Satin bowerbirds in active bower, Wee Jasper

This bower adjacent to our accommodation at Swinging Bridge Reserve, Wee Jasper, has been active for a few years now. We visited in January 2012 and again last week.

Satin bowerbird (Chlamydera violaceus) 

Fussing over a prized feather (I suspect a rosella tail feather) ....

and performing minor renovations.

I suspect this "green bird" is an immature male. The colouring differs slightly from the female bird after the third year with the satin blue-black adult plumage evident by seven years. This bird was noticed to be making several adjustments to the bower and its associated blue adornments. I'm not sure how the family politics runs when the younger males start making adjustments to the bower!

Satin bowerbird (immature male) 

Typical Wee Jasper scene

Bird on!

Birds of Sherbrooke Forest

These photos were taken in the evening of two consecutive warm days in Melbourne. The kick-off point was Grants Picnic Area (see Grants on Sherbrooke) which has become known as a destination for parrot feeding. There are barbecues, picnic tables,  a cafe, shop and the opportunity for photos of the family with rosellas perching on the head or any bodily appendage available.

Several trails leave from Grants. These photos were taken along the Lyrebird and Neumann Tracks. The Lyrebird track in particular provides good viewing of excellent lyrebird habitat (a male's explosive calling & mimicry was heard but none seen on this occasion).

On this day I enjoyed some good views of White-throated treecreper

Aren't those talons amazing!

Rufous fantail

The Eastern whipbird has an amazing call but its skulking behaviour amongst the bracken makes it hard to get a decent photograph. I'll keep trying!

Eastern whipbird (above & below)

Eastern yellow robin seeking directions

Eastern spinebill atop a treefern

Closer to Grants Picnic area one starts to come across birds that are accustomed to human contact such as this Crimson rosella.

Galahs look for scraps after "feeding time" is closed. 

Sulphur-crested cockatoo

Below are a couple of shots of what I take to be the official "feeding area" after closing. I didn't see it in full swing but there are feeding trays, information signs and parking for buses!

Echidna - seen on a few occasions

Bird on!

Pelican pouch yoga, Phillip Island

A few interesting observations were made on a gloomy morning at Fishers Wetland, Phillip Island recently. First was the overall impression of a whole heap of pretty happy birds all feeding. We (Richard and I) did enjoy spotting a single Pink-eared duck amongst a mass of Eurasian coot.

Methinks not unlike a Freo supporter amongst the Collingwood coots!

Eurasian coot, Fishers Wetland, 29 December 2012

You know how the bird standing on one leg always brings out the other one just when you conclude it is lame? This one never seemed to and the leg on view seemed huge! 

Cape Barren Goose drinking the brackish Fishers Wetland water

Now on to some pelican behaviour ...

I've not seen this before!

 A little "quality" Internet research brought me to this National Geographic article by David A O'Connor which states:

Pelicans perform strange-looking exercises to stretch and maintain their pouch in a brand of pelican yoga. They will gape, holding their mouths wide open. In another pose, they point the bill straight up to the sky, stretching the pouch. Or most evocatively, a bird will turn its pouch completely inside out by forcing it over its breast.

Teal, dotterels and stilts all happily feeding at Fishers

I've not seen this many Red-kneed dotterel at Phillip Island before

An Australasian shoveler amongst the teal

I leave you with some of the comings and goings. In flight we see Australian pelican, Swamp harrier, Australian shelduck and Cape Barren geese.

Fishers Wetland, Phillip Island, 29 December 2012

Bird on!