I’ve counted only the one sparrow and maybe up to a dozen scouting starlings looking at the local mulberry potential. Meanwhile, there is a family of apostle birds that visit every day and about two dozen white winged choughs that visit maybe twice a day. This is apart from the ubiquitous mallee ring necked parrots and the constituent patrol of white rumped miners, the small groups of red rumps and quarrions, variegated wrens magpies mudlarks and crested pigeons. Yesterday I heard some finches quickly passing and there are small flocks of lorikeets, mainly rainbow but also scaly breasted hanging about. I really haven’t seen my usual quotient of Major Mitchells for which I can only blame the upsurgence in plantings of almonds. ie: they are being shot at.

I also have a pair of bronze winged pigeons that seem to be relaxed enough to be seen on the main street of the village.

I had a pair of black ducks in my yard today.

I’ve got the standard suburban birds, in particular a family of grey butcher birds that did very well on disturbed insects and lizards when I was mowing today.

Peak Warming Man said:

I’ve got the standard suburban birds, in particular a family of grey butcher birds that did very well on disturbed insects and lizards when I was mowing today.

I get the grey butcher birds in the winter months but by now it is the pied butcherbird that is calling. I’ve noted the numbers of galahs are nowhere near as many as there have been in the past but wheat harvest should begin soon and that usually is about when I get hundreds in my big yellow box tree out front.

mollwollfumble said:

I had a pair of black ducks in my yard today.

I see a pair in the memorial park I walk through to go to work each day. They must feel safer in the middle of town. No one can shoot them there.

roughbarked said:

mollwollfumble said:

I had a pair of black ducks in my yard today.

I see a pair in the memorial park I walk through to go to work each day. They must feel safer in the middle of town. No one can shoot them there.

A pair of Currawongs, tribe of Kookaburras, lots of honeyeaters (don’t know which kinds).

Tamb said:

roughbarked said:

mollwollfumble said:

I had a pair of black ducks in my yard today.

I see a pair in the memorial park I walk through to go to work each day. They must feel safer in the middle of town. No one can shoot them there.

A pair of Currawongs, tribe of Kookaburras, lots of honeyeaters (don’t know which kinds).

I get kookaburras regularly as well. The numbers of honetyeaters seem to have dropped off as well. I used to always have spiny cheeked honeyeaters but see them rarely now. Various types come at different times according to what is flowering. For example when the bottlebrushes flower, I get little friar birds that I never see at any other time of year. I commonly get blue faced honeyeaters and there are often furious battles between them and the white rumped miners.

roughbarked said:

Tamb said:

roughbarked said:

I see a pair in the memorial park I walk through to go to work each day. They must feel safer in the middle of town. No one can shoot them there.

A pair of Currawongs, tribe of Kookaburras, lots of honeyeaters (don’t know which kinds).

I get kookaburras regularly as well. The numbers of honetyeaters seem to have dropped off as well. I used to always have spiny cheeked honeyeaters but see them rarely now. Various types come at different times according to what is flowering. For example when the bottlebrushes flower, I get little friar birds that I never see at any other time of year. I commonly get blue faced honeyeaters and there are often furious battles between them and the white rumped miners.

The Butcherbirds seem to have move out but I’m sure they’ll be back. The Lorikeets & other parrots are gone also.

Tamb said:

roughbarked said:

Tamb said:

A pair of Currawongs, tribe of Kookaburras, lots of honeyeaters (don’t know which kinds).

I get kookaburras regularly as well. The numbers of honetyeaters seem to have dropped off as well. I used to always have spiny cheeked honeyeaters but see them rarely now. Various types come at different times according to what is flowering. For example when the bottlebrushes flower, I get little friar birds that I never see at any other time of year. I commonly get blue faced honeyeaters and there are often furious battles between them and the white rumped miners.

The Butcherbirds seem to have move out but I’m sure they’ll be back. The Lorikeets & other parrots are gone also.

Are butcherbirds migratory?

The grey butcherbird will disappear from our garden sometimes for years, but we had one here last week.

