You Yangs - Scarlet robins, Rufous whistler

I battled the Sunday morning fitness army at the You Yangs last weekend. The place was swarming with cyclists and runners. Without even locating the Tawny frogmouths I left the car park throng after only a few minutes (do they still hang around there?).

I was pleased to eventually find a little solitude around the gravel pits area near where Kurrajong Ave leaves the Great Circle Drive. Restless flycatcher, Striated thornbill, Dusky woodswallow and a few choughs were active here. New Holland and White-plumed were the only honeyeaters identified. I had seen Diamond firetail here in the past but not today.

The next place I stopped was to walk a 100m or so along the Branding Yard Rd. It was here that I had a lovely time with a Rufous whistler and a pair of Scarlet robin. A Shining bronze-cuckoo was hanging around but avoided my camera.

Rufous whistler giving it all, You Yangs, 21 Sept 2014

That was pretty good huh!?

Scarlet robin (male), You Yangs

Scarlet robin - female

Female Superb fairy-wren reaches for a better view of the camera man

Superb fairy-wren

White-naped honeyeater on to something stuck between two leaves 

Striated thornbill was good for my year list

Striated thornbill

A peculiar collection of leftovers include Red-rumped parrot, Pied currawong, Dusky woodswallow and Restless flycatcher ...

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Bird on!

Bird Week Day 5 - A Peregrine & Pardalote Day, Phillip Island birds

"Peregrine" and "Pardalote"- two gorgeous sounding words that also just happen to be associated with the most wonderful of creatures!

Falco peregrinus arises from the Latin per and agri - literally "from abroad" or subsequently "wandering". I gather the northern hemisphere peregrines are inclined to migrate. I had jumped out of the car recently at Oswin Roberts Sanctuary (Phillip Island) and had one of those great car park moments when you know the birds are "on"! Looking up I saw the silhouette of a falcon purposefully gliding across the small arc of sky I had vision of. 'Grabbed the camera and managed one shot:

Peregrine falcon flying over Oswin Roberts Sanctuary

My impression is that the name "Pardalote" is a name known only to birders or those that have had a close experience with these beautifully marked birds. I  gather that Pardalotus refers to being "spotted" and arises from Greek origins. Although I could hear many Spotted pardalote on this day at Oswin Roberts (I am inclined to think of it as Ozzie Bob's) it was the Striated pardalote that was providing most photo opportunities:

Striated pardalote checking out tree-hollow nesting options, September 2013

The next three photos were taken within a minute or two of each other when passing through a small-bird hot spot!

Brown thornbill, Oswin Roberts Sanctuary

White-browed scrub wren, Oswin Roberts Sanctuary

Superb fairy-wren, Oswin Roberts Sanctuary

Oswin Roberts Sanctuary is also good for honeyeaters (in addition to those shown Wattlebirds, White-eared honeyeaters are also common) ...

Still struggling for a decent photo of White-naped honeyeater I'm afraid

New Holland honeyeater

Yellow-faced honeyeater

I generally don't leave Ozzie Bobs without seeing an Eastern Yellow Robin at some stage

Dusky woodswallow numbers are seasonal - they are starting to increase again now that Spring is here

Fan-tailed cuckoo 

Grey currawong

iPhone shot of the park's eastern boundary and adjacent farmland where Swamp harriers and Whistling kite are often seen.

Whistling kite

Even by Ozzie Bob standards this was a pretty productive morning!

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday

Bird on!