Out on a limb.
Sep 22nd, 2008 by Duncan
Goannas are the scourge of our nesting birds, and I never thought I’d see one come off second best in a rumble with birds. I did today, but more of that later. I mentioned in a recent blog that I may have some birds after the Heyfield Birders’ outing, and so it turned out. Five of us started the day beside the Avon at Valencia Creek and saw a nice assortment in a small area. My first photos of the day were a Kookaburra and a Common Bronzewing, but I missed one that I’ve been trying for, a good shot of a White-browed Scrubwren. It came to within a metre of me while I was standing still, too close to focus! My shot of the pigeon was taken under very difficult conditions, directly into bright light, but I think I like the result. Click both to enlarge.
Our main walk was to be along a track through the bush, and it started off well as soon as we got out of the vehicles, with three Noisy Friarbirds cackling in their crazy fashion in the foliage high above our heads. The second highlight was one of the best of the day, John’s eagle eye spotted a White-throated Treecreeper taking nesting material into a small hole high in the trunk of a red box tree. Again into the light at long range, so the pictures are a record only.
A nice selection of birds including Striated Thornbills, Yellow-tufted and White-naped Honeyeaters, Eastern Yellow Robin, and male and female Golden Whistler kept us busy until Gouldiae spotted this bloke sunning him/her self on the rocks in the creek bed. Its skin is quite dull having just come out of hibernation, it will be glistening black when it sheds its skin. Notice how it’s flattened its body to soak up as much of the sun as possible.
And now to the title of this post, on the walk back to the vehicles we saw and heard White-winged Choughs up ahead. And hear them we did, they were really going to town, which gave us the clue that they were harassing a goanna. As we approached they drove it higher and higher, until it was out on a dead limb barely able to support its weight. And indeed as we watched, a sizeable piece broke and fell to the ground. Click and F11 for full size.
Lunch beside the river was welcome after all the excitement, and a walk upstream afterwards added Crescent and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Spotted Pardalotes, Blue Wrens, Red-browed Finches and Satin Bowerbirds to the list. A sunny Spring day, good company, good sightings, and wildflowers, what more could you ask for.
It sounds like a very good day indeed. Good one for the birds vs the goanna! Sometimes the photos we take just for a record are the most prized – not for perfect photos but for great birding moments.
Sounds like a great day out. Did the goanna fall or just the branch?
It was Mick, and good to see the birds win for a change. I hope to get better pictures of the treecreepers, I’ll go back in the afternoon when the sun’s in a better position.
Just part of the branch Alan, there would have been a scatter if the goanna had come down on us!
Hi Duncan,
There might also have been a cheer if the Goanna had fallen – even if only from the Choughs.
Great post.
Loved the upside-down Treecreeper.
Denis
Not much else you could ask for. Sounds like one of those days that sticks in the mind always. I like the pigeon photo too. The bleaching out behind highlights even more the wonderful feathering on the back of the bird. Lovely!
Denis, my liking for choughs went up a few more notches after seeing that!
Jenny, the pigeon photo is becoming one of my favourites because of the reason you mention.
Hey Duncan – Great day out Huh?
I had my first close encounter with the Common Bronze-wing the other day, and of course the inevitable scenario – golf clubs but no camera! Great shot of the WW Choughs and goanna though – love these delightful busy birds.
Time to put the camera into the golf buggy Lindell!
Hey Duncan, you have to love those days when you are in the right place at the right time and you’re able to spot so many great birds. Sometimes everything is just right with the world. I love the photo of the Chough, the Kookaburra (you gotta love a bird with a name like that) and , of course, the Treecreeper.
G’day Larry, it was one of those days, made up for the quiet ones which have been frequent with the drought conditions. Cheers!