Tuesday, August 31, 2010

A Big Country! Part 6

This post is just about the birds we saw. I did not see as many birds as I would have liked to do on this trip as my attention was divided between landscapes that I had never seen before and the wildflowers that were blooming in abundance this year. Next time (if I am lucky enough to be able to go again!) I would like to spend more time on Kilcowera just looking for birds.
This Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus) was sitting in the top of a small tree. This was a new bird for me although we see both White-breasted and Dusky Woodswallows down here on the coast.This Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata) was also a new bird for me. We see plenty of Peaceful Doves here on the coast which are a similar size to the Diamond Dove.I did not have much luck with the ducks I tried to photograph. Either they were too far away for good photos or else they took off very fast when we got close.
These Pink-eared Ducks (Malacorhynchus membranaceus) flew off from behind some bushes but the in-flight photo is enough to show the zebra flanks, black patch around the eye, and the leathery flap at the end of the bill.These Plumed Whistling-Ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni) were on Cardenyabba Swamp in the late afternoon when the light had almost gone.Finally a nest of the Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) which Toni Sherwin showed me on Kilcowera station. The eagle flew off as we approached and stayed away! We also saw a number of these eagles on the side of the road but they all flew off as we approached.

5 comments:

  1. So much to see Mick, no wonder you wish to return. I just love Pink-eared Ducks, well done getting that in-flight shot as you can certainly see their stand-out features. We've see them at Hasties Swamp on the tablelands sometimes but we haven't seen them here. If we do you'll all hear about it!!

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  2. Hi Barbara, I just wish I had seen that pink color on the ear but I was too far away for that. I think you'd have to take your time and move a lot more slowly if you were going to get close to any of the ducks out there.

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  3. Hi Mick well done on the photos love that Diamond Dove.

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  4. Great photos Mick. Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I was on a trip to Alice at the same time - Isn't the country in great shape at the moment!! cheers Tony

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  5. Thanks Tony, it all looked great to me! I loved the wide open spaces!

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