Plenty of rainbow lorikeets of course. Rosella in my street on the power line yesterday. The currawongs have moved in permanently, there were none at all the first five years we lived here, but they only visit my yard on rare occasions. Have a baby little raven the past few days, full size and looks adult but still only takes food from parents beak.

Extremely jealous of roughbarked & transition :-)

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

roughbarked said:

I get kookaburras regularly as well. The numbers of honetyeaters seem to have dropped off as well. I used to always have spiny cheeked honeyeaters but see them rarely now. Various types come at different times according to what is flowering. For example when the bottlebrushes flower, I get little friar birds that I never see at any other time of year. I commonly get blue faced honeyeaters and there are often furious battles between them and the white rumped miners.

The Butcherbirds seem to have move out but I’m sure they’ll be back. The Lorikeets & other parrots are gone also.

Are butcherbirds migratory?

The grey butcherbird will disappear from our garden sometimes for years, but we had one here last week.

Plenty of rainbow lorikeets of course. Rosella in my street on the power line yesterday. The currawongs have moved in permanently, there were none at all the first five years we lived here, but they only visit my yard on rare occasions. Have a baby little raven the past few days, full size and looks adult but still only takes food from parents beak.

Extremely jealous of roughbarked & transition :-)

To make up for the lack of birds I have a fine collection of reptiles wandering about. Lace monitors, carpet snakes, skinks, scalaris & two lined dragons.

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

The Butcherbirds seem to have move out but I’m sure they’ll be back. The Lorikeets & other parrots are gone also.

Are butcherbirds migratory?

The grey butcherbird will disappear from our garden sometimes for years, but we had one here last week.

Plenty of rainbow lorikeets of course. Rosella in my street on the power line yesterday. The currawongs have moved in permanently, there were none at all the first five years we lived here, but they only visit my yard on rare occasions. Have a baby little raven the past few days, full size and looks adult but still only takes food from parents beak.

Extremely jealous of roughbarked & transition :-)

To make up for the lack of birds I have a fine collection of reptiles wandering about. Lace monitors, carpet snakes, skinks, scalaris & two lined dragons.

Boody hell. Extremely jealous of you, too. :-) i count myself lucky if I see one reptile a year.

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Are butcherbirds migratory?

The grey butcherbird will disappear from our garden sometimes for years, but we had one here last week.

Plenty of rainbow lorikeets of course. Rosella in my street on the power line yesterday. The currawongs have moved in permanently, there were none at all the first five years we lived here, but they only visit my yard on rare occasions. Have a baby little raven the past few days, full size and looks adult but still only takes food from parents beak.

Extremely jealous of roughbarked & transition :-)

To make up for the lack of birds I have a fine collection of reptiles wandering about. Lace monitors, carpet snakes, skinks, scalaris & two lined dragons.

Boody hell. Extremely jealous of you, too. :-) i count myself lucky if I see one reptile a year.

This sounds like a tall tale but it is true.
I was cutting up some meat for tonight’s meal when a kookaburra flew in & stole a lump of meat off the cutting board where I was working. Grabbed the meat & flew out again to a tree where it started to bash the meat to make it small enough to swallow. Bastard.

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

To make up for the lack of birds I have a fine collection of reptiles wandering about. Lace monitors, carpet snakes, skinks, scalaris & two lined dragons.

Boody hell. Extremely jealous of you, too. :-) i count myself lucky if I see one reptile a year.

This sounds like a tall tale but it is true.
I was cutting up some meat for tonight’s meal when a kookaburra flew in & stole a lump of meat off the cutting board where I was working. Grabbed the meat & flew out again to a tree where it started to bash the meat to make it small enough to swallow. Bastard.

Helping itself from the buffet board :)

Bubblecar said:

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Boody hell. Extremely jealous of you, too. :-) i count myself lucky if I see one reptile a year.

This sounds like a tall tale but it is true.
I was cutting up some meat for tonight’s meal when a kookaburra flew in & stole a lump of meat off the cutting board where I was working. Grabbed the meat & flew out again to a tree where it started to bash the meat to make it small enough to swallow. Bastard.

