill our immediate expectations.

Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring on the thermals.

Peace and contentment come from being able to appreciate and adjust to changing circumstances, just as the birds do and demonstrate so well. Character growth comes with challenges in life. A CEO of a very large successful company had a sign above his head, which said: “There is no such thing as problems or failures, only challenges and opportunities.” This immediately resets our attitude, re framing our mindset and placing us on a positive path to accept and work with the difficult aspects of our lives, presenting opportunities to learn and invent new ways and skills to adapt and achieve our goals.

“ I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” – Philippins 4:11-13 (NIV)

“Do not be angry and frustrated. Do not fret. That only leads to trouble.” – Psalms 37:8 (NET)

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

‘So we can 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.

Superb Lyrebird immature male

To mark the achievement of finally reaching the goal to publish my next book, which is now with the publisher for publishing early next year, I went for a mindful reflective walk to celebrate and give thanks for the Lord’s faithfulness for bringing it to pass amazingly in such a short time from the sales of the previous book, as he had assured me would occur. No better place than our local Nasho (The Royal NP). One of the topics covered in my new book is the healthy advantages of enjoying frequent Mindful Moments in our lives. So I decided to showcase a little of the rainforest vegetation and birds that afford me opportunity to embrace mindful moments, refreshing and revitalizing my spirit. If you have not already done so why not read my info on the scientific facts on the Benefits of Birding.

Before I entered the rainforest I was encouraged to see the Mountain Devil flowering again in the park after the drought, as it appeared to be absent the last few years. This is a significant mountain flower for long beaked honeyeaters during the winter months.

Sadly it was overcast and extremely glary with diffused light which affected all my high tree shots, requiring much post production. As I walked I heard the relentless call of an immature Sacred Kingfisher sitting beside the nest, which is inside a arboreal termite nest. I had been checking several nests on the way, and all in similar locations. Kookaburras and Kingfishers all use these nests for their own nests, poking entrance holes with their strong beaks.

calling upward

calling for food

resting

the nest

This what it sounded like:

Suddenly I was startled by a flash of bright red as a Eastern Crimson Rosella flew past and landed nearby. I had heard its chime earlier and now it had landed to see what I was up to.

Nearby a shy male Australian King Parrot rested, watching me out of the corner of his eye.

As I walked I heard a not so common bird calling and moving rapidly through the trees in a pair. At first I could not work out what it was, but as I listened I later realised it was a Brown Gerygone, one of the most difficult birds to get a decent photo of. It has a call much like its name sounding like: “geryg- onee”, but like many of our birds it has many variations of a theme.

Here is its call:

As I looked up higher I was delighted to see a Satin Flycatcher resting.

Then I heard the calls of the Lewins Honeyeater nearby, as they tend to come near to check me out and then give there loud staccato call.

Lewins Honeyeater

In the midst of all this activity a father and juvenile fledgling Golden Whistler were moving about undercover inside the darkness of some thick trees. I managed to detect them as they occasionally came into dappled light. Whistlers would have recently fledged their young, and this was the youngest I have seen of this bird still in its brown and white plumage. Junior was squeaking for food, and the father seemed to be escaping its calls as it relentlessly followed.

Father Golden Whistler

juvenile Golden Whistler

The Golden Whistler has many different tunes which he sings at various seasons and times of day, depending on what he is doing and who is with him, here is a small combo I heard from this bird:

Of course a Grey Fantail was not too far away and came to check me out as they do, right up close.

As I walked to one of my favorite spots I saw a fallen branch over the track. It had broken off the eucalypt tree during the recent strong winds, and to my intrigue I detected a large pile of honeycomb which had fallen with the beehive, which the bees appeared to be continuing to service. Dead bees laid there as well.

The sound of the busy little White-browed Scrubwren came to my attention from the nearby embankment as it foraged in a small hole observing me with interest. I love watching these little guys move about. It is possible that this little covered hole in the bank was a nest.

As I walked on I saw this very interesting sight. A palm growing out of the top of another tree. The tree may have been struck by lightning and the centre fallen out, but this had become a fertile place for this palm to thrive. It is not a an epiphyte like other rainforest plants such as Elkhorns and Staghorns, but normally grows on terra firma. It should become quite interesting and attractive in the next few years.

As I walked deeper into the forest I heard the sound of soil falling from the rock ledge above me. To my surprise it was a young male Superb Lyrebird, probably in its first year. I noticed the very bright rufous neck, and later the forming lyricals in very early stages. He was not afraid of me, which tells me he is young also, as males in particular are shy of humans. He cautiously walked along the ridge watching me follow him.

