Superb Fairy-wren | aussiebirder

To celebrate my recent birthday, my wife and I spent a weekend at Serenity Diamond Beach resort nearby my daughter and family. The resort fronts onto the pristine Diamond Beach and backs onto Khappinghat Nature Reserve where we would walk early morning and late afternoon to take in the many bird sounds and bird activity in the reserve at the rear of the resort grounds. Birders know these times as the morning and evening chorus being the best time to go bird watching, as birds are in their largest number feeding and calling, and much easier to spot.

The prominent bird feeding on the native flowers was the White-cheeked Honeyeater, a bird I had never seen in such abundance in one place. We could hear the chatter of the birds calling to one another in small feeding flocks. I love this little guy preening and calling in the clip below, making sure he does not miss out on being in the conversation.

This honeyeater looks very similar to its New Holland Honeyeater cousin, except for its white-cheeks, and also resides mostly in the coastal forests and scrubland of the east coast of NSW and Victoria, though there is a race also in the far south west WA. My wife was delighted when she spotted this immature White-cheeked Honeyeater resting alone and watching its relatives busily feeding and calling to one another. You will notice the white cheeks are still developing. Click on photos to enlarge them.

White-cheeked Honeyeater immature

White-cheeked Honeyeater adult

The occasional sound of the Eastern Whipbird was heard, at first we searched in the scrub as this is mostly an elusive ground feeding bird but when we could not find him there, my wife spotted him high in the eucalypt tree I was standing beneath.

Latest research has suggested that birds get a high (endorphin hit) from singing their songs, and one could believe this if they were standing where we were in the early morning. This Superb Fairy-wren male joined the chorus with his high pitched call which was much quieter than the other surrounding birds.

This Red-browed Finch was too busy feeding on this length of grass seed to join in the chorus.

Being Spring the sound of the Olive-backed Oriole could be heard and spotted calling also. This Summer immigrant is usually easily spotted when it calls as it is usually hidden in thick under canopy.

Olive-backed Oriole.

One of the common honeyeaters of the coast here, the Little Wattlebird were also seen, though I did not record any of their sound on this occasion.

Little Wattlebird

One of my favorite bird calls is that of the Pied Butcherbird which is found on the north coast, we only have the Grey Butcherbird, which has a joyful laughing call making me smile when I here it each morning. The Pied has a more melodious chiming call.

We were immediately on alert with camera in hand and racing outside our resort villa when we heard a flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo pass over and landing on a native tree to feed on Banksia cones near the beach. There distinctive call can be heard.

The Grey Fantail was flitting about, though not fanning his tail, and you can also hear the call of the Yellow-tails in the background.

In a tree in the back yard of my daughter’s home was this female Tawny Frogmouth. Unusual to find them alone this time of year, though it may be still a little immature and not yet breeding. The females have the ‘tawny’ or rufous colored plumage, particularly on the shoulders, while the males are more grey-brown.

On the beach front while sharing time with my daughter’s family we saw these Humpback Whales breaching far out at sea, but my birding lens managed to capture these pics.

If you have read this far in my post for this week I thank you. In recent weeks I have noticed a significant drop in my website/blog stats so I take this moment to ask if you would kindly comment and tell me what you think I could improve on or do differently if you have helpful suggestions. I am considering changing my blog posts to reflect my next book which I will be writing soon after my current research period. I believe God is bringing a new season to my blog, but it may begin in the new year, when my employment situation changes again.

Have a wonderful week! Happy Thanksgiving to my dear American friends! We could do with a holiday in Australia to give thanks for the wonderful things we enjoy because of God;s goodness to us. It is a time to celebrate our wonderful God with passionate joyful praise and appreciation.

“Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving!
Let’s shout out to him in celebration!” – Psalm 95:2 (NET)

If this is your first visit to my blog, I welcome you and invite you to check out the rest of my website at my Homepage.

If you have not purchased my book ‘What Birds Teach Us’ check out my BirdBook page and find out more. This book sells at this time of year as a wonderful Christmas gift to give young people from the age of 7 to 12 years.

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

The prevailing drought conditions in the Sydney region, have contributed to a reduction in the number of passerines and breeding waterbirds during summer and also as winter approaches, there are some water birds that have stayed because their habitat has not been so cruelly affected. Again I visited Sydney’s Olympic Park with my wife to have a Sunday picnic and capture some more stunning reflections of of one of my favourite waders, the Black-winged Stilt.

A friend asked me why I noted in a previous post that other waterbirds such as the Masked Lapwing, and even on occasion the Red-necked Avocet seen above. The answer is the long slender legs and open stick-like feet. These assist in moving through the water without disturbing it much. The other waterbirds are shorter and have thicker legs and tend to disturb the water more. It is always good to see the Stilt and Avocet together, as I have described in my book. Note the difference in the reflections.

Stilt and Avocet

It was also a delight to see a juvenile Stilt foraging alongside its parent. The Welcome Swallow managed to get into some of my photos and movie footage as they flew over the water.

Many of the Red-necked Avocet flock were sleeping safely in the centre of the shallow lake.

One of my favourite photos is this one, how the legs appear to cross over.

Other waterbirds include this White-faced Heron, probably our most commonly found wader.

White-faced Heron

We were hoping, as we peered from the Bird Hide, to spot the tiny Dotterels running along the shoreline, but on this occasion they were in the distance together in a small flock. These birds are usually timid toward human approach.

It has been interesting to find the presence of Magpie Lark (PeeWee) foraging by lakes and waterways in recent months. It is something new, possibly the drought may have brought it on. This one even joined in reflecting for me.

As we sat by the lake enjoying our Turkey sandwiches this Australasian Grebe (non-breeding) floated past, so I took some shots in the bright winter sunlight, as my wife noted it looked different. On viewing my photos as home it was found that the head had the striped of a juvenile Grebe remaining, as it is coming to maturity. Immature Grebes have black stripes on a white body, the head is the last part to loose the stripes.

Of course we had to check out the nesting area on the island where on my last post from this area we saw quite immature Pied Cormorant chicks being constantly fed by busy parents. These babies have become immature birds which now look very much like their parents, but are even more hungry and demanding than before, since they are much larger and fill the nest. This parent is so flustered trying to satisfy their appetite that he had to leave the nest and take solitude, peacefully cruising the lake.

Parent flies in and babies peter

They keep trying to get access to parents gullet

the parent has left and they cry

then quietly look for their parent to return

but he was resting in the solitude of the lake

This Masked lapwing was caught flying by…

As on the last visit the non-breeding Superb Fairy-wren were out and about, in the usual places. It is usually easy to find these birds as they are territorial and are found in the same area most of the year. Like many insectivorous birds they circumvent their small territory many times a day in search of insects on small shrubs and trees. The non-breeding male retains the dark blue tail, dark beak and turquoise wing coverts, which can be seen below. The female remains brown with rufous facial mask and lighter beak. The male will begin eclipsing again into his beautiful breeding plumage as Spring approaches, but for now, Winter is at the door.

May I leave you with this beautiful footage of the Black-winged Stilt foraging peacefully together in the lake shallows.

If this is your first visit to my blog feel free to check out the pages in my website aussiebirder.com. Check the menu at the top of the Home page.

This last four weeks of full time work as a scientist are dragging, as I look forward to part-time work or semi-retirement (whatever God grants) allowing me to expand the more creative aspects to my life. I hope to begin assessing the possibility of setting up a small business as a Tour Guide for Bird Tours. I will be checking out the possibility of running Introduction to Birding (Bird Watching) Tour packages in conjunction with Farm Club Australia in the Southern Highlands.

Black-winged Stilt with stages of development.

In the above photo one can observe most of the different stages of development of the Black-winged Stilt, from a brown chick to an adult stilt. As different as they each look to the other, they are all the same species, and will all look similar on maturity. I am challenged by the fact that I need the grace to realize that we are all at different levels and phases of maturity as people, and that despite all our differences and short comings, we are God the Father’s beloved children whom Christ died to redeem and restore. The most beautiful thought is that long before we ever came to know God, he already knew and loved us, long before we were born. This is why love, acceptance and forgiveness in our relationships is so essential, as we all experience the various aspects of life with its struggles and lessons. We each seek to be understood and accepted for who we are.

“For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to being.” – Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)

“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” – Thes 5:15 (NIV)

Have a wonderful weekend!

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 Should you desire to use any of the material published on this website please contact the author as a Comment or by email via the AboutUs page

As we move into Autumn and the summer migrants, which are mostly waders, have taken flight north, we are left with our winter birds, and a period of not so many birds. However there are many waders and water birds that stay all year round and breed here in Australia. It had been a while since I was able to get time in Olympic Park, Sydney, to see how the resident waterbirds and waders are, so on Wednesday I took a look, and found this pair of Australian Black Swan alone in a pool among the mangroves. Note the male is the larger of the two. How beautiful and graceful they are when seen up close. These symbols previously peculiar to the state of Western Australia (found in its coat of arms), have been breeding well all over Australia and its surrounding islands now for many years. Click on photo to enlarge it.

It was good to see nests of Australasian Darter and Pied Cormorant in the usual breeding trees, however numbers were drastically reduced, possibly due to the extreme heat of the passing summer and prevailing drought conditions.

The commonly seen waterbirds that are more often seen grazing on grassy areas by water are the Australian Swamphen and the Masked Lapwing.

It has always humoured me when I hear the sound of the Masked Lapwing call in Australian movies, as a representative of Australia’s birds. I think what about Kookaburra, Currawong or Magpie? However, in many movies it is this bird call that is used.

As I walked to the larger lake I came across a most delightful experience where a family of Superb Fairy-wren came out from under small shrubbery to give me an excellent photo moment. What a beautiful gift! The adult male was in non-breeding plumage retaining just a bright blue tail and dark beak. This is called the eclipse stage of the male Fairy-wren. He may transform several times a year to breed, while the female and immature retain their brown tail and light orange beak and lores, only the mature males eclipse. Here is a comparison.

Superb Fairy-wren in eclipse

So this what the little family looked like as they moved about on this small bush together. You can distinguish the males from the females by the tail colour and beak and lores.

Female and Male Superb Fairy-wren

2 males, one in full and one in almost full eclipse.

Superb Fairy-wren female

The resident waders were in various stages of activity. Some slept, some preened, but most were foraging. Over the water a large flock of swallow were constantly circling.

The Chestnut Teal are in large number on the lake as usual.

Male Chestnut Teal

4 males with 1 female

But the birds I wanted to see were the three remaining waders who do not migrate. The Black-winged Stilt, Red-necked Avocet and Black-fronted Dotterel. I especially love the reflections these birds generate from the shallow water. The Black-winged Stilt is one of my favourite. Notice the immature Stilts also pictured below.

