Boy's Walk with U3A Bird Observation Group

I took the U3A group on Boy's Walk from the Cemetery end today. The big highlight was the Grey Goshawk. I have seen a pair around lately but this was the first time that I have managed to get a photograph of this beautiful bird. Of course it flew off immediately I took the photograph but at least I have proof that it is around.

There were quite a few pigeons around this morning. I photographed this Bar-shouldered Dove even though it was trying to hide from us behind the pine needles. We heard a Wonga Pigeon calling several times but it was on the opposite side of Dora Creek.

Brown Gerygones were present, as always, and we were often aware of their presence by their "which-izit" calls. We did not see any nests but it may be worth looking closely in the area to see if they have started their nest-building activity.

As always, there was an abundance of Superb Fairy-wrens on the walk, particularly near the boundary of the Tobacco Bush. This male looks as though he is about to moult into breeding colours.

 I went out again in the afternoon because I wanted to see if the Goshawk was still hanging around. No luck there so I turned my hand to photographing Red-browed Finches. There are always hard to approach because they get around as little flocks of about a dozen birds. If one flies they all fly. This one resisted the urge and I managed to get a few shots of it before it too joined its mates.

I didn't realise that Little Wattlebirds had so much red on their primaries. This one was having a bath in a cow trough and every time it came to the side it would shake itself thoroughly, exposing the red colour.

 I have mentioned in previous entries, that there are a lot of figbirds around at the moment. They have all been too far away to get good photos. However they were feeding on Privet berries near the junction of Sandy Creek and Girls Walk. This appears to be a young male by the red starting to develop in its eye rung.

This is a mature male Figbird. The southern race has a grey breast while the northern race that starts near Townsville, Queensland has a yellow breast. The two races interbreed apparently in the region between Townsville and Mackay.