Amid the deep winter

Let's start with something colourful...

Richmond Birdwing Butterfly

This very beautiful butterfly appears each winter. It is rare and unusual in that it only breeds on the Richmond Birdwing Vine, which, as far as I'm aware, isn't growing at the Holt; however, a friendly council ranger has told me that they are growing in profusion in a reserve that is nearby, so we can presume we're getting the wanderers. I shall obtain some of the vines and see if I can get them growing to see whether they will breed here.

Enjoying nectar from a Grevillea.

Another small visitor that appears to be showing up on a regular basis, regular enough for me to declare them breeding residents are the Spotted Pardalote. These charming little birds are between 8 cms - 10 cms long and nest in holes in steep banks, just as their cousin the Striated Pardalote does (after whom we named the house).  This particular bird appears to have become quite used to me and will sit on a nearby branch to see what I'm up to.

Spotted Pardalote

and when I say "spotted"I mean....

The red rump adds a touch of fire to this small woodland bird

and there's nothing like a good stretch

and without further ado, what did we see in July?


Regulars (Seen daily)

Australian Magpie
Bar-shouldered Dove
Brown Honeyeater

Brown Honeyeater

Common Bronzewing
Double-barred Finch
Eastern Spinebill

Eastern Spinebill

Galah

Galah

Grey Butcherbird
Grey Fantail

Grey Fantail

Laughing Kookaburra
Lewins Honeyeater
Little Corella
Noisy Miner
Pacific Black Duck

Pacific Black Duck

Peaceful Dove
Pied Butcherbird

Pied Butcherbird singing its lungs out.

Pied Currawong
Plumed Whistling Duck
Rainbow Lorikeet

Rainbow Lorikeet

Restless Flycatcher
Silvereye

Silvereyes & Double-barred Finch (above).

Striated Pardalote
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
Torresian Crow
White-throated Gerygone
White-throated Honeyeater
Yellow-faced Honeyeater


Common (Seen Weekly)

Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Golden Whistler

Female Golden Whistler

Grey Shrike Thrush
Noisy Friarbird
Rainbow BeeEater
Rose Robin

Female Rose Robin

Uncommon (Seen occasionally)

Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike
Brown Goshawk
Eastern Whipbird
Eastern Yellow Robin
Grey Shrike Thrush
Hardhead

Hardhead

Masked Plover
Olive-backed Oriole

Olive-backed Oriole

Rufous Whistler
Scarlet Honeyeater
Spotted Pardalote

Spotted Pardalote

Varied Sitella
Welcome Swallow
White-throated Treecreeper
Willie Wagtail
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo


Rare (Seen once)


Blue-faced Honeyeater
Buff-rumped Thornbill
Collared Sparrowhawk
Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Fan Tailed Cuckoo

Figbird
Pale-headed Rosella
Red-browed Finch
Shining Bronze Cuckoo
Wedge-tailed Eagle
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Wood Duck

58-species, which is about all for now.

And for the Non-Aussie's here's a piccie of more of the burnt lands amazing fauna courtesy of someone or other (but not me)!

Pair of Eastern Quolls awaiting release