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt immature

Black-winged Stilt

Immature Stilt balancing on a rock

It is interesting to see the scythe action of the Red-necked Avocet sweeping their uniquely curved bill through the water to sift for tiny brine shrimp. They sweep their bill slightly open just above the muddy bottom of the lake. It is also interesting to watch some Stilts copy this action which is not normally their own. The younger ones having grown up with the Avocets, being companion waders, copy the action.

The Red-necked Avocet, a friend to the Stilt, is also a bird seen in flock here.

Red-necked Avocet

Red-necked Avocet in all three stages of activity.

Red-necked Avocet

It was interesting to see this collision of the Avocet and Stilt foraging, it shows how serious food foraging is.

The tiny Black-fronted Dotterel was also on the shore foraging.

Black-fronted Dotterel

Of course the best place to view birds without disturbing them is the ‘Bird Hide’. However, this hide is some distance from the water, but it does give a good overall view of the lake, but you need a powerful lens to get good captures.

Bird Hide

Lastly, this Noisy Miner was attracted to my car rear vision mirrors, moving from one to the other he tries to find and make contact with the bird he is looking at. Finally, not being able to solve the conundrum he eventually leaves.

This bird’s quest is like our own, we often don’t know ourselves enough to appreciate who we are. We compare and impair the image we have of ourselves and so never really appreciate the beauty of the unique and wonderful creation we are. There is no one in the whole universe who will ever be you. Your DNA is uniquely yours, and so you bring a uniquely beautiful asset into the world in the place where God has placed you, as he has done also for me. How we understand and appreciate this gift will directly influence the way we live our lives and boldly love and accept the person we are. It is this person we must look at in the mirror and realize, we are God’s beautiful child and we are loved dearly by him our Heavenly Father. How we see ourselves affects how we enjoy life, giving confidence and acceptance to achieve great things.

“For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.” – Psalm 139: 13-18. (NIV)

Some of you my dear followers know that I am currently considering leaving my full time work as a Senior Scientist to go into part time work as a Eco Tourism Bird Guide. I was recently approached by a person following my blog to operate bird tours and introductory bird courses with Farm Club Australia, situated in the Southern Highlands, south of Sydney. I am currently considering this option and how this will look for my future. I know many of my followers, will be visiting Australia and the Sydney region in the coming years. I hope to put together birding packages which will hopefully make the Sydney region leg of the journey much easier. I meet birders from all over the world, especially from USA, Canada, New Zealand and Britain doing full on birding tours of Australia, and they are often looking for birders with local knowledge to guide them to the birds on their list, as many only have limited time in each city.

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

Splendid Fairy-wren couple

This week we will showcase one of Australia’s most loved bird species, the Fairy-wren, often commonly known as the Blue Wren. This small and very agile, constantly moving bird is often seen in many gardens, parks and around family homes. They are insectivorous annuals and can often be found circumnavigating the same territory many times in a day. Above photo is of a male and female Splendid Fairy-wren together, the male is in breeding plumage.

Those who have purchased my book will have seen these birds on my book cover. There are nine species of Fairy-wren endemic to Australia, each having several sub-species (races). I have seen five species, and look forward to one day seeing the other four. Each specie is found in a particular part of Australia, some being found not only in the same state, but also sharing the same habitat living next to each other. The Splendid Fairy-wren is found mainly in the south-western Australia (Western Australia) and inland arid areas including the other mainland states excluding Tasmania.

Male Splendid Fairy-wren in breeding plumage

A feature of these birds is the beautiful plumage of the male when breeding, compared to the lifelong brown uninteresting plumage of the female. When the males return to non breeding plumage they can at a distance be mistaken for females, but close examination of tail colour, facial colour and wing tinting will differentiate them. One of the problems in differentiating is young males from females, as is the design of many birds while they are juvenile and immature, the males resemble the earthy colour of the female till they reach maturity.

Female Splendid Fairy-wren

Female Splendid Fairy-wren

Young Splendid Fairy-wrens

This is our loving Creator’s design to help hide and protect the young as well as the female while nesting, making them blend in with the dark brown tree bark surroundings, protecting them from bird eating predators, in particular, raptors. of the Fairy-wrens probably the most well known and widely seen is the Superb fairy-wren which is mainly endemic to eastern Australia and also Tasmania. As this is where most Australians live it is the specie that most are familiar with.

Those who follow my blog know that I frequently post this bird, being a commonly seen all year round bird of the Sydney area, seen in most parks, reserves and many home gardens. Many of my international followers tell me this is their favourite Australian bird, and is the one that birders from overseas ask me to show them when they visit our national parks.

Superb Fairy-wren female

Fairy-wrens are often difficult to see and photograph when in among the low lying bushes and ferns, and often you will hear their soft high pitched call well before you actually see them. It is true to say that if they did not call you probably, most of the time, would never know they were there, but for slight vegetation movement. Eclipse is the term given for the gradual plumage change of the male when he undergoes transformation to and from breeding plumage. He may no longer look like a blue wren for a few months, but resemble his female partners, till he changes back, about twice a year. Most only notice him in breeding plumage.

Superb Fairy-wren male

Superb Fairy-wren male in eclipse

The Variegated fairy-wren is a more rarely seen specie often found with the Superb, being the most widely spread throughout Australia’s mainland, being in all states including desert regions. It is quite brilliant in the sunlight with its rich colours, and I have found it to be the most difficult to photograph.

Variegated fairy-wren (non breeding male)

Variegated fairy-wren male

The Red-winged Fairy-wren on the other hand, though looking similar to the variegated is the rarest Fairy-wren being found only in the very south-west tip of Western Australia. We saw it in the Margaret River area.

Finally, our most recent lifer as my blog followers would know from our recent bird experience in the Lamington Mountain National Park the Red-backed Fairy-wren. This bird is difficult to photograph due to its black face and body, but can easily be picked out at a distance due to the contrasting bright red back. This bird is found across far northern Australian mainland and down the east coast to NSW border.

Red-backed Fairy-wren male

Red-backed Fairy-wren

Red-backed Fairy-wren male

The Fairy-wrens are very small and very agile, constantly on the move, and when the male is in breeding plumage, you will often see the female leading a clutch of 3 to 4 chicks all staying close and following for safety. The male leads the way, and often becomes a distraction for possible predators, while the female leads the brood away to safety. The female builds the nest and the male helps the female feed the young. They form a small social group of fairy-wren helping each other out, the males sometimes in ways we may not ethically approve.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.“– Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Have a wonderful week!

Little Black Cormorant

In my last post we explored the leap of faith in small passerines, and as this summer has been so intense with heat and drought conditions it lends itself to compare Faith and Fear, the two motivating forces that influence our every action daily.

Drying my wings

The above Little Black Cormorant at Sydney Park rests knowing that before him is both a good water and food source which it can trust, and so stay and last out the summer heat, while many both migratory and resident species have moved further south or into the mountains for cooler weather. Not a lot of breeding has taken place in our local park this year, though we did see some here. The rest of faith is a principle countering the restlessness of fear.

Little Black Cormorant resting together

Early on a Saturday morning, my wife and I discovered a peaceful community of waterbirds and passerines who were braving the extreme heat and trusting that their needs would be met here. The peaceful community was noticeable at once as the White-faced Heron flew in to join the mixed species in what appeared to be a run on a school of fish.

White-faced Heron in flight

White-faced Heron landing near its partner

White-faced Heron landing

Investigating the fishing frenzie

Sydney Park is an amazing facility being reclaimed land from Sydney’s original brick works, and which the council transformed into a water park reserve which is fed by recycled storm water for the ponds of a man made nature reserve. This is very popular with city dwellers who walk their dogs here, as well as themselves. See how these birds rest together as they share in the spoils.

fishing together

One factor which this place displayed more than some other sites around the city was that birds were breeding and this Dusky Moorhen family were keeping watch on what appeared to be one chick, normally their clutch would consist of several.

You can hear the juvenile call with that all too common chirp for food shared among many young species of bird. These birds look much healthier than the ones at Oatley Park I posted a couple of weeks ago. Those ponds are closed for maintenance at present.

In the reeds we were hoping to spot the Spotless Crake which had been reported here recently but it did not show. We had seen and posted the Buff-banded Rail seen here some weeks ago. Our gift of the day was this juvenile Australian Reed-Warbler, sitting alone but visible in the reeds, making the same hungry chirp as the juvenile Moorhen, likewise trusting that the parent will soon return with food.

The parent was busy, not making its usual clamorous call, but quietly hunting for food, and this mantis was in the process of being softened up for feeding the youngster. This bird is very shy of humans and often difficult to photograph, keeping itself hidden down in the reeds, though it allowed me to film from afar without taking flight.

Aust. Reed-Warbler with insect

Juvenile Aust. Reed-Warbler

I managed to get some lovely shots of the Reed-Warbker resting, which is a rarety.

Australian Reed-Warbler

Australian Reed-Warbler juvenile

Other shore birds searching peacefully among the reed grass were this pair of Australasian Swamphen (previously Purple Swamphen).

Aust. Swamphen

This Spotted Turtledove rested by the shore of the lake.

The Pacific Black Duck were well represented but I did not see any young, though one of these may have been early spring babies.

Pacific Black Duck

As usual in the centre of a freshwater pond one Australasian Grebe, this one non-breeding. These birds are frequently seen alone when not breeding, only coming together to have their young.

Australasian Grebe (non-breeding)

The other passerines in the surrounding trees included a female Figbird, a Red Wattlebird, a young Willy Wagtail and of course this Noisy Minor, also dispatching a freshly caught insect.

Red Wattlebird

Willy Wagtail

Female Figbird

Noisy Minor

The illustrate how to identify male and female Magpie-larks (Peewee) I captured a pair at the park. Notice the direction of the facial black stripe.

Male Magpie-lark

Female Magpie-lark

Lastly, the true sign of a restful bushland and garden is the presence of the Superb Fairy-wren. These birds have suffered from the heat and though annual residents usually, many families have left their usual hunting grounds in parks surrounding the city, but this one is breeding well here in Sydney Park with several males spotted. Notice the eclipsing male, possibly starting to loose its breeding plumage. Fear of loss has possibly sent many bird species to other habitats, but these rest trusting that their needs will be met, as they see out the extreme summer months.

Superb Fairy-wren male

Superb Fairy-wren female

“Look at the birds of the air, for they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?” – Matthew 6:26 (NEV)

Above is the verse that inspired my book, the word ‘Look’ can be interpreted as ‘study or observe’ the birds, which is what we do as birders, and we learn so much from their interesting peculiar characteristics. Jesus noted the simple faith that birds have, and birds in a similar way to us humans, have a certain amount of faith mixed with fear in our decision making, also affecting how peaceful our lives are whether they are resting in faith or restless in fear.