As I walked back to my car I heard a male Lyrebird performing (dancing to his own beat). This is the classic sound they make as they move back and forth opening and closing their wings when they display for a female they wish to mate with. I thought he is probably just practicing his routine, as the mating period is over now. I just manged to get a glimpse of him down by the river in the thick dark cover of a native fig. I shot some movie with much trouble as I could hardly see anything under the darkness.

The male tail

When I enhanced the movie I found that it was rare footage of a male performing for a female who seemed disinterested as she foraged. He has missed the boat as the breeding season ended early spring.

Finally, as I was about to leave I noticed the water lilies flowering again as they do each year on the Hacking River. Such a beautiful carpet of yellow flowers all open together.

Thank you for coming with me on this walk. Enjoy the week and get out in the fresh air among the trees and birds and experience your own Mindful Moment:

EXPRESS your gratitude and appreciation for the beauty and peace of the forest, allowing each of your senses to separately engage with the moment;

CARE-LESS meaning leave behind your cares and worries and let them fall to the ground around you as you enjoy your mindful moment. Thoughts of what others thinks, or what is currently on your mind worrying you – this is a time to not let these things intrude;

DE-STRESS by allowing your senses to earth you and allow this moment to relax you, lower your blood pressure, release feel good endorphins, and make you think of good things, being thankful for what you are experiencing without making any judgments, just allow yourself the gift of enjoyment;

REFRESH yourself as you consider how beautiful and amazing it all is. As you leave the place with a renewed vitality and peace. Give thanks for all you are and all you have to the One who gives life itself to everything. Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,” – Psalm 107:8 (NIV)

The good news is that my next book “Flight of a Fledgling” is with the publisher and being prepared for publication early 2021. I know many have been sportively encouraging this book along as it is packed with not only interesting facts about our birds, many from recent research, but life skills at a greater depth than the previous books, with a target reading age of 16 to adult focusing on the late teen and young adult leaving the nest, but with help for all ages.

Below is a sound file of Ashley’s Aussie Avian Aria. Silly as it sounds, it is a compilation of me making music with the birds. Listen to it and see how many different species of birds you can hear, and how many you can name. Next week I will give you answers. It is a bit tricky, but have ago and see what you come up with and write your answer somewhere or include it in your comment. You may be surprised !

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

‘So we can 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.

Last weekend my wife and I traveled to Canberra to visit family and enjoy a 16 course degustation dinner at an exclusive restaurant, by a hatted chef. On our way we stopped for lunch at Kiki’s in the Grove. This beautifully located cafe/restaurant is situated on a hill overlooking an olive grove on the Federal Highway, at Collector on te way to Canberra. Unexpectedly (the unexpected is normal when I am around) I found a new market for my book and all of 10 travelling copies were immediately consigned, as this shop has a large throughput due to its location and wonderful food and coffee, and best of all the owners loved my book. We were both delighted with this blessing, which would later be followed bu another.

While in Canberra we took a walk briefly through their Botanic Gardens, which we had visited some years ago. It was very busy as the locals were making the most of the Spring sunshine. On arrival, before alighting our car, we were greeted by a pair of chorusing Australian Magpie (‘eastern black-backed’ race tibicen), as they communicated to nearby clans. The Australian Magpie is unique in it has two separate sets of muscle in the syrinx allowing it to produce two separate sounds at the same time one to two octaves apart, which gives it the chorus effect. When a family of Magpies do this together as a chorus it can be threatening to other Magpies and birds as they mark their territory against impending intruders. The Magpie is not a bird to take lightly, it is not only very intelligent but very powerful, fast and with a beak that can inflict deep wounds.

As we toured the various types of gardens we noticed this male Satin Bowerbird moving about in the trees around us, watching our movements. I knew that there must be a bower nearby, so I tested my theory by pursuing it with my camera, and each time it would move.

After a few minutes I was able to roughly triangulate where I thought the bower would be located, of course it would be hidden out of sight beneath a bush.

Sadly it was a very poorly kept bower, quite pathetic to say the least, which would explain why the many females touring around were not entertained there. We could hear him practicing his repertoire inside the bush. Not long after we saw several females moving about, as there were several bowers in the gardens.

As we walked through the rainforest section we were greeted by the noisy incessant chatter of a family of White-browed Scrubwren, a tiny bird that spends most its time foraging under small bushes as it chatters along. This family had several young ones, all chattering to one another as they foraged quickly.