Helping itself from the buffet board :)

Next time I’ll close the window first.

Tamb said:

Bubblecar said:

Tamb said:

This sounds like a tall tale but it is true.
I was cutting up some meat for tonight’s meal when a kookaburra flew in & stole a lump of meat off the cutting board where I was working. Grabbed the meat & flew out again to a tree where it started to bash the meat to make it small enough to swallow. Bastard.

Helping itself from the buffet board :)

Next time I’ll close the window first.

Have registered for the bird count now.

By “flew in” do you mean flew into the house?!

I wasn’t kidding about seeing a reptile only once a year. Last time i saw a reptile was late October 2018.

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

Bubblecar said:

Helping itself from the buffet board :)

Next time I’ll close the window first.

Have registered for the bird count now.

By “flew in” do you mean flew into the house?!

I wasn’t kidding about seeing a reptile only once a year. Last time i saw a reptile was late October 2018.

Yes. flew into the kitchen & onto the bench where I was cutting the meat.

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

Next time I’ll close the window first.

Have registered for the bird count now.

By “flew in” do you mean flew into the house?!

I wasn’t kidding about seeing a reptile only once a year. Last time i saw a reptile was late October 2018.

Yes. flew into the kitchen & onto the bench where I was cutting the meat.

First “normal” early-season Koel call today. Been hearing late-season calls on and off for a couple of weeks.

Michael V said:

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Have registered for the bird count now.

By “flew in” do you mean flew into the house?!

I wasn’t kidding about seeing a reptile only once a year. Last time i saw a reptile was late October 2018.

Yes. flew into the kitchen & onto the bench where I was cutting the meat.

First “normal” early-season Koel call today. Been hearing late-season calls on and off for a couple of weeks.

Gearing up for the bird count by scouting locations.
Today’s bird of the day. Crested Grebe, seen at Braeside Park.

mollwollfumble said:

Michael V said:

Tamb said:

Yes. flew into the kitchen & onto the bench where I was cutting the meat.

First “normal” early-season Koel call today. Been hearing late-season calls on and off for a couple of weeks.

Gearing up for the bird count by scouting locations.
Today’s bird of the day. Crested Grebe, seen at Braeside Park.

No bird of the day today. But did manage Great Egret, Swamp Harrier and Yellow-faced Honeyeater. OK birds.

I did mention hearing the little kingfisher arriving. Right now I can hear the semitone scale of a pallid cuckoo.

roughbarked said:

I did mention hearing the little kingfisher arriving. Right now I can hear the semitone scale of a pallid cuckoo.

Ah, pallid cuckoo, never had a confirmed sighting, i keep forgetting the song from one year to the next or get fooled by a warbler immitating it.

Bird of the day:

Today – pink-eared duck, a pair at Springvale cemetery.
Yesterday – jacky winter at Beamaris yacht club, not far from a sacred kingfisher.
The day before – a flock of black cockatoos in North Frankston

roughbarked said:

Yesterday I walked past the weeping mulberry to take a photograph of something, walking along looking at my phone. Found my first ripe tomato, walked back past the mulberry, stopped to take a photo of the tomato to send in a text. Sneezed and flap flap a bronzewing pigeon parted my hair as it flew up from right behind me, startled by the sneeze. I had walked past it twice without seeiing it. I mention this largely because it is the first time in forty years that I have recorded a bronzewing in this yard. Back in the 70’s, research proved that a ban should be made upon the practice of killing these birds for food in my area as they had become endangered of extinction.

shifted from a wong fred to here.

Every day I go for a walk to see if I can track down exactly where the frogmouths are hooming from. A mostly fruitless task. Other times I reckon if I had a phone already set to movie mode, I could capture several species of birds attacking my fruit trees. This morn there were blue faced honeyeaters and ring-necks amongst the miners and unfortunately something got my fat pigeon mother which was used to following me around the yard.

