Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Bush Stone-curlews

This post is for World Bird Wednesday

This morning I was invited to visit a beautiful bird-friendly garden. Brian and Sue have been living here for about twenty years and they have a garden filled with mature trees and shrubs as well as areas of low-growing foliage and flowers. Many of the trees and shrubs are flowering and fruiting varieties that the birds love. There are also areas of low growing foliage where the ground is mulched and plenty of dried leaves are left for ground dwelling birds to hide in among. Add to all this beds of veges and herbs and large beds of strawberries.
I could see birds flying between the trees but I had come to see a special pair of Bush Stone-curlews (Burhinus grallarius). These birds have been in this garden for a number of years and have nested and raised young ones here. There are no cats or dogs to bother them and they are used to people moving quietly through the garden. They have a couple of favorite spots where they can sit down among the plants and get lots of winter sunshine. (Click on photos to enlarge them.)
(Added later! I should have given an indication of the size of these birds. Length 550mm including 180mm tail and 45mm bill. These birds are NOT small!)
Birding books say that Bush Stone-curlews are shy and more often heard than seen. However, they can also become used to people around them in places where they feel safe. The garden this morning was very peaceful and it was great to have the opportunity to see these birds so close. Thanks Sue and Brian!

20 comments:

  1. wow! look at those seductive eyes!!! such a unique looking bird!

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  2. What a lovely little bird...
    You really have some wonderful wildlife to share.

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  3. Great photos and post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  4. Looks small but when I really think about it I could tell it's not that small after all. My first time to see this kind of bird, and it's pretty.

    How‘s your Independence day celebration?

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  5. How lucky are you to have this special species nesting under your feet. Super images Mick.

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  6. Beautiful! Great to have them in the garden :)

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  7. They are so cute, adorable faces. Your photos are great!

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  8. Stunning bird--love the eye-never seen one of these would LOVE to!

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  9. What an incredible bird! Just gorgeous. What a neat way to see it too tucked away in a sanctuary garden!

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  10. Hi there - almost stood on one of these birds that was making a remarkable amount of noise outside a caravan in NT once!

    Bit thin on the ground in my neck of the woods!

    Cheers - Stewart M.

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  11. What a great bird to have visiting a garden. A real beauty.

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  12. Isn't it great to see people and birds in accord. Great shots. Have you heard them calling?

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  13. Fabulous shots, Mick! What a fascinating magnificent bird!

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  14. Glad you added the size. Our long-billed curlews are also very large.

    Great post and pictures.

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  15. What a beautiful Curlew! Wonderful captures Mick!

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  16. what a wonderful bird to have wandering round the garden!

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  17. seems like an interesting bird. Both the eyes and the general apperance. It must be nice having them in the garden.

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  18. Boy or boy do you have the right kind of friends. It is amazing that these shore birds will nest in this yard -- it must be a wonderfully bird-friendly place. (I assume they are shore birds, at least the curlews we have over on this side of the pond are.)
    Perfect pictures. I believe I'd know one if I saw it after looking at them.

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  19. Wonderful post and very beautiful images. Great work.

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  20. What a great opportunity! These are impressive-looking birds photographed in such a lovely setting!

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