Pardalote Holt: The final throw of Autumn

May,May, May, whatever happened in May. Now that I've been writing this blog for a while (since 2010 and have gathered a massive 10-followers in 5-years!) I find it interesting to look back on previous years and compare what's been happening. The number of birds that I have identified appears to increase most years and I believe there are two reasons for that. Firstly I'm becoming better at identifying Australian birds and more familiar with their jizz (jizz is a Birders term referring to the whole of the bird in identification - colours, shape, silhouette, flight patterns, movement, song, etcetera), which has undoubtedly helped me to identify more species. Secondly as the garden matures and the feed plants have really kicked into gear we are definitely attracting more birds. The numbers of Silvereyes and Honeyeaters (of all types) have increased considerably. There have been some losses as one species has been displaced by another, a prime example here being Wood Ducks that were resident, but since the Plumed Whistling Ducks moved in they are now rarely seen at the Holt; having said that you can drive 2-minutes around the corner and they are all over the place, so they are still in the area.

Early morning and this is one group of the more than 60 Plumed Whistling ducks that were on the dam in May.

Although the Southern Hemisphere doesn't experience quite the mass migrations of the north, migration is still common. Silvereyes for example migrate to Queensland from Tasmania and southern Victoria each year. A journey of two-three thousand kilometres, which is remarkable for such a tiny bird. It is in April/May that we see the start of the birds that are migrating up from the south to enjoy the warmer climate offered by Queensland. At the same time there are local migrations.

A Silvereye on a Wild Tobacco bush.

According to a local expert certain species, such as the Grey Fantail, are actually on the mountain escarpment throughout the year, but they move around the mountain as regularly as the normal migrations. I can't say that I'm entirely convinced by the expert's claim, as a number of species are semi-migratory and we see a number throughout the year, but large increases in certain seasons, and I think this more likely then the round around the mountain idea.

It has certainly been a busy month for the Wallabies on our hill. I'm not sure of the size of the local mob as they are usually seen in small groups of 2-4 animals, but there seems to be more and more of them. I think that they are getting more used to us, and of course Cheadle's death in May last year meant that there's no longer a large dog to give them grief.

Red-necked Wallaby

Getting very relaxed at the Holt nowadays.

On the dam the Brisbane Short-necked Turtle, Schnappy, has also started showing a lot more. He's now taken to stepping out to catch some sun occasionally. I'm informed by local Turtle fanciers that this is good for their shells.

Schnappy joins the ducks on the beach.

A bit of sun to harden the old shell up.

Moving away from the wildlife the chook colony is doing well and although we lost the Peahen and two of her chicks, Nitesh and Lady, the remaining chick, are doing well and became free roaming this month. We have also 'inherited' a batch of Guinea Fowl chicks, or Keets as they are called, whom I am hoping will eventually become free ranging as well.

A Baker's Dozen of Keets aged 2-days in their new home for the next few weeks.

So, after all that, let's have a look at what's about at the Holt in May.

Regulars (Seen at least x5 per week)

Bar-shouldered Dove

Bar-shouldered Dove

Bronzewing
Brown Honeyeater
Double-barred Finch

Double-barred Finch

Dusky Moorhen
Eastern Spinebill

Eastern Spinebill at the Pineapple Sage again.

Galah
Grey Fantail
Little Corella
Pacific Black Duck

A steadfast resident at the Holt, a Pacific Black Duck.

Peaceful Dove

The shy Peaceful Dove

Pied Currawong
Plumed Whistling Duck

Plumed Whistling Ducklings

Rainbow Lorikeet

Portrait of a Rainbow Lorikeet

Striated Pardalote
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

Little Corellas (left) and Sulphur Crested Cockatoos (right)

Torresian Crow
White-throated Geygone
White-throated Honeyeater

White-throated Honeyeater

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Yellow-faced Honeyeater after a dip

Common (Seen at least x2 per week)

Grey Shrike Thrush
Golden Whistler
Lewin's Honeyeater

Lewin's Honeyeater

Noisy Miner
Rainbow Bee Eater

Rainbow BeeEater diving down for a dip.

Rose Robin
Rufous Whistler

A male Rufous Whistler

Silvereye

Welcome Swallow
Willie Wagtail

Willie Wagtail enjoying the sun

Uncommon (Seen 2-5 times per month)

Australian Magpie
Azure Kingfisher

Azure Kingfisher on a PurpleThalia frond.

Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike

Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike enjoys a grub.

Blue-faced Honeyeater
Brown Thornbill
Buff-rumped Thornbill

Buff-rumped Thornbill

Eastern Yellow Robin

An Eastern Yellow Robin shares a bush with a Grey Fantail

Grey Goshawk
Laughing Kookaburra

Laughing Kookaburra

Little Pied Cormorant
Noisy Friarbird
Pale-headed Rosella
Pied Butcherbird
Red-backed Fairy Wren

Female Red-backed Fairy Wrens

The male Red-backed Fairy Wren

Red-browed Finch
Top Knot Pigeon

Top Knot Pigeons circling the house.

Wedge-tailed Eagle
White-throated Treecreeper
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo

Early morning visit by the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos.

Yellow Thornbill

Rare (Seen only once in the month)
Brown Cuckoo Dove
Brown Goshawk
Brush Cuckoo
Eastern Whipbird
Fant-tailed Cuckoo
Figbird
King Parrot
Magpie Lark
Mistletoebird
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Scarlet Honeyeater
Spectacled Monarch