For more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Eastern Whipbird
The Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus) has one of the most distinctive calls of the Australian bush. You can hear its call here. It is quite common to hear the call but it's taken me half a life-time to actually see this elusive bird! I saw my first Whipbird yesterday and even managed a photo - slightly blurred I admit but even this one made my day extra special. Whipbirds prefer dense undergrowth and it's impossible to go into places like this without making all sorts of noise which immediately warns all birds to fly off quickly. The bird I saw was sitting somewhere up in a tree but as I approached it saw me and dropped down into the undergrowth. Then as I walked closer it flew up again into a near-by tree and I had one chance to shoot off some quick photos. Then it was off again into an ever denser patch of bush. 
For more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.
For more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Great that you managed to catch a glimpse of your elusive Eastern Whipbird. It does indeed have a distinctive call.
ReplyDeleteThanks John. It's astonishing that it's taken me this long to see it when they are so commonly heard.
ReplyDeleteHi Mick. It certainly has a very distinctive call. Congrats on capturing this elusive species...your patience paid off at long last...FAB.
ReplyDeleteBTW It took me some years to see a Cetti's Warbler AND I still haven't managed to get a photo!
Thanks Frank. It's surprising to me that a medium sized bird like this is so hard to actually see. I'd still like a better photo though!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your sighting, I am happy that you finally got to see the Whipbird. And your photo does show details. Nice bird!
ReplyDeletewhat a cool bird and what an awesome photo ! Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteNice, Mick! It's a great feeling when you finally get to see, let alone photograph, a long-elusive bird.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting Eileen, JN and Wren.
ReplyDeleteFirst one is the hardest, Mick. Be easy from now on.
ReplyDeleteHi Tony - it would be nice if that were true!
ReplyDeleteAll over the world there is one or more very elusive bird. Well done for finding the Whipbird and recording the call but it wouldn't be as much fun if we always saw everything would it Mick?
ReplyDeleteHi Phil, you're right of course - all birders like a challenge.
ReplyDeleteI could not listen to the call. :(
ReplyDeleteMaybe he system was down. Anyway, seems like an interesting bird.
Hi NF sorry the call did not work for you. It is a most distinctive call which makes it all the more astonishing that it is so hard to actually see it.
ReplyDeleteSweet goodness. He is such a Beauty!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on this awesome Lifer :D!