Wild Bird Wednesday 340 - Buff Banded Rail

The Buff Banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis) is a pretty common bird on Lord Howe Island - it was pretty much the 'bird of the trip' in terms of it being seen almost everywhere, and certainly everyday.

They are fast, ground dwellers although they are not flightless.  Most evenings we could watch them dashing about in the garden beds outside of our room.

The scientific name of the bird refers to where the species was first described by western science - ie The Phillipines.  These birds always brought a smile (not that I was not smiling most of the time I was on LHI!) to my face with their high speed energy and their tendency to get upset with almost every living thing they saw!

I wish I had some in my garden!

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the blue button below the thumbnails.  

Feel free to spread the word about our little birding community in 2019. SM.

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A hot walk on Mount Gower

Mount Gower (875 metres)is Lord Howe Island's  highest mountain. It's an impressively steep climb from sea level to the 'mist forests' on the summit plateau.

The last time I went up Mt. Gower it rained, and there was water dripping from my hat.  This time, it did not rain and there was sweat dripping from pretty much everywhere.  Darn I found it hot!

However, the views were spectacular.

The start - one of the few flat sections on the walk.

About 1/2 an hour into the walk - you start walking up hill at the small rocky island

The start of a section called 'The Low Road'

Near the end of 'The Low Road"

View from the end of "The Low Road"

Erskine Valley - where we saw the Woodhens

View towards Mt Lidgebird on the way up.

View towards Mt Lidgebird on the way up.

View over LHI from the top of Mount Gower

View over LHI from the top of Mount Gower

View towards Mt Lidgebird on the way down - people feeling pleased with themselves!

Start of the Low Road on the way back - afternoon sun and black rock - it was well hot! 

Its a remarkable walk and well worth the sore legs the next day.

You can find more shots from around the world at Our World Tuesday.

Wild Bird Wednesday 339 - Wood Hen

Last week I was lucky enough to be back on Lord Howe Island.  LHI is about 800 km north-east of Sydney, and (in my opinion) is one of the most remarkable places I have ever seen.  Tiny, isolated, rich with wildlife and just flat out special.

If you even get a hint of a chance to visit, take it.

One of the special species on the island is the Wood Hen (Gallirallus sylvestris).  This species is endemic to LHI and was almost lost not that long ago when its population fell to very low levels, mostly due to being eaten - at first by settlers and then by the animals they brought with them.  Thankfully, the population has recovered somewhat thanks to a range of conservation efforts.

These pictures were taken as I was walking (very slowly) up Mt. Gower, the highest point on the island.  These birds were almost as interested in me as I was in them - which was a good job as I only had a 35mm lens!

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the blue button below the thumbnails.  

Feel free to spread the word about our little birding community in 2019. SM.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 338 - Red-necked Avocet

The Red-necked Avocet (Recurvirostra novaehollandiae) is a wonderful bird that is endemic to Australia.  It can be found throughout much of Australia, but breeds (often in groups) on the edges of ephemeral lakes after heavy rain.  This means that they can 'disappear' from an area for a while when they are breeding else where.

I found this birds (surprise, surprise) at the Werribee Sewage works where there were very busily feeding.  I always find it strange just how well this species can swim.

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the blue button below the thumbnails.  

Feel free to spread the word about our little birding community in 2019. SM.

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A morning on Dartmoor

Near the end of last year I was lucky enough to be able to spend a week back in Somerset and a few places near it.

Dartmoor is an moorland area which climbs to just over 2000 feet above sea level.  The tops of many of the hills are crowned with Tors - bare outcrops of the granite that forms the area.  Dartmoor has been home to people for a very long time.  It has many dozens of archeological sites scattered over its landscape.

The single standing stone in the picture, and the cross scratched into the stone may be of very different ages, but I think that they show that this is a landscape that people find significant.

One fine morning I walked up to the top of Great Mis Tor with a great friend of mine.  It was a short walk walk, but not all good walks are about the distance travelled.

You can find more shots from around the world at Our World Tuesday.

Wild Bird Wednesday 337 - Himantopus leucocephalus

You may have noticed a difference here this week - I normally use the common name of a bird in the title for a WBW post.  That works well when people have agreed what the common name is - this is not the case with Himantopus leucocephalus.  This bird has had a number of name changes in the last few years, and few of my books agree on what the common name is.

My most recent field guide says that Himantopus leucocephalus is also known as the White-headed Stilt, but it has also been called the Black-winged and Pied Stilt.  If the truth be told, some book even use a different scientific name.

Whatever it's called its a nice bird, although (once again) the harsh Australian mid-day sun made the pictures a bit of a challenge.

These pictures were all taken at Werribee Sewage Works, where a Tufted Duck appeared this week - and that's a first for Australia.  Needless to say, I am at work this week!

As ever, to join in with WBW click on the blue button below the thumbnails.  

Feel free to spread the word about our little birding community in 2019. SM.

An InLinkz Link-up