I saw a friend off and went to fo inside and the raucous calls of excited birds drew my attention. I tracked it right into the back corner of my yard under the lemon tree and suddenly a sparrowhawk flew up with what was most likely a male blackbird en talon.

roughbarked said:

I saw a friend off and went to fo inside and the raucous calls of excited birds drew my attention. I tracked it right into the back corner of my yard under the lemon tree and suddenly a sparrowhawk flew up with what was most likely a male blackbird en talon.

A sparrowhawk, wonderful.
I’ve only seen a sparrowhawk (or it may have been a goshawk), once in my life. It had killed a bird within two metres of my front gate. I found out it had a nest in one of the largest nearby parks..

The “The 2019 species list for Australia and the states/territories” hasn’t been completed yet. When it does, I’ll have four years of data, which is just barely enough information for me to start plotting population trends for all the most commonly seen birds in every state. (It takes 2 years to get an estimate of the mean, 3 years to get an estimate of the variance, and 4 years to get an estimate of the trend). Even then, random factors such as the wetting and drying of Australia’s interior can make a mess of trend estimates.

mollwollfumble said:

roughbarked said:

I saw a friend off and went to fo inside and the raucous calls of excited birds drew my attention. I tracked it right into the back corner of my yard under the lemon tree and suddenly a sparrowhawk flew up with what was most likely a male blackbird en talon.

A sparrowhawk, wonderful.
I’ve only seen a sparrowhawk (or it may have been a goshawk), once in my life. It had killed a bird within two metres of my front gate. I found out it had a nest in one of the largest nearby parks..

The “The 2019 species list for Australia and the states/territories” hasn’t been completed yet. When it does, I’ll have four years of data, which is just barely enough information for me to start plotting population trends for all the most commonly seen birds in every state. (It takes 2 years to get an estimate of the mean, 3 years to get an estimate of the variance, and 4 years to get an estimate of the trend). Even then, random factors such as the wetting and drying of Australia’s interior can make a mess of trend estimates.

I actually had sparrowhawks nest in my Silky Oak above my carport for around a decade. They produced around ten offspring. I’m counting the ones that survived. They then moved to another tree in a yard across the road. Maybe they thought I was paying too much attention to their nest, hanging about pointing cameras at them.

roughbarked said:

mollwollfumble said:

roughbarked said:

I saw a friend off and went to fo inside and the raucous calls of excited birds drew my attention. I tracked it right into the back corner of my yard under the lemon tree and suddenly a sparrowhawk flew up with what was most likely a male blackbird en talon.

A sparrowhawk, wonderful.
I’ve only seen a sparrowhawk (or it may have been a goshawk), once in my life. It had killed a bird within two metres of my front gate. I found out it had a nest in one of the largest nearby parks..

The “The 2019 species list for Australia and the states/territories” hasn’t been completed yet. When it does, I’ll have four years of data, which is just barely enough information for me to start plotting population trends for all the most commonly seen birds in every state. (It takes 2 years to get an estimate of the mean, 3 years to get an estimate of the variance, and 4 years to get an estimate of the trend). Even then, random factors such as the wetting and drying of Australia’s interior can make a mess of trend estimates.

I actually had sparrowhawks nest in my Silky Oak above my carport for around a decade. They produced around ten offspring. I’m counting the ones that survived. They then moved to another tree in a yard across the road. Maybe they thought I was paying too much attention to their nest, hanging about pointing cameras at them.

That seems a large clutch size. The Australian Museum thinks three to four. Or are you talking about the offspring over the ten year period?

https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/animals/birds/collared-sparrowhawk/

buffy said:

roughbarked said:

mollwollfumble said:

A sparrowhawk, wonderful.
I’ve only seen a sparrowhawk (or it may have been a goshawk), once in my life. It had killed a bird within two metres of my front gate. I found out it had a nest in one of the largest nearby parks..

The “The 2019 species list for Australia and the states/territories” hasn’t been completed yet. When it does, I’ll have four years of data, which is just barely enough information for me to start plotting population trends for all the most commonly seen birds in every state. (It takes 2 years to get an estimate of the mean, 3 years to get an estimate of the variance, and 4 years to get an estimate of the trend). Even then, random factors such as the wetting and drying of Australia’s interior can make a mess of trend estimates.

