WBW 668 - Rook

The Rook (Corvus frugilegus) is a member of the crow family, the Corvidae and can be found from Scandinavia and Western Europe to Eastern Siberia.  This bird was photographed in the South West of England at Slimbridge, a Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve.

The Rook is a large, gregarious bird with the black plumage the is common to many, but not all, Corvids.  In the UK this species can be distinguished from other similar, all black Corvids, by the boney looking whitish featherless area on the face.  This species also has wears black feather 'trousers' that extend at least partially down its legs.

Rooks nest in groups in the tops of tall trees, often close to farms or villages; the groups of nests are called rookeries.  Rooks are one of the first birds to start breeding - or at least nest building / repair - in the UK.  It's a sure sign that the winter weather is at least thinking about moving into spring when the rooks return to their rookeries.

Rooks are a fairly large bird, with an adult weight between 280 to 340 g, and a wingspan of between 81 to 99 cm.

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the link below.  Cheers SM

(Public Service Announcement: for the last five weeks I have been travelling in Europe (hence the Rook) and I made the decision that I would avoid my computer / phone for as much of that time as possible.  As a result I have not been visiting any blogs or responding to comment.  Normal service will be restored in the next few days when the jet lag disappears!  SM)

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WBW 667 - Bullers Albatross

The Buller's Albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) is a medium size, but clearly very attractive albatross breeds on islands around New Zealand, and feeds in the seas off Australia and the South Pacific.

As with almost all of my seabird /pelagic posts this bird was photographed off the coast of Tasmania, on a pelagic trip that departed from nr. Eaglehawk Neck.

It is described in my field guide as a 'small to medium sized black and white albatross with pearl-grey hood and contrasting white cap' - which is a pretty good description as far as I can tell!

While being far from abundant around the boat we use for pelagic trips I think we have always seen at least one of these birds on the Tasmanian trips I have been involved in.  I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again- but if you get a chance to go on a pelagic trip,  take it!

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the link below.  SM 

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Wild Bird Wednesday 666 - Little Corella

The arrival of flocks of Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea) in our suburb is a clear sign that we have left summer and entered autumn.

They are noisy, comical and apparently very hungry.  Many of our local street trees bear large seed rich fruits - and these are ripped to shreds by flock of these birds.  When a flock lands in such a tree - or a group of such trees - the ground below is soon littered with 'green snow' created by the destruction of the seed pods.  The whole process is very messy!

The birds are mostly white, with an erectile crest and a pale yellow wash on the underwings. 

These birds were part of a large flock, so of which were feeding in the trees, while others were feeding on the ground. There was also a good deal of shouting and wrestling going on!

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the link below.  SM

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Wild Bird Wednesday 665 - Black Currawong

The Black Currawong (Strepera fuliginosa) is a large passerine endemic to Tasmania and the islands within the Bass Strait. One of three Currawong species in the genus Strepera, it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australian magpie rather than to crows or other corvids.

The small hook on the end of the beak is a clear indication that this bird is more closely related to butcherbirds rather than crows.

It is a large crow-like bird, around 50 cm long on average, with yellow irises, a heavy beak, and black plumage with white wing patches.  The beak is very heavy looking and is made even more impressive by its domed upper section.  This beak shape is one of the features that helps split this species from the Grey Currawong that also occurs in Tasmania.

These birds were photographed in the grounds of the Port Arthur historic site in Tasmania.  Both the birds and the history of this site make it a place worth a visit.

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the link below.  Cheers  SM

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Wild Bird Wednesday 664 - Australian Pelican

The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) is a huge - and often conspicuous- bird of Australian wetlands.

However, its scientific name does not actually mean a conspicuous pelican!  It actually means a 'spectacled pelican' - with the reference to spectacles coming from the rings of bare skin around the eyes.

With a weight of around 4 to 7 kg and a beak of over 50 cm this is a big bird.  They often gather in groups, and sometimes cooperate in fishing.

While I was photographing these birds I was struck by just how difficult it must be to preen with such a huge beak.  As you can see, a degree of gymnastic flexibility is needed to clean your feathers if you are a pelican!

I have to say that they are wonderful birds to watch.

As ever, to join in with WBW just click the link below.  SM

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Wild Bird Wednesday 663 - Cape Barren Goose

The Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) is a species of goose endemic to southern Australia. It is a distinctive large, grey bird that is mostly terrestrial and is not closely related to other living members of the subfamily that contains Geese and Swans.

Its another example of an Australian bird that has gone its own way from an evolutionary point of view - and there is still some work to be done before we fully understand how this bird is related to other geese and swans.  In fact some authorities consider it more closely related to shellducks.  A PhD awaits I suspect.

This species has a bright greenish-yellow patch called a cere on its beak, pinkish legs and black feet -although the feet are hidden by the grass in these images. They weigh anything between 3.7 and 5.2 kg, and it will come as no surprise that they were a popular food bird in the past.  

These birds may be part of the 'small number' that have recently shifted from breeding on small islands off the south coast of Australia to breeding on mainland Victoria. 

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the link below.  cheers  SM

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