Pardalote Holt

Monday, August 13, 2012

Dry July

Two days of showers mid-month, but otherwise a typical Queensland winter with dry warm days and chilly evenings with the temperature dropping down to +1 degree on the odd night. This is a great time of year for the birder as the number of small birds rise quickly and the surrounding bush appears to be full of mixed flocks containing Rufous and Golden Whistlers, Grey Fantails and Varied Sitella. Around the Grevilleas we now have at least 4 pairs of Eastern Spinebills and the Scarlet Honeyeaters are appearing with increasing frequency, whilst the dam is becoming crowded with ducks. I have to admit its the small birds that get me going. Standing quietly on the end of the dam with two dozen birds and a range of varieties just gives me a real buzz.

I was sitting on the back deck enjoying a cigar one evening when a Fruit Bat flew over swiftly pursued by a huge Barking Owl. It was split seconds before both were lost in the gloom, but that's one awesome bird and it's great to know that they are around.

The big excitement at Pardalote Holt was twofold this month. Firstly we had our solar panelling installed, meaning even more self sufficiency,

and we built a chicken coup (kit) as we plan to start breeding.

The new Chook House

We identified the chooks we wanted, Salmon Faverolle, and in next months post you will be introduced to Pierre le Coq and his harem of chooks.

One of the ramifications of installing the solar panels was that we had to remove three trees, two Tallow Woods and a Bloodwood that threw too much shadow onto the the panels. It was a pity to have to take trees down, but the arborist said that the largest of the Tallow Woods was rotten and could have fallen on the garage, so it needed removing anyway. For cost reasons I got the professionals to take them down, but I chose to take on the task of clearing up, so I have many weekends with the chainsaw and chipper in front of me.

Timberrrr!

This is a long job, but it's providing ample firewood, which is handy for the chilly nights we're having. There you go, I spend $$$ on solar panelling to save the planet and then cut down trees and burn them on the the fireplace....madness!

The Birds of July

Regulars (Seen at least x5 per week.)

Pacific Black Duck
Wood Duck
Mallard Duck
Bronzewing
Bar-shouldered Dove
Peaceful Dove
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
Galah
Rainbow Lorikeet
Pale-headed Rosella

Australian Magpie
Torresian Crow
Pied Currawong
Eastern Spinebill
Eastern Whipbird
Double-barred Finch
Brown Honeyeater
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
Lewins Honeyeater
Eastern Whipbird
Rainbow Bee-eater

Rainbow Bee-eater drinking on the wing.

Noisy Miner
Golden Whistler
Rufous Whistler
Silver-eye
Striated Paradalote

Striated Pardalote

Laughing Kookaburra
Grey Fantail
Bush Turkey
Welcome Swallow

Common (Seen at least x2 per week.)

Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike
Brown Cuckoo Dove
Eastern Yellow Robin
Grey Shrike Thrush

King Parrot
Magpie Lark
Pied Butcherbird

Scarlet-backed Fairy Wren
Scarlet Honeyeater

Scarlet Honeyeater in the Honey Gem Grevilleas

Varied Sitella
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Willie Wagtail
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo

Uncommon (Seen 2-3 times during the month)

Brown Treecreeper

Forest Kingfisher
Little Shrike-thrush
Little Wattlebird
Mistletoe Bird
Satin Flycatcher
Scarlet Robin
Spangled Drongo
Variegated Fairy Wren