When I apply faith in God when feeling anxious or afraid, I have peace and my soul rests trusting him to come through for me, and so far he has not let me down. God showed his disapproval of the Israel nation when they failed to trust him, even as he provided for them as they lived in the desert, many died there because they failed to trust his generous and loving provision, they never rested in the Promised Land. This land is type of what God has for those who put their trust in Him, believing in Jesus and receiving his salvation and friendship he offers freely.

“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” – Hebrews 4:1 (NIV)

“Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” -Psalm 50:15 (NIV)

Have a wonderful week, and if this is your first time to my website checkout my other pages and helpful birding tips, and special counselling features and bird findings.

NOTE: All photos, videos and music used on this website are photographed, composed, performed by the site owner and remains his copyright 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

Two weeks ago my post featured the New Zealand Kea, which was voted as New Zealand’s Most Popular Bird of the Year 2017. Guardian news and Birdlife Australia recently ran a survey in Australia to find their most popular bird, and a surprising result, the Australian Magpie won first place. I will showcase the first seven place getters, all of which I have featured in my blog from time to time.

This bird is known for its beautiful song, but during nesting season, is known to Australians, to perform ferocious attacks on many who pass by its nesting tree. It is one of our most commonly seen birds on the east and southern coast regions. The Australian Magpie has 5 subspecies or races, of which the most common, the eastern black-backed magpie is featured above.

To keep it simple there are four subspecies of note: Black-backed (eastern), White-backed (southern), Tasmanian and Western, of which I have pictured below from different parts of Australia.

White-backed (southern) Magpie

Eastern female

Western female

Western male

Tasmanian female

Tasmanian male

The Australian White Ibis surprisingly gained second place being Sydney’s ‘bin chicken’, always ratting through garbage bins when it should be pressing its beak into mudflats at low tide or grassy fields.

Australian White Ibis nesting and with baby

The Laughing Kookaburra gained third place, and for many years was Australia’s trade mark in the early years of film. Many of our early movies started with the laughing Kookaburras calling. This is always a very popular bird, especially to tourists from other countries. I remember last year an American tourist asked me where the Kookaburra was in the Australian bird enclosure, and I told him to go outside the enclosure and he would find one sitting on a sign post near the pathway, he was so delighted when he found it there, outside the zoo confines. If you check out my last weeks post you will see and hear it laughing.

Fourth place went to the Tawny Frogmouth, our unusual and very unique owl-like bird currently featured on my home page under Something Special. There are many families of this bird breeding in southern Sydney forests, and are more closely related to Nightjars rather than owls.

Our fifth place goes to the beautiful Superb Fairy-wren, which was the first place getter in the 2003 survey. From the comments I receive on my blog, this is the most popular bird to my overseas bloggers, and also I believe the most loved Australian bird because of its cute size, beautiful colours in the breeding males and agility, being often seen in gardens. The Fairy-wrens look nothing like the English Wren it was named after, and is found in several different species and subspecies, the superb being the most common, being found in south eastern Australia. It is often known as the Blue Wren, but this only refers to male with full breeding plumage, the female, juveniles and non-breeding males are common brown in appearance.

Male Superb Fairy-wren

Female Superb Fairy-wren

Superb Fairy-wren (female)

Superb Fairy-wren male in eclipse

One of our most popular birds overseas and sixth place goes to our beautiful Rainbow Lorikeet with its amazing colour mix, which looked so brilliant in the afternoon sun yesterday as we sipped our wine in the courtyard. This bird is found in great numbers around the Sydney area where it breeds inside the holes of the angophora costata trees, alongside the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. We constantly hear the chatter of these birds as they feed on the flowers and nectar of the bottlebrush and grevilea bushes. They are often found in pairs as they breed for life.

So it follows with the Willy Wagtail making seventh place, being a popular fantail seen all over Australia. In fact it was often the very first bird we heard and saw on almost every trip we did throughout Australia. It is a very brave, curious and bold little bird with a beautiful song that is often confused for other birds. It gets it name from the way it flitters about moving side to side wagging its tail and fanning it at times. It is often seen catching insects on the fly.

Willy Wagtsail pair

Willy Wagtail nest with young

Willy wagtail

Fanning and wagging his tail

So there it is, voted Australia’s most popular birds 2017. You can read the whole list if you have time, but seven is enough for now. This survey shows it is the birds we most commonly see around us that we tend to favour, rather than the exotic. The birds we see, know and interact with in our back yards and parks. The birds we grow up with, even the ones that attack us at times, can top the list as a favourite, which proves a well known sales perspective, that if you frequently expose the public to a product by advertising it, or by playing a song many times on radio, people will eventually come to like it and even say it is good, making it popular, when their first impression may have been quite negative, disapproving or even disinterested. In this same way, through constant media exposure, movies and television programs, our society has grown to approve and even embrace unhealthy moral and social standards, causing the breakdown and moral decay in our post Christian world. The fruit of which is beginning to be seen in the selfish, dangerous, insular and disrespectful attitudes of many of the current and especially the new generation, who are being programmed to accept many selfish or immoral standards as being normal and acceptable. These words of Jesus ring true today more than ever before, speaking of the last days of our world in which we live:

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” – Matthew 24:12

The only protection from becoming like this is to connect with God’s love through faith in Jesus, who is God’s love gift to us all. He came to earth and gave up his life to reinstate God’s love in our hearts, so we can enjoy life the way it was meant to be enjoyed, and discover the true person we were created to be. This is God’s best for us, for God is love. Connecting with God through Jesus, by trusting in him and receiving God’s forgiveness as a free gift is the beginning of a wonderful journey of transformation and rediscovery of true love.

