Wild Bird Wednesday 449 - More Feeder Birds

This is really a continuation of last weeks WBW - here are a selection of other pictures from the bird feeders at Whinlater in The Lake District, UK.

Coal Tits

Coal Tits and a Chaffinch

Great Tit

Great Tit

Great Tit

Great Tit

Chaffinch

Chaffinch and (hidden!) Blue Tit

Chaffinch

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Wilsons Prom: 1

Those of you who are regular visitors here will have already worked out that one of my favourite places in Victoria is Wilsons Promontory National Park.  Generally just called The Prom it is splendid in all seasons - but because it is very popular I like it most in the winter when there are far fewer people around.

However, after being locked down - or at least restricted in movement - for much of last year, when I had the chance to go back to The Prom I took it.  Crowds be dammed! 

I actually booked onto a boat tour so I could have a look at The Prom from the sea, which is something I had never done before.

I arrived in good time and we immediately reminded of why I love the place!

 

After a short walk by Tidal River I went off to join the tour.  We were all given waterproof jackets - which were not the most tailored garments I have ever seen!  (By the way this is not me!)

 

The boats were parked on the beach, about 100 m from the ocean.  Once on-board we drove into the sea! It was rather strange.

 

Once out at sea the landscape of The Prom opened up for us.  It was great to look back at places I had only looked out from.

The last picture is of the southern most part of the Australian mainland - and (shockingly) it's called South Point!

 

 Not to be outdone, part of the state of Tasmania was also on show.  This is Rodondo Island, which is only 10km south of The Prom, but is part of Tasmania.  It is an uninhibited nature reserve.

There will be more pictures to follow!

 

You can find more pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday and image-in-ing Cheers:  SM

 

Wild Bird Wednesday 448 - Coal Tit

I have mentioned on a number of occasions that we don't really have a the seeding eating birds in my part of Australia that would be attracted to 'typical' bird tables and feeders.

So, when I was in England last year (that feels impossible!) I was glad to watch these Coal Tits (Periparus ater) feeding on some hanging feeders at Whinlater Woods in the Lake District.  It was raining and the light was rather low - but it was nice to see these dative little birds making the most of some human generosity.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 447 - Magpie Goose

The Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata) is a large and distinctive bird that was very widespread is Australia.  It can still be found in large numbers in northern Australia, and in some places in southern they have been reintroduced and are starting to repopulate areas in which they were once common.

The Magpie Goose is neither a magpie (ie a crow) or a true goose.  It belongs to the family Anseranatidae and the genus Anseranas - and it is the only living species of bird that is classified in that way. It is not considered to be a 'true goose' as it has primitive features - but that's about as far down this taxonomic rabbit hole as I am prepared to go tonight!

These birds were photographed in the Northern Territory of Australia - the park images in Darwin and the wetland images in Kakadu National Park.

As a side challenge - how many (and what) other species can you find in these pictures!

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Wild Bird Wednesday 446 - Great Egret

Hi there - with luck by the time you read this I will have actually visited and commented on your blogs!  These are very strange times - and I do not like them.

On a much better note this is a Great Egret (Ardea alba) is the tallest Egret in Australia and at certain times of the year can be found over anywhere in the country. It can be as tall as a 1m and has a wing span of abut 1.5 meters.  By all measures it's a large bird. 

This bird was splitting its time between fishing and posturing at another of its kind in the waters just outside of Mamukala hide in Kakadu National Park.  Unfortunately, the two birds never came close enough to each other to get a good picture of both.  Oh well.

You can also see a couple of Magpie Geese in the background.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 445 - Crested Tern

The Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii) can be found all around the coast of Australia.  For me in Victoria, if I am on the coast, its the default tern.  I think this is a useful idea in birding - as when I see a tern I can immediately start thinking about the features of one bird - and 90% of the time it's that bird!  (If you see what I mean!)

These birds were loafing about at one of my regular birding spots - Swan Bay Jetty.  I think that the passing traffic of fisher-folk, boaters, dog walkers and photographers helps calm these birds down.  They tend to be a little more cooperative than many.

There was not much going on with these birds, just a bit of yawning and feather maintenance.  But I still like them.

I just want to say sorry for the lack of visits and comments.  My brain is just not at 100% at present.  But I really do appreciate your visits and comments.  Maybe the fog will start to lift soon.

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