Jackwin 777: Lathams Snipe

Showing posts with label Lathams Snipe. Show all posts

Thursday, 8 December 2016

Go North -- 09 -- Lakefield National Park

Between the Red Goshawk and our camp for the first night in Lakefield NP, Hahn Crossing, was the Nifold Plain. In the middle of the plain is a sort-of-creek that flows during the wet and had a few connected billabongs remaining. We turned off the road and drove in a hundred metres or so. As we were pulling up, we spotted a bush full of birds. There were 150 Star Finches in the bush, all immature as far as we could tell. We set up our chairs near the edge of one of the billabongs with the light behind us shining on a dead tree that had fallen at the edge of the water -- the perfect place for small birds to come to water.

Star Finch Neochmia ruficauda

A Latham's Snipe, probably hungry after a long flight, completely disregarded us as it grubbed about in the mud on the edge.

Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii

Rainbow Bee-eaters zipping around with their distinctive call.

Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus

The main excitement was a pair of Spotted Harriers which flew over the top of us quite few times then landed about 30 metres away to investigate something in a pile of dead branches. Magic. It was a pretty good raptor day. Seven. Red Goshawk, Whistling Kite, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Black Kite, Brown Falcon, Spotted Harrier.

Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis

On the way there we saw an Australian Bustard in typical pose just prior to flight.

Australian Bustard Ardeotis australis

Other birds seen included ....

Torresian Crows Corvus orru

Whistling Kite, immature Haliastur sphenurus

Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata

Golden-headed Cisticola
Cisticola exilis

Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Microeca flavigaster

Sarus Crane Grus antigone

Sarus Crane, immature

Sunday, 31 January 2016

Bird Nerds in Queensland 11

Once Ethan was back, we hit the birding with a vengeance. Ethan suggested that we needed to be at Lake Macdonald at dawn i.e. 5am non-daylight-saving-Queensland time. "That is fine by me", I replied, "But that means getting up at 4.20am". Was that alright by him? "Fine", was the reply. So at 4.20am I was quietly knocking on his door to awaken him but not the other two. He duly appeared just a few minutes later raring for the off. We took breakfast with us and away we went. As we turned off the Bruce Highway, we spotted a bird on top of a lighting pole. It was a Peregrine Falcon!! What a great start to the day. Next was Lake Macdonald and, as we were pulling up, the first birds we saw were a Willie Wagtail having a stoush with a Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta.

The next birds we saw were Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis and, yes, one Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus. Life tick for both of us. It was a fair way away so just a confirmatory ID image.

We weren't in the bird hide more than a few minutes when a Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii wandered past right in front of the hide. Doesn't get much better Avithera. Aren't they just a great bird.

Then the usual parade of Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea with both an adult in breeding plumage [first image] and a pair of immatures [second image]. The non-breeding CCJ has no comb, a rufous cap and a black stripe running down the back of each side of the neck joining as a band on the chest. Quite similar to the immatures in the second image.

After breakfast we tootled off to Wappa Dam. Here Ethan ticked a Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirudinaceum, we both ticked a Cicadabird Coracina tenuirostris, and a totally unexpected Barred Cuckoo-shrike Coracina lineata. The Barred Cuckoo-shrike was pretty special indeed. Ethan has learnt very quickly that when he sees a bird he doesn't know, he takes quick note of its salient features. Recourse to the guides in the car plus the backup of the camera soon gave us the ID.

female Cicadabird

What a great day. Magic. f5.6, t1250 and be there!

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

Bird Nird visits Queensland 05

Answers to Guess What.

You could be forgiven for thinking this is a Peregrine Falcon up close and personal. But it is a ....
Noisy Miner

This little darling is a female Red-backed Fairy-wren. The books tell us that only the Red-backed and, perhaps, the Superb are the two species that do not have blue in the tail. The two species do overlap in SE Qld so both were a possibility. It helps a lot when you see an eclipse male with the group.

This image contains a Latham's Snipe. It was only detected by being seen moving whilst using the scope.

This image contains a Comb-crested Jacana. Although these birds are always on the move, it is hard to see them unless they fly in which case, as they are not fast, it is easy to spot them. They also call when airborne.

Saturday, 16 January 2016

Berd Nerd visits Queensland 04

On a par with the Maroochy Wetland Sanctuary was the Fearnley Bird-hide at Lake Macdonald between Cooroy and Noosa. This lake is old farmland flooded to provide more water supply for urban expansion. The bird-hide is at the end of a short walk along the wooded edge of the lake just along from a boat launching area at the end of Grange Road where there is a picnic table, seats and shelter. It is a very nice spot. It is about 40 minutes drive from Buderim so an even earlier start ensured we were there by 6.

The first visit by Ethan and me yielded 47 species plus breakfast and a chat to a boatee. Ethan is still a learner birder so quite a few of the species were life ticks for him. Hardhead, Wandering Whistling-duck, Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterels, Lathams Snipe, Sacred and Forest Kingfishers, White-breasted Woodswallow and a species of fairy-wren. We had about 20 ticks within 20 metres of the car. Always a good start!