Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Warbler poses as Little Bittern



Having lost all the Little Bitterns - departed during the floods and yet to return - Tyto is pressing Australian Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus australis) into service. Results so far are very encouraging, as can be seen in above picture.


Some might argue the deception will fool no one. Recent 'sightings' suggest otherwise. These include 'Grass Owls' (perhaps Pheasant Coucals or Goshawks) flying at noon, 'Yellow Thornbills' (probably Fairy Gerygone - Gerygone palpebrosa, above) high up here and there, and Lewin's Rails (almost certainly Buff-banded Rails) also out in the noon light.


Can't find an owl, but here's a Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus) doing a very poor impression of Eastern Grass-Owl (Tyto longimembris). More training - and extensive makeup -obviously needed!


8 comments:

Lucky said...

Either I need to come and see these new sub species or you need to buy a new bird book :D

Nice light hearted blog entry :)

Tyto Tony said...

I've got bird books. It's some of the super optimistic tourists who need looks at books. Meanwhile, I'm giving them the bird ;-)

Snail said...

That coucal could almost pass for a frogmouth, in the dark with the light behind it.

Denis Wilson said...

Nice post, Tony.
Do you need a holiday, do you think?
Lovely pose of the "Bittern-Warbler".
Cheers
Denis

Tyto Tony said...

Hi Snail: Shades of Bergman and the Bible: birding through a glass darkly!

Gidday Denis: Every Tyto day's a holiday. Perhaps I need a job?

Denis Wilson said...

Job?
Wash your mouth, my lad!
Cheers
Denis

Unknown said...

ha ha Tony, i love the impressions. very funny.
cheers,
steve

Steve's Blog

Tyto Tony said...

Thanks steve: 'Happy' to share some fun.

Head up for dragonfly, head off for fish head . . .

One moment it's dragonfly trying to dance on White-bellied Sea-Eagle's head, the next it's all go for fisher's discarded fis...