What's going on here? Young Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) in Tyto today hasn't yet learned that posing slantwise across trees is for robins. Seed-eating finches have little need for such insect-spotting poses.
Another young bird, a White-winged Triller (Lalage sueurii), divided its time the other morning between hunting for prey and chasing parents for easy tucker. The trillers, and cuckoos, are doing it tougher after rains and weed spraying have reduced insect numbers.
Here's a bird proved doubly hard to identify. Horsfield's Bushlark (Mirafra javanica) popped up at distance on barbed wire fence near Ingham. Not a Tyto visitor. No reason why the species shouldn't drop in: they just don't. Even after spotting and identifying bird in field guides, still had trouble listing it. Forgot 2008 change of name from Singing to Horsfield's.
PS: Also forgotten, that silly 2010 resolution about not using dud pictures
What dud photo would that be?
ReplyDeleteThe birds have decided to pose challenges for you, Tony, by doing unexpected things.
ReplyDeleteKeeping your Grey matter ticking over in not a bad thing (as I am sure you would agree).
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Cheers
Denis
Very interesting photos of all those young birds. At this season when they are all so different from the adults I simply go and watch shorebirds - much easier!!
ReplyDeleteVery soothing, Boobook.
ReplyDeleteHi Denis: Grey is not my favourite colour, though I carry much of it about me. The matter is another matter. Think it's shrinking to nothink!
Hi Mick: Trouble is the camera makes demands upon us, doesn't it?