I actually had sparrowhawks nest in my Silky Oak above my carport for around a decade. They produced around ten offspring. I’m counting the ones that survived. They then moved to another tree in a yard across the road. Maybe they thought I was paying too much attention to their nest, hanging about pointing cameras at them.

That seems a large clutch size. The Australian Museum thinks three to four. Or are you talking about the offspring over the ten year period?

https://australianmuseum.net.au/learn/animals/birds/collared-sparrowhawk/

Yes. One year they had three, another couple of years two. Most years one or less.

It isn’t spring at the moment but this morning on my walk out the back, one lone white faced heron in the back paddock an uncountable flock of white winged choughs flew up startled. at least twenty or thirty. A bunch of apsotle birds, the kookaburras laughed but the pied butcherbirds remained silent. Strange that, when the butcherbirds break out in spirited song at dawn, it is usually going to be a stinking hot day.

roughbarked said:

It isn’t spring at the moment but this morning on my walk out the back, one lone white faced heron in the back paddock an uncountable flock of white winged choughs flew up startled. at least twenty or thirty. A bunch of apsotle birds, the kookaburras laughed but the pied butcherbirds remained silent. Strange that, when the butcherbirds break out in spirited song at dawn, it is usually going to be a stinking hot day.

The paddock out back this morning.

With remnant veg.

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

It isn’t spring at the moment but this morning on my walk out the back, one lone white faced heron in the back paddock an uncountable flock of white winged choughs flew up startled. at least twenty or thirty. A bunch of apsotle birds, the kookaburras laughed but the pied butcherbirds remained silent. Strange that, when the butcherbirds break out in spirited song at dawn, it is usually going to be a stinking hot day.

The paddock out back this morning.

With remnant veg.

What are those trees, roughie?

Peak Warming Man said:

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

It isn’t spring at the moment but this morning on my walk out the back, one lone white faced heron in the back paddock an uncountable flock of white winged choughs flew up startled. at least twenty or thirty. A bunch of apsotle birds, the kookaburras laughed but the pied butcherbirds remained silent. Strange that, when the butcherbirds break out in spirited song at dawn, it is usually going to be a stinking hot day.

The paddock out back this morning.

With remnant veg.

What are those trees, roughie?

Eucalyptus foecunda which I pronounce fuckunder and Acacia homalophylla which is otherwise known as Yarran.

roughbarked said:

Peak Warming Man said:

roughbarked said:

The paddock out back this morning.

With remnant veg.

What are those trees, roughie?

Eucalyptus foecunda which I pronounce fuckunder and Acacia homalophylla which is otherwise known as Yarran.

In the foreground are some Senna artisemoides subsp eremophila and some dead hop bush.

I seem to have an abundance of New Holland Honeyeaters. Never seen this many hanging around.

ChrispenEvan said:

I seem to have an abundance of New Holland Honeyeaters. Never seen this many hanging around.

Big electrical storm last night. Only 8.4mm of rain.
Birds are a bit quiet except the Koels & the baby Currawongs.

What I have noted and I doubt that it is drought so much but more likely the expansion of almond orchard, the count of Major Mitchells appeariing in my backyard has dropped off dramatically.
I don’t see 60 or more at this time of year these days. In fact I rarely see this at all now.

roughbarked said:

What I have noted and I doubt that it is drought so much but more likely the expansion of almond orchard, the count of Major Mitchells appeariing in my backyard has dropped off dramatically.
I don’t see 60 or more at this time of year these days. In fact I rarely see this at all now.

Well, I had yellow-tailed black cockatoos in my yard for the first time ever this week.
And saw a darter not far away. And crimson rosellas in Melb at the same time (first time for me in Melb.)
So I’m seeing more birds here.

Has the detailed data sheet for the “Backyard bird count spring 2019” arrived yet? https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/2019-results/

No! Obviously, their definition of “soon” differs from mine.