Friday, March 6, 2009

Bird Watching!

I always enjoy watching birds and yesterday it was even more interesting. I was watching this little bird but I am sure it was also watching me. It flew into some bushes beside me and I stood still and hoped for a chance to photograph it without the leaves and branches in front of it. Then it flew a little distance and this time had a larger branch just beside it - and finally flew again to where it was almost directly facing me. All the time it was moving its head around as though getting a view of me from different angles. It was a new bird for me - I am still struggling with all these little bush birds! It was so close that I was sure it would be easy to get an ID from the photos, but when I looked in my bird book there was nothing that looked exactly like it. I consulted some much more knowledgeable friends and they got out ALL their bird books before coming up with an ID of a juvenile [correction - it should be 'immature'] female Grey Shrike-thrush. So now I need to see adults before I can be sure that I will recognize this species again. I am including the first photo behind the leaves and twigs - a different 'pose' from the others.
By the way - this was out at Inskip Point again and I will include a photo taken from the edge of the bush and looking across the channel to Fraser Island. This place is beautiful!

9 comments:

  1. Hi Mick: I'd say probably female immature (not juvenile) Grey Shrike-Thrush. Bit puzzled by description as little (because GSTs much bigger than, say, Rufous Whistlers).

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  2. Oops! I'm sure I should have said 'immature' - thanks for correcting me, Tony. re the size - I am having trouble making size comparisons - guess I'll learn in time, but right now its just FRUSTRATING!

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  3. Beautiful place indeed Mick, nice picture.

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  4. Hi Mick
    GSTs have relatively large, prominent eyes. You have also caught the brownish "saddle" nicely - which is distinctive, or should I say "diagnostic".
    However, their voice is their most distinctive feature. Down here, they love to call on grey, dull days, or if it is trying to rain.
    Cheers
    Denis

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  5. Hi Denis, thanks for your comments. I have all these things to learn and asap! btw it was a bright sunny day and the bird sat and made little soft calls as it watched me.

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  6. Hi Mick!
    The third photo is absolutely awesome! I bet I can see your reflection in the GS-Thrush's eye. Beautiful detail and they are such great birds :)
    Regards

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  7. G'day Mick,
    Nice story of a beaut bird. The call of the Thrush is one of the nicest I reckon.
    Glad you're getting into the bush birds and you're right, that place does look BEAUTIFUL.
    Gouldiae

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  8. Thanks Gouldiae. Wish I could be out there this morning to get some photos and look around! (But maybe not - it would be scary) It would definitely be spectacular - 'Hamish' is sitting just off Fraser island now!

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