We’re certainly having a winter this year, rain, cold temperatures, and snow down to low altitudes. With many tracks blocked and bridges washed out, it hasn’t been very conducive to birding over the last few weeks. Any port in a storm however, so while in Sale today I took the opportunity to visit the ever reliable Lake Guyatt. I never fail to come away without a picture or two, and that was the case today, there were plenty of water birds, and Superb Blue Wrens were everywhere in small family groups, feeding along the walking tracks.
We’re only halfway through winter but the males are starting to change from eclipse plumage into their breeding finery, and don’t they look scruffy at the moment. They’re starting to feel their oats too, stopping feeding from time to time to chase other males that might be muscling in on their territory.
Coots have moved in in numbers now that the lake has been refreshed, and are feeding on the grass surrounds. There some Black Swans too, and judging by the way one rushed at me in a menacing attitude they’ll have nests on the go very soon, if not already. A less welcome sight was two pairs of Mallards, these exotics interbreed with the Pacific Black Duck to produce hybrids, not a good thing.
The refresh must have also brought fish with it, several Great and Little Pied Cormorants were taking it easy after drying their feathers. These two Greats were sitting on the float where the Darter usually hangs out.
Well, that was a start after a lengthy non birding period, there’s some fine weather forecast for next weekend and we’ve got two survey jobs to do, it’ll be good to get back into it. Click for larger pictures.
Hi there, I’ve been enjoying your blog for a while but have never commented before. Thank you for the info about the Superb Blue Wren. I live in Poowong East, just south of Warragul, and love watching the birds on our little farm. I’ve been wondering what was happening with the wrens’ plumage – where did all the blue go and why do they look so disheveled? Now I know!
G’day Tamsin, thanks for your comment, nice to know that you enjoy the blog. Great little birds the wrens, when the male is in brown eclipse plumage you can tell him apart from the female by his blue tail.
I love those little blue wrens. Our wrens are a bit on the drab side, so it takes a bit of watching to see them. Here in Canada, the male Mallard ducks are more aggressive than the male Black Ducks, so there’s been a lot of interbreeding. I don’t think there are actually many Black Ducks that don’t have at least a little Mallard in their backrground.
There was a gang of wrens at work the other day. I hadn’t seen them there before — maybe it’s because there aren’t hordes of students around the place.
Love the cormorants! (Of course!) The scalloped patterns on their wings and backs fascinate me. I must gets the paints and brushes out. (To paint their portraits, that is. Not to renovate the birds.)
Our fairy wrens are brilliant little birds Bev, I think my favourite is the White-winged Wren, deep blue body and snowy white wings, they live in salt marsh in the north of the state unfortunately.
Gang is a good word to describe them Snail, and yes that scalloped pattern is interesting. I don’t think our enthusiasm for them is shared by anglers though.
Hi Duncan,
I suspect you are right about the anglers. “Shags” (Great Cormorants) are one of the few species not protected in Tasmania, and I think that is largely because of the fishing lobby. Interestingly, we get Great and Little Black, Black-faced and Little Pied cormorants, but almost never get Large Pieds. They do not seem to like to cross Bass Strait!
John, a bloke once told me that after taking over 400 trout from a small mountain stream over about two years they had got scarce. He then went on to blame cormorants!
It’s easy to blame those who don’t have a voice to defend themselves!
Very good site! Thanks!
Cheers Logan.
Nice pictures. The blue wrens are very superb and the white-winged wren sound even more fascinating. I wish we had them over here. I also wish that our winters were as bad as yours appear. In Minnesota our mid winters usually have a foot or more snow on the ground and below zero temps. Not exactly the best time of the year to bird.
I will have to check back because it is really interesting seeing pics of birds that I can not see at home.
Thanks
“Scruffy” is exactly the word!
Even if he looks a bit tatty, that Superb Blue Wren is pretty. My only experience with wrens (house wrens) is that they are little brown specks with big voices. Nice post!
I’ll try and keep the pictures coming Ecobirder.
Won’t be long before they are really superb Ridger.
Thanks Lynne.