Hi all, In the last few months out birding, I’ve had a couple of occasions where I’ve had to stop and wonder at the amazing luck or timing at seeing two birds together in the same field of view. The first one was whilst birding in Wyperfeld National Park in early October. We got onto a small group of Crimson Chats (the only ones I saw in Victoria this spring) and were following them, trying for better views. This happened to be in the territory of a Red-capped Robin family, who were feeding recently fledged young. Without seeking it out, it did happen that a male Crimson Chat and the male Red-capped Robin perched next to each other for a few fleeting moments. It was wonderous!! The second moment that had me temporarily speechless was at Werribee just a few days ago. A raptor was flying across the bay near The Spit. Because of the location it took me a while to realise that it was in fact an adult Spotted Harrier, usually a creature of treeless grasslands. It was well out over the water, and was setting up all the waders and duck in the area at the time. That was when I spotted the Arctic Skua. The Skua, clearly thinking that this was it’s own personal domain, gave the Harrier a bit of an aggressive flyby, with a twist in the air, just to let it know who should really be out there amongst the waves. I’m guessing I won’t see those two species interacting again in a hurry. I wonder what interesting, unusual or just plain fantastic bird combinations others have come across? Cheers, Simon Starr _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Great sightings Simon. I think my most unusual juxtaposition was of a Little Curlew and a Sanderling on the Cairns Esplanade some years back. This is not the ‘right’ habitat for either species though both have been seen here either before or since by others. The Little Curlew had obviously just arrived and was exhausted, it only shifted when it absolutely had to. When the Sanderling ran across in front of it I so wished I had not left my camera behind. Regards, Alan Alan’s Wildlife Tours 2 Mather Road Yungaburra 4884 Phone 07 4095 3784 Mobile 0408 953 786 http://www.alanswildlifetours.com.au/ _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Hi Simon and BA Hot day in the You Yangs yesterday. Found 3 juvenile Dusky Woodswallows sharing a tree crevice at ground level with 3 young Varied Sittellas, 2 adult Jacky Winters and a Willie Wagtail. They were all beside each other in a line – woodswallows in the deepest, shadiest spot, sittellas on the outer. The babies all looked a bit shocked – fancy encountering a 44 degree day within weeks of hatching! Later (7.30pm) I sat beside a small dam and watched bird after bird drinking with 6 Swamp Wallabies. I was in the You Yangs for work – wouldn’t have been there by choice! Janine JANINE DUFFY Director Marketing & Research ECHIDNA WALKABOUT PO Box 370 Port Melbourne 3207 AUSTRALIA Email: janine@echidnawalkabout.com.au Web: http://www.echidnawalkabout.com.au Tel: +61 (0)3 9646 8249 Fax: +61 (0)3 9681 9177 ABN: 72 716 985 505 Sent via Blackberry —–Original Message—– Sender: “Birding-Aus” < birding-aus-bounces@birding-aus.org> Hi all, In the last few months out birding, I’ve had a couple of occasions where I’ve had to stop and wonder at the amazing luck or timing at seeing two birds together in the same field of view. The first one was whilst birding in Wyperfeld National Park in early October. We got onto a small group of Crimson Chats (the only ones I saw in Victoria this spring) and were following them, trying for better views. This happened to be in the territory of a Red-capped Robin family, who were feeding recently fledged young. Without seeking it out, it did happen that a male Crimson Chat and the male Red-capped Robin perched next to each other for a few fleeting moments. It was wonderous!! The second moment that had me temporarily speechless was at Werribee just a few days ago. A raptor was flying across the bay near The Spit. Because of the location it took me a while to realise that it was in fact an adult Spotted Harrier, usually a creature of treeless grasslands. It was well out over the water, and was setting up all the waders and duck in the area at the time. That was when I spotted the Arctic Skua. The Skua, clearly thinking that this was it’s own personal domain, gave the Harrier a bit of an aggressive flyby, with a twist in the air, just to let it know who should really be out there amongst the waves. I’m guessing I won’t see those two species interacting again in a hurry. I wonder what interesting, unusual or just plain fantastic bird combinations others have come across? Cheers, Simon Starr _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org