Sunday, March 13, 2011

Squelching the numbers . . .

Squelched into Tyto today after 740mm of rain and widespread flooding through the week finally gave way to mostly dry roads and sullen grey cloud. Tracks overgrown and some knee-deep in water.  


Found 26 bird species. Few in usual numbers, apart from White-browed Crakes and Forest Kingfishers. Even Crimson Finches and Willie Wagtails notably reduced. 


But did surprise a Black Bittern in spot flushed from soon after Cyclone Yasi crashed through last month. A creature of habit, possibly partner of bird above, pictured in January.


And while looking back, two views of a Sooty Oystercatcher from my flying visit to NZ.


Painful crawl over volcanic rock on Manukau Harbour foreshore brought little reward!  
Click pix to enlarge

3 comments:

Gouldiae said...

... and while looking back .. Luv it.

G'day Tony,
Just been catching up on my reading. Welcome back.
That bus trip was a horror movie script wasn't it?
Some inland pressure troughs have been sucking some of your tropical moisture down south here a bit this season. Been wonderful. Not your quantities of mm's thankfully, but it has been a different start.
Regards,
Gouldiae.

Tyto Tony said...

Hi Gouldiae: 'Hell on Wheels' would be good B-grade title. (My daughter works in NZ film biz and is trying to develop feature film script: don't think my experience would make the grade, B or otherwise).

Good to see rainfall being shared around. But it does seem worst of the deep-set systems up this way may be easing off.

Tyto Tony said...

Too kind Kah Wai.

Some birds close to my heart of things

Home's where the heart is, close to home's where many of my birds are. Benefit of buying into retirement village surrounded by conse...