Pardalote Holt: October 2020

Monday, October 19, 2020

September, glorious September

Peak birding time and at last pressure at work begins to ease.

I commented early in the year on the absence of Silvereyes, well they still haven't arrived but nature 'abhors a vacuum' and we've noted that the bushes have been busy with Brown and Buff-rumped Thornbills. These tiny little birds (about 9-10 cms long and weighing in at a heft 7-grammes) have been flitting around in the Grevilleas in pursuit of bugs seemingly unconcerned by the chase games being played by the Honeyeaters (Brown, Scarlet and White-throated) who prefer the nectar provided by the flowers. Indeed, the Brown Thornbills are far more interested in inspecting the dead flowers where the juicy bugs are lurking.

Brown Thornbill

Buff-rumped Thornbill

Meanwhile, back on the gradually evaporating dam my Rainbows (fish) are being culled by an Intermediate Egret who seems to have set up home.

Hunting from the long grass at the waters edge

Success, a fat, juice Rainbow fish.

It's a good job that the Rainbows are such prolific breeders.

Talking about Rainbows, the Rainbow Lorikeetts have been performing their usual acrobatics on the Bottlebrush tree which has flowered well this year.

I'm unsure as to why feeding upside down is so popular

but it's all the rage on the Bottlebrush

The fish are the only thing breeding as its Joey season... I've been very please to see we appear to be getting up to half a dozen Wallabies on the dam wall most morning and at least two of which are carrying joeys. This one looks as if its about time he got out on his own two legs, but perhaps he's the stroppy teenager type.