This lady retained most of the trees on her house block when she had the house built. She was urged to get rid of the trees growing there as they were not great looking specimens. However, she knows a lot about native species and by insisting that they stay she has also kept many of the bird species which used the trees.
The Tawny Frogmouths nest in the same tree every year. This year they raised two young and one had teetered out on a branch and then flown to a near-by tree by last night. This morning it was still in the same tree with one of the parents while the second young one was still on the nest. I did not see the second adult. None of the birds seemed worried by my presence. They blinked sleepily at me a few times – and the adult turned its head to one side.
Adult with young bird
Second young bird still on the nest
Fantastic! Lucky you eh! I've have seen one in decades let alone a whole family.
ReplyDeleteYes Mosura. It's been years since I've seen one also. So I was lucky!
ReplyDeleteHi Mick,
ReplyDeleteGood one. And nice of the owner to let you know.
Nest seems unusually open, undisguised and unprotected from sun and rain?
Hi Tony. It was very nice to be told about the birds. The bird book says the nest is a flimsy stick platform - but if they have been nesting in that tree for a number of years it must work!
ReplyDeleteWow - what lovely "furry" birds. And, of course, living in the UK I've never seen one. Are they of the owl family Mick?
ReplyDeleteWhat a considerate friend to have you over so you could get some great pics!
Hi Tricia, I am not good at which birds belong to which families but they are nocturnal birds - more often heard than seen. They looked rather like fluffy bunches of feathers up there this morning.
ReplyDeleteI love the Tawnies! What an enjoyable sighting you've had! Great shots :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tilcheff. It was great to see a family group altogether - and so close too.
ReplyDeleteHi Mick.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good neighbour, to keep the trees, and as Tony said, to let you know about the nest. You are right about them normally building a flimsy structure, but Tony is also right, that it looks very "open" (exposed) - but maybe that was just the angle the photo was taken.
For Tricia, they are closely related to the Nightjar family. They are closer to Swifts and Kingfishers than Owls.
Cheers
Denis
Thanks for your comments Denis, and thanks for adding to my rather meager knowledge about related species.
ReplyDeleteMick, that last shot in particular is just fantastic, made my morning.
ReplyDeleteThanks Duncan.
ReplyDeleteG'day Mick,
ReplyDeleteFascinating birds, well captured. That final shot of the baby is brilliant.
We had a family here just after we moved - I keep looking, but haven't seen or heard them in 7 years.
Regards,
Gouldiae
Thanks Gouldiae - I was lucky!
ReplyDelete