^“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions ” – Ephesians 2:4,5

Have a wonderful week everyone!

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

As the past year fades away, my wife and I set goals for the new year and look at ways to improve our life together. We ask what can we do better? What do we need to change? What do we need to start doing to achieve our goals for 2018? When we go birding in our local Oatley Park Reserve we find this male Superb Fairy-wren pictured above, eclipsing (this means it is changing its plumage from non breeding to breeding plumage). The male Superb Fairy-wren when not breeding looks very similar to the female, but for its blue tail. You can see the blotchy changes, as it starts to gradually change to its blue coat.

Superb Fairy-wren male in eclipse

Superb Fairy-wren female

It is quite amusing to watch the eclipse process taking place, as the blotchy appearance forms into the beautiful male in breeding plumage. This is how it is for us during seasons of change, where there is uncertainty and fear of the unknown ahead. As with the Fairy-wren, we courageously move forward, trusting God to bring us through our blotchiness to the blessing of eventually being transformed into the person we are becoming, with a beauty we display in being wiser, more thankful, gracious and loving.

Superb Fairy-wren (morphing male)

As many Australian birders know, the male fully eclipses to breeding plumage, he dons his beautiful blue suite, attracting the female to breed with him and have his family. When the breeding season is over he reverts back to his brown and white plumage, retaining only his blue tail to signify his maleness. Click on images to enlarge them.

Male Superb Fairy-wren

We all have to adapt to the season of our life, and the changes it brings to us, and we need to do this gracefully, to meet the challenges that may lie ahead. Some birds like the Red-browed Finch do not undergo any change at all during their breeding season, and stay the same throughout their life.

We may not change our appearance but our circumstances may change and call for a change in the way we live our lives. This White-faced Heron shows the difference in breeding plumage to non breeding but it does not change what he does each day. How we accept these changes is part of our character development which is so important in our growth as a person.

Change and new experiences should not be seen as problems to be solved but as challenges to encounter. It is a positive approach to what life throws at us that gives us the ability, enlisting God’s help, to meet the challenge and win the day. This Royal Spoonbill undergoes this head dress development during breeding season which offers a challenge to its normal life for a time.

Royal Spoonbill in breeding plumage

As I have shown in previous posts, colour change is a common breeding appearance in waders during breeding season, as with this Bar-tailed Godwit, the worlds most endurant bird, develops an orange appearance in our Autumn, before flying 16,000 km to have their young in the Arctic region of the Northern Hemisphere, returning in Spring.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Let the changes that come into your life be used for growth and positive change in the new year. Look for the treasure in the trials of life and remember that everything that happens to us is for a reason, for growth and development into the person we are being formed to be. So make the changes work for good in your life, as my wife and I are seeking to do in ours. Have a truly happy and prosperous new year, and may you prosper and grow in each aspect of life: not just physically but also, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually as Jesus did when he lived with us here on earth, thus developing our whole person.

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” – Luke 2:52

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” – James 1:5

Check out the various pages of my website for more birding information and life skills.

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

Continuing our journey into the mountain rainforest of the Lamington Mountains National Park (about 900 – 1000 meters above sea level) we focus on the smaller passerines which mostly inhabit the rainforest floor, searching under leaf litter or peeling bark from ancient trees in search of grubs and insects. Our first encounter was the beautiful Rufous Fantail, which is a common inhabitant, fanning its tail as it moves rapidly without hardly stopping, in search of insects.

Birders love to pursue this bird especially when they can catch a glimpse of it fanning its tail in the bright sunlight. With its rapid constant movement it is challenge for any photographer.

As one winds their way up the narrow mountain road before reaching the top, on the side of the mountain slope in the low lying bushes we saw our first lifer for this trip, the Red-backed Fairy-wren. This tiny bird was very shy and was difficult to photograph from a distance on the day as it had been raining, and because of its jet black facial features. Like the fantail it was constantly on the hunt for insects. We only saw the male of the species.

Red-backed Fairy-wren male

While searching for the Red-backed Fairy-wren we saw the beautiful tiny male Spotted Pardalote nearby.

The tiny Red-browed Finch was moving about looking for grass seed on the mowed lawns of the park grounds.

While the Superb Fairy-wren families, too many to number were hopping about the grounds on the mountain top, after the rain had cleared.

Male Superb Fairy-wren

Female Superb Fairy-wren

The rainforest Wonga Pigeon was also wandering around the grounds. This bird seldom flies but is most comfortable grazing off the floor of the rainforest.

On reaching the top and entering the rainforest the sounds and presence of the tiny active White-browed Scrubwren is noticeable, hopping about the rainforest floor among the leaf litter.

You can easily love these cute little birds as they are so bold and will sometimes come right up to you.

The White-throated’s rarer cousin, the Yellow-throated Scrubwren was found alongside and just as plenteous, with much the same noisy activity communicating with its relatives continually as it foraged for food.

Interestingly enough, both scrubwrens have a white brow, which makes me think the White-browed should be called the White-throated Scrubwren. Possibly the White-browed, being more widely common was discovered and named first by our early European birders.

Yellow-throated Scrubwren

Yellow-throated Scrubwren

As one begins walking through the rainforest the sound of the Golden Whistler is clearly discernible, especially considering it is Spring, and that is when the whistler sings his heart out as he seeks a mate. Both male and female were seen and heard many times throughout the forest.

