Malleefowl - whoa?!

Malleefowl, Mallee

Goodness me! I saw 14 of these on Monday night after I got an email telling me that there had been sightings of 50+ Malleefowl feeding close to a road. This is very unusual. It was so bizarre seeing so many of an endangered species in such a small space and time.

I guess this is what they mean by locally common!

I was a bit early for them when I first drove to the spot and I started going a bit crazy - how far from the road are they? are all those Common Bronzewings actually mini Malleefowl? 

Wild Bird Wednesday

Little bird brain

White-faced Heron, Mildura

I think the front profile of this heron's head is funny! 

The first photo shows the lovely red and green I get when I take photographs at the wetland at the moment. 

I like the front view of the feet too - although I think this is because the three toes remind me of oystercatcher prints on the beach...

Chittery Chat

Apostlebirds, Silver City Highway

Apostlebirds can be real bullies: when I lived at Scotia Sanctuary I once had them completely destroy the Willie Wagtail nest outside my little house. The poor little Willie Wagtail pair were completely out-numbered and dwarfed by the Apostlebirds but they kept trying to defend it, even when all that remained were a couple of twigs. It was horrible.

Yet, Apostlebirds can be very sweet and have some quite endearing qualities. They all chip in to look after the kid/s and they're always looking out for each other. My favourite thing is when they are having a spell in a shady tree and they just softly chitter away to each other. It often seems that they are checking that everyone is ok and reassuring each other. 

My wetland friends

Australian Spotted Crake, Mildura

I've loved watching the crakes! It seems they are least bothered by this when they are really intent on feeding. The one in this photo was about three metres away. 

I haven't been back to see them for about a week because it has been too hot but this weekend I will check on them and the dotterel chicks. No idea where they would move on to while most places are drying out. I'm always amazed by birds and how they find water!

Wild Bird Wednesday - thanks to Stewart for hosting!

Shady spot

Emu, near Broken Hill

We saw plenty of Emus driving around South-western New South Wales but this one had the best real estate!  

Even though there was no water in the creek it was lovely and shady under the big red gums. The river sand was gorgeous too. 

Wild Bird Wednesday

Fun in the sun

Little Black Cormorants, Menindee regulator

This is what I'll feel like doing over the next week or so! 

The forecast for Mildura:

40 degrees celsius = 104 fahrenheit

Occasional Visitor

Yellow-billed Spoonpiper oops bill, Walnut Ave, Mildura

I love watching spoonbills feed, sifting from side to side. Sunday night this bird was wary as it had just flown into a new spot and wouldn't feed, but it was more at home yesterday morning.

The black details on the face and plume are very fine. The silly thing was that I had been having trouble getting a good egret shot (see a couple of posts back), and when I then tried to get the spoonbill, the egret wouldn't get out of the frame!

Click on photo for bigger image...

Wild Bird Wednesday