Another rainforest bird the Eastern Yellow Robin was sitting quietly alone in the dark shade of some thick trees. I was hoping for a flight shot, but not today.

As I watched the Robin I looked in the distance through a hole in the trees to detect a male Australian King Parrot feeding overexposed in the brilliant sunlight.

A White-throated Treecreeper was climbing nearby. Then I noticed they were a pair.

This Eastern Water Dragon caught the attention of a group of visitors.

But this heavily banded male Superb Fairy-wren took the cake. Have you ever seen so many bands on such a tiny delicate bird ? How on earth did they get them on it, surely it must be uncomforable.

Which leaves us with this series on the Eastern Spinebill, a small honeyeater.

The next morning I heard the loud raucous call of several Channel-billed Cuckoo being pursued relentlessly by my own local Noisy Miner coalition being headed up of course by ‘Noisy’ himself. They had been called in by the nesting Pied Currawong to mob these sneaking birds, as they attempted to do a switch on their eggs. Almost every morning this process takes place, with the alpha male Magpie often included. Here’s what I got, sadly it was a bright diffused cloudy sky, so much work had to be done to master the photos from the silhouette. It may be an adult and immature, the smaller certainly did not look like a juvenile.

One of the three, possibly the father Cuckoo confronted the angry Miner who was left to stand guard, as the others had left. If they try to leave the tree they were driven into, the Miner wil give a mobbing alarm and in seconds the other coalition members and resident Currawongs and possibly Magpies will be there like rockets to drive them out of their territory.

Recent research into bird behaviour, where birds learn the alarm and mobbing calls of other birds, to enlist their assistance to remove a common enemy, shows that many species that normally dwell in a given geographical area or territory, actually work together, as we do in our local towns and communities. I have noticed that even at the bird baths there order and respect for each local bird species that use it, is being maintained in recent months. We see daily on news reports the unsung heroes of people who step in to help people being attacked or robbed. They respond with no thought of the danger they could face, as these offenders are often armed and desperate. This is very inspiring to us and to our children, as love places itself selflessly between the victim and the perpetrator, with no other reason than to help a fellow human in their moment of distress.

“He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support.” – Psalm 18:18

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:18

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Have a wonderful week and stay safe. If this is your first visit to my blog, why not check out the rest of my birding website from my Home Page.

There is still a week for you to purchase the unique and beautifulbirdbook “What Birds Teach Us”, the perfect inexpensive Christmas gift, that will continue to give to its reader.

Error

This video doesn’t exist

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

‘So we can 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.

⇒ They have very strong hooked beaks: The hook on the beak allows them to tear flesh off their prey, which for the most part if smaller animals and birds. They lack teeth and have to break off pieces small enough to swallow whole.

⇒ They are mostly monogamous: Most raptors spend their lives with the one mate and raise their families together. If a mate dies they may go looking for a replacement and continue breeding. It is not uncommon to see pairs of adults and junior tagging along as they soar on the thermals.

⇒ They have beautiful distinctive plumage: The main form of identification of these birds when they are soaring is their specific under wing plumage, as this may be all you see. Here are some examples…

That is enough raptors for this week, otherwise you will be raptored out. This is a summary of the kings of the sky by day. Part 2 will look at the kings of the sky by night, the eagles of the night we know as owls.

Hope you all have an enjoyable week despite all the hardships that many of you are going through at present with both weather and virus. Praying you all keep alert and well during this unusual season in our history. Many have shared how bird numbers are reduced this season.

Here is a joke a dear friend shared on Facebook I am sure the ladies will appreciate:

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

So we can learn from them how to live a healthy and happy life.’

Share this:

Like this:

We just loved its little expressions as it wondered what we were up to watching.

As we approached the picnic clearing this Eastern Water Dragon was sunning himself on one of the seats. Males have a rufous chest that becomes bright red during breeding season.

As we walked further, one of the walkers was photographing this Short-nosed Echidna foraging by the track. These unusual monotremes, of which the Platypus is the other, are the only mammals that lay eggs outside their body.

These creatures were called Spiny Ant-eaters and are not at all a kind of Porcupine. The echidna has spines like a porcupine, a beak like a bird, a pouch like a kangaroo, and lays eggs like a reptile. What an interesting creature.

As we walked on I heard the chime of the King Parrot as he hid in the dark of a tree, but I managed to enhance his appearance for you.

