Birds in a Fig Tree

During our last Wader Count we noticed that the Fig Tree where we park had lots of fruit, and there were lots of birds coming and going. No sooner had we gotten out of the car we noticed there were Mistletoebird,  Lewin's Honeyeater,

White-throated Honeyeater and Mangrove Honeyeater, all very busy having a feed in the tree.

Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)

Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum)

White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis)

For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

Kilkivan Area

Kilkivan is located North West of Gympie and is an area we have not been to in a long time. As we are taking some birdwatchers there in the future, we thought it best to check out what is around. We went to the local caravan park to check on the facilities, then went to Kinbombi Falls where we saw Apostlebird, a pair of Wedge-tailed Eagle, and White-throated Honeyeater.We then drove towards Tansey where beside the road is a big lagoon with lots of birds, and to finish the day went to the Mudlo National Park.

Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea)

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)

 

White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis)

Kinbombi Falls

 200 plus steps to the bottom

Kinbombi Falls

A stony creek bed in Mudlo National Park

Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons) (a quick shot)

Tansey Lagoon

Some of the birds seen on the lagoon were Royal Spoonbill, Black Swan, White-headed Stilt, Pacific Heron, White-faced Heron, Australian Pelican, Australasian Grebe and lots of Ducks which we were unable to id from a distance because we did not have our telescope with us, but will make sure we do next time we are out this way. A rough count of about 1,000 birds.

For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday.

Honeyeater Heaven

This post is for Wild Bird Wednesday. 

Click on photos to enlarge.

Honeyeater heaven is the only way to describe our recent Winter survey at Amamoor Homestead B&B  Country Cottages for our "Bird Trails of Cooloola" project. (For more information visit www.birdingcooloola.org.au) 

Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta) 

The Brown Honeyeater came to the Grevillea flowers growing in front of our Cottage right beside us as we were having a cup of tea. Best way to watch birds as they come to you instead of having to go and find them.

 Dusky Honeyeater (Myzomela obscura)

The gardens leading up to and around the Homestead and Cottages have been well planned and maintained to attract birdlife, also providing a link to the surrounding bush. Dusky Honeyeater seemed to be everywhere among the flowering trees and shrubs.

 Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)

Every good garden has water available for the birds to drink and bathe.

 Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta) (Female)

This female Scarlet was in the shrub only a few metres from where we were sitting, and not long after a male Scarlet came into the same bush as well. Even though not as brightly coloured as the male, she is still beautiful.

 Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta) (Male)

Scarlet Honeyeater, like the Dusky Honeyeater, were all over the flowers. They even came up to the shrubs by the Cottage where we were sitting having afternoon tea. Why do birds always seem to show up for photo opportunities when you are trying to eat and drink? Well worth the tea going cold this time though!

White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis)

This White-throated Honeyeater was another visitor to the bird bath.

More birds from Amamoor B&B next time.

Bath Time at Ride on Mary Bush Retreat

On our last visit to Bush Retreat it was Spring, and we recorded 46 species during our stay. This time it was Summer, with the end total down to 34 species. This is a small property of 10 acres with 2 small dams for water, and a gully that flows for only a short time after rain. The weather was very hot and humid, and the birds were not calling very much. The bird bath was very popular though in the early morning.

White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis)

White-throated Honeyeater & Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Lichenostomus chrysops)

Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii) & Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Lewin's Honeyeater

Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta) &

White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaeus)

White-throated Treecreeper

Brown Honeyeater

Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus)

Bath with a view

If it got much hotter, I was going to try out the bath without fire under it to heat the water.

Open air shower

Bush Retreat

TCB Bird Walk Continued

Continuing along the Tin Can Bay Foreshore Bird Walk, we came across this Magpie-lark in the process of building its nest. It was gathering feathers, grass and spiderwebs, before mixing these with mud from a pool of water on one of the tracks not far from its nest site.

Click on photos to enlarge

Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca)

A bit further along the walk we saw some White-throated Honeyeaters and Brown Honeyeaters anting among leaves. They seemed to take no notice of us at all allowing us plenty of time to observe their antics while doing this.

White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis)

This one seemed to have a look that says "What are you looking at"

New take on shower with a friend. Better to ant with a friend.

Time to rearrange the feathers.

Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta)

Not to be out done by the White-throated Honeyeaters, this pair of Brown Honeyeaters joined in as well.

A view along the Bird Walk.

White-throated Honeyeater

This White-throated Honeyeater was one of a flock of ten foraging for insects among low branches, on tree trunks and even on the ground nearly at our feet as we prepared for a recent wader count. They were either too close for photography or too shaded, but we managed this one decent shot. It was one of those "memorable moments" in bird-watching, as most often this species is found higher in the trees.

Click on photo to enlarge

White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis)