Here is a final "wrap" following a recent afternoon visit to Candlebark Reserve on the Yarra River in Templestowe, one of Melbourne's bushier suburbs.
The trail passes between the Yarra River and Petty's Orchards. I was surprised to find a large mob of wild Eastern Grey Kangaroo lounging among the rows of apple trees.
With the impressive scientific name Macropus giganteus Eastern Grey Kangaroo may feel they have every right to recline wherever and whenever they like!
iPhone shot of a wintry day in the orchard
"But where are the birds?"
"Yeah, where are the birds?"
"There are usually birds here somewhere."
"There's one over here mate!" pointed out a massive male roo gesturing towards a Magpie-lark
And there was certainly plenty to interest a birder on this slightly grey day (see also two other posts from this same afternoon featuring Rainbow lorikeets and Australasian darter). Rosellas in particular were providing some colour...
Eastern rosella (I suspect the male at right), also in Paddy's Orchards but taken from the Yarra Trail
Eastern rosella enjoying seeds from winter grasses
Crimson rosella. Unclear from this photo but "left-handed" is usually the case!
Crimson rosella developing adult plumage (will lose the green and become a magnificent crimson and blue parrot)
Australian king-parrot
Next are some images of the many Common bronzewings that I came across. I was getting frustrated as I kept inadvertently flushing these guys without seeing them first. Finally I started getting a few shots shown here. The last two are more in keeping with the adult male plumage (small thumbnails, but some nice colours here if you care to click for the larger versions).
Noisy miner on the orchard fence
A young-looking Grey butcherbird
I don't think I've held my camera to the introduced European starling before - but my, what colour!
Back to the river for some water birds. We have here Little black and Little pied cormorants, Wood duck and Dusky moorhen (swimming with the milk bottle).
A large feral domestic duck-thing and a Chestnut teal
This bend appears to be a favoured roost for cormorants and darter.
I have also seen Azure kingfisher here. I will be back!!
The remaining shots show a little of the locale. The trail is part of the Main Yarra Trail which caters for pedestrians, dog walkers and cyclists. Yes, there is company!
The views depict the good and not-so-good of suburban bushland. One continually comes across rubbish (particularly in the river), weeds, and erosion. On the other hand there is evidence of improvements to accessibility with good trails (including boardwalks) and areas with fresh plantings of native vegetation.
Wombat hole at left (there were many!). Yarra River at right
I have learnt not to ignore the sound of beak on wood.
Hearing the sound of something working away at a branch or bark had me scanning the canopy at Candlebark Reserve the other day. In my mind I'm always about to see Crested shrike-tit!
On this occasion I eventually found the source of the noise which was a pair of Rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) taking it in turns to work on a potential nesting site.
"Lorikeet A" continues to dig away at the hollow releasing small bits of chewed up wood below.
"Lorikeet A" clambers out while "B" inspects the progress
"Oh you've missed a bit"
"Lorikeet B" adjusts things while "A" preens (always fascinated to see the Rainbow lorikeet black underwing)
"Aahh, I hate getting sawdust in my eyes"
In Victoria we are well supplied with tree hollows of this size and the Rainbow lorikeets seem to do well. It is the larger hollows of older growth forests that are sought by the larger cockatoos and owls which are causing trouble for these birds.
I had some good opportunities to observe Australasian darterAnhinga novaehollandiae the other day along Melbourne's Yarra River. Coming across both male and female birds enabled appreciation of their contrasting appearance.
The pictures were taken while walking along the Main Yarra Trail starting at a Fitzsimmon's Lane car park and heading upstream to the amazing Petty's Orchard.
Australasian darter. I suspect the female bird. It is my understanding that the immature birds look similar but are paler again and have a less distinct "neck streak".
At a few points along this stretch of the Yarra River there are some deciduous plantings lending some late Autumn colour.
More typical vegetation, Yarra River, Templestowe
And how about that neck! No wonder they are also known as Snake-birds (even more striking in the water)!
And here's a minute of video I shot of an Australasian Darter swimming at Noosa Heads in Queensland in 2006. I remember watching this bird for several minutes and was impressed with how skilfully it moved underwater. It's efficiency of movement and spooky potential as an underwater hunter left me with an eerie feeling as well.
Unfortunately this doesn't really come across in the video! I was probably wearing polaroids.
More links:
Wikipedia's Darter page describing the 4 species of the genus Anhinga worldwide