They have an unusual hunting technique whereby they fly into trees and catch prey as they move rapidly through the canopy. Here are some flight shots we managed to catch. Remember that these have had to be lightened up because of the dark under-story.

Though we did not see or hear as many species as usual on this walk, we were delightfully rewarded with some special moments, for which we are truly grateful.

“let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—” – Proverbs 1:5

“To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.” – Proverbs 18:13

<<< Back To Top of Page >>>

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

So we can learn from them how to live a healthy and happy life.’

Share this:

Like this:

As soon as I pick up my camera, it would just let the wind take it away, again without a any apparent movement of wing. This is the eagle featured in my book as it was doing its cliff run.

I would often see it returning with a fish for the nest, but the light would often be in the wrong place for the photo, which had to be taken immediately.

A teenage male takes flight, creating interest to the observing family.

The female calls as a male looks on:

This palm forest:

I love the way the light breaks through breaks in the canopy:

Oh yes, we did see this lizard:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” – Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 (NIV)

“Treat everyone you know as well as those you do not, with the same respect, care, compassion and consideration you give to yourself.” – Luke 10: 27b [Ash’s Interpretation]

Have a wonderful week and stay safe. If this is your first visit, welcome. Please check out the rest of my blogs and helpful information on birding and learning from the birds, accessible from my Home Page and Menu at top of page.

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

So we can learn from them how to live a healthy and happy life.’

Share this:

Like this:

Along the track we noticed these Christmas Bells still flowering which added a lovely dimension to the green. In a few months this track will be ablaze with wildflowers.

We saw and heard several New Holland Honeyeaters feeding from the nectar rich blossom of eucalypt trees.

We also discovered this unusual fungi.

But it was more of a discovery to see this lone juvenile Eastern Spinebill, another honeyeater common to these parts, though we did not see its parents.

We decided to walk down a track where we last saw immature Gang Gang Cockatoos a year ago, but the many spider webs and absence of birds caused me to turn back onto the main track.

Moving further along the main track we sighted a Brown Thornbill, but in the diffused light was a challenge as usual.

Before turning around and coming back we heard and finally located this White-throated Treecreeper, always a difficult bird to photograph at any time, as they ascend the tree, usually on the dark side and look identical to the bark.

Compare the before and after post production lighting.

Have an enjoyable week. We keep you in prayer, especially those in counties where the virus is out of control. It appears that we will be limited in our interstate and overseas birding pursuits for some time yet, so it teaches us to be thankful for our local birds.

If you have not already checked out my book or not seen the promo for the next one which is currently with the publisher click here.

Is function determined by one’s ability or one’s capacity to perform it ?

We can only achieve what we believe. To doubt is to miss out.

“ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” – 1 Corinthians 7

‘And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’ – 1 Corinthians 13:13

‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.’ – Hebrews 11:1

W. A. Hewson (Adv. Dip. Counselling & Family Therapy).

‘To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

‘So we can learn from them how to live a healthy and happy life.’

Share this:

Like this:

We could see two of three Green Catbirds (an extremely shy and difficult bird to see amid the dark green canopy), loudly fleeing the opportunistic attack of a Pied Currawong which was pursuing the youngster in the family, leaving this one on watch. Eventually the Currawong left without a meal.

From the side of the track we saw a flash of red as a very small bird disappeared in among the grass, which we saw after much observation to be a Red-browed Finch feeding on grass seed. This flighty little bird remained for a short while as the flock fled.

As we reached the end of our walk for the day we turned to walk back and there hanging off a tree was a young Lace Monitor sunning itself. This huge reptile is seldom seen, and always scurries away when spotted. He saw we were there but did not move at all.

Here’s a close up of his face…

On our walk back we saw another fast elusive small bird, the Brown Gerygone, a couple of juveniles which had not long left the nest, so they tended to rest, allowing us to a photo moment, more than their extremely active parents.

For this we were truly grateful to our gracious Father, for we had not seen this bird all winter and believe many hundreds of these birds were lost while nesting down south during the horrific bushfires last year and early this year.

Thankfully we have sighted two families since, residing here now, away from the burnt bush down south. Though we have not been able to get them in the light to photograph. So we rejoice that at least these have survived to breed.

Have a most enjoyable week despite the circumstances we all share at this time, some more affected than others. As we move into a new year it seems like the beginning of the last all over again, but for the absence of extreme heat and bushfires.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine [brings healing], but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) – from King Solomon one of the world’s wisest and most successful of men.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrew 11:1

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23

“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.” – Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10 (NIV)

“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” – 1 Corinthians 7