Golden Whistler male

Golden Whistler female

The Lewins Honeyeater was also heard frequently with its chattering call as it moved about the under-story of the rainforest.

The nectar rich spring wildflowers attracted the Eastern Spinebill, another beautiful small honeyeater with a purpose designed bill for extracting nectar from deep inside the native flowers.

The highly elusive and constantly moving Brown Gerygone is heard calling from within the cover of the sub canopy, a real challenge to photograph at any time. Calling ‘Ger-ig-onee’.

Further into the forest we were surprised to find quietly sitting on a branch above our heads this beautiful Brown Cuckoo-dove. The great variety of rainforest pigeons and doves are well fed by the great variety of rainforest fruits, especially varieties of fig, which Australia has one of the largest number of species. Most medium sized rainforest passerines, are fruit eaters as well as insect eaters. The Figbird is not the only eater of figs.

Brown Cuckoo-dove

A golden find was this beautiful Emerald Dove walking in a clearing, another fruit eating bird, but spends a lot of its time browsing at ground level.

But the one sound you constantly hear as you walk through the rainforest is that of the Eastern Whipbird calling. The male making the whip like cracking sound, and when the female responds immediately after she makes the ‘tsh tsh’ sound.

This bird mainly forages on the rainforest floor among leaf litter, and peels off bark on trees below the canopy with its strong beak for worms and insects. The whip call marks its territory to other whipbirds, and also keeps check of where the pair are located, as they move together, yet seperatley through the forest.

We were privileged to see both juvenile and immature whipbirds foraging in the rainforest. The immature were practicing their calls. You will hear the female calling in the clip below.

immature whipbird

Another colourful little rainforest bird known to pry off the bark from trees with its powerful little beak is the Crested Shrike-tit. This bird is usually high up in the sub canopy of tall eucalypt and other rainforest trees. We usually discover it by the sound of falling bark and prying bark. They are difficult to get good photos because they are constantly moving and often becasue of their size difficult to see.

Lastly the very curious Grey Shrike-thrush is seen sometimes to follow you around. They have a lovely song that rings through the forest, and feel quite safe coming close to humans most of the time. This young one watched us from the fence at O’Reillys Rainforest Retreat.

These birds all dwell harmoniously. sharing the rainforest together. They each know how to live and flourish in their habitat, and what foods are best to eat and how to best forage for it. They each have bodies designed and beaks designed for specific food types, and they know instinctively how to find their food, build their nests and raise their young in exact;y the same way as generations before them. How wonderfully amazing is Intelligent Design and how much more wonderful and amazing is the Intelligent Designer.

“This is what the Lord says — your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:

I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself,” – Isaiah 44:24

My home page has a new look. I now feature local findings and interesting findings in Something Special which may be of interest. This week see the Tawny Frogmouth nest my wife and I found at the Royal National Park last week.

Have a wonderful week!

The occasional sound of the Eastern Whipbird was heard, at first we searched in the scrub as this is mostly an elusive ground feeding bird but when we could not find him there, my wife spotted him high in the eucalypt tree I was standing beneath.

This Red-browed Finch was too busy feeding on this length of grass seed to join in the chorus.

Being Spring the sound of the Olive-backed Oriole could be heard and spotted calling also. This Summer immigrant is usually easily spotted when it calls as it is usually hidden in thick under canopy.

One of the common honeyeaters of the coast here, the Little Wattlebird were also seen, though I did not record any of their sound on this occasion.

One of my favorite bird calls is that of the Pied Butcherbird which is found on the north coast, we only have the Grey Butcherbird, which has a joyful laughing call making me smile when I here it each morning. The Pied has a more melodious chiming call.

We were immediately on alert with camera in hand and racing outside our resort villa when we heard a flock of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo pass over and landing on a native tree to feed on Banksia cones near the beach. There distinctive call can be heard.

The Grey Fantail was flitting about, though not fanning his tail, and you can also hear the call of the Yellow-tails in the background.

On the beach front while sharing time with my daughter’s family we saw these Humpback Whales breaching far out at sea, but my birding lens managed to capture these pics.

Have a wonderful week! Happy Thanksgiving to my dear American friends! We could do with a holiday in Australia to give thanks for the wonderful things we enjoy because of God;s goodness to us. It is a time to celebrate our wonderful God with passionate joyful praise and appreciation.

“Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving! Let’s shout out to him in celebration!” – Psalm 95:2 (NET)

If this is your first visit to my blog, I welcome you and invite you to check out the rest of my website at my Homepage.

If you have not purchased my book ‘What Birds Teach Us’ check out my BirdBook page and find out more. This book sells at this time of year as a wonderful Christmas gift to give young people from the age of 7 to 12 years.

Share this:

Like this:

It was also a delight to see a juvenile Stilt foraging alongside its parent. The Welcome Swallow managed to get into some of my photos and movie footage as they flew over the water.

Many of the Red-necked Avocet flock were sleeping safely in the centre of the shallow lake.

One of my favourite photos is this one, how the legs appear to cross over.

Other waterbirds include this White-faced Heron, probably our most commonly found wader.

We were hoping, as we peered from the Bird Hide, to spot the tiny Dotterels running along the shoreline, but on this occasion they were in the distance together in a small flock. These birds are usually timid toward human approach.

It has been interesting to find the presence of Magpie Lark (PeeWee) foraging by lakes and waterways in recent months. It is something new, possibly the drought may have brought it on. This one even joined in reflecting for me.

This Masked lapwing was caught flying by…

May I leave you with this beautiful footage of the Black-winged Stilt foraging peacefully together in the lake shallows.

If this is your first visit to my blog feel free to check out the pages in my website aussiebirder.com. Check the menu at the top of the Home page.

“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” – Thes 5:15 (NIV)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Share this:

Like this:

It was good to see nests of Australasian Darter and Pied Cormorant in the usual breeding trees, however numbers were drastically reduced, possibly due to the extreme heat of the passing summer and prevailing drought conditions.

The commonly seen waterbirds that are more often seen grazing on grassy areas by water are the Australian Swamphen and the Masked Lapwing.

It has always humoured me when I hear the sound of the Masked Lapwing call in Australian movies, as a representative of Australia’s birds. I think what about Kookaburra, Currawong or Magpie? However, in many movies it is this bird call that is used.

So this what the little family looked like as they moved about on this small bush together. You can distinguish the males from the females by the tail colour and beak and lores.

The resident waders were in various stages of activity. Some slept, some preened, but most were foraging. Over the water a large flock of swallow were constantly circling.

The Chestnut Teal are in large number on the lake as usual.

The Red-necked Avocet, a friend to the Stilt, is also a bird seen in flock here.

It was interesting to see this collision of the Avocet and Stilt foraging, it shows how serious food foraging is.

The tiny Black-fronted Dotterel was also on the shore foraging.

Of course the best place to view birds without disturbing them is the ‘Bird Hide’. However, this hide is some distance from the water, but it does give a good overall view of the lake, but you need a powerful lens to get good captures.

Lastly, this Noisy Miner was attracted to my car rear vision mirrors, moving from one to the other he tries to find and make contact with the bird he is looking at. Finally, not being able to solve the conundrum he eventually leaves.

Share this:

Like this:

The Red-winged Fairy-wren on the other hand, though looking similar to the variegated is the rarest Fairy-wren being found only in the very south-west tip of Western Australia. We saw it in the Margaret River area.

Have a wonderful week!

Share this:

Like this:

In my last post we explored the leap of faith in small passerines, and as this summer has been so intense with heat and drought conditions it lends itself to compare Faith and Fear, the two motivating forces that influence our every action daily.

One factor which this place displayed more than some other sites around the city was that birds were breeding and this Dusky Moorhen family were keeping watch on what appeared to be one chick, normally their clutch would consist of several.

You can hear the juvenile call with that all too common chirp for food shared among many young species of bird. These birds look much healthier than the ones at Oatley Park I posted a couple of weeks ago. Those ponds are closed for maintenance at present.

I managed to get some lovely shots of the Reed-Warbker resting, which is a rarety.

Other shore birds searching peacefully among the reed grass were this pair of Australasian Swamphen (previously Purple Swamphen).

This Spotted Turtledove rested by the shore of the lake.

The Pacific Black Duck were well represented but I did not see any young, though one of these may have been early spring babies.

As usual in the centre of a freshwater pond one Australasian Grebe, this one non-breeding. These birds are frequently seen alone when not breeding, only coming together to have their young.

The other passerines in the surrounding trees included a female Figbird, a Red Wattlebird, a young Willy Wagtail and of course this Noisy Minor, also dispatching a freshly caught insect.

The illustrate how to identify male and female Magpie-larks (Peewee) I captured a pair at the park. Notice the direction of the facial black stripe.

“Look at the birds of the air, for they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?” – Matthew 6:26 (NEV)

“Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” – Hebrews 4:1 (NIV)

“Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” -Psalm 50:15 (NIV)

Have a wonderful week, and if this is your first time to my website checkout my other pages and helpful birding tips, and special counselling features and bird findings.

Share this:

Like this:

To keep it simple there are four subspecies of note: Black-backed (eastern), White-backed (southern), Tasmanian and Western, of which I have pictured below from different parts of Australia.

The Australian White Ibis surprisingly gained second place being Sydney’s ‘bin chicken’, always ratting through garbage bins when it should be pressing its beak into mudflats at low tide or grassy fields.

Fourth place went to the Tawny Frogmouth, our unusual and very unique owl-like bird currently featured on my home page under Something Special. There are many families of this bird breeding in southern Sydney forests, and are more closely related to Nightjars rather than owls.

“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” – Matthew 24:12

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions ” – Ephesians 2:4,5

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Share this:

Like this:

We all have to adapt to the season of our life, and the changes it brings to us, and we need to do this gracefully, to meet the challenges that may lie ahead. Some birds like the Red-browed Finch do not undergo any change at all during their breeding season, and stay the same throughout their life.

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” – Luke 2:52

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” – James 1:5

Check out the various pages of my website for more birding information and life skills.

Share this:

Like this:

Birders love to pursue this bird especially when they can catch a glimpse of it fanning its tail in the bright sunlight. With its rapid constant movement it is challenge for any photographer.

While searching for the Red-backed Fairy-wren we saw the beautiful tiny male Spotted Pardalote nearby.

The tiny Red-browed Finch was moving about looking for grass seed on the mowed lawns of the park grounds.

While the Superb Fairy-wren families, too many to number were hopping about the grounds on the mountain top, after the rain had cleared.

“Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving!
Let’s shout out to him in celebration!” – Psalm 95:2 (NET)

^“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions ” – Ephesians 2:4,5