Black-faced Cormorant

Australia has five species of Cormorant including Great, Little Black, Pied, Little Pied and Black-faced – all five species can be found on the Gippsland Lakes. Four of the five species have a wide distribution across Australia including inland waters.  However the Black-faced appears to be the odd species out as it has a much more restricted range along the southern coast of Australia and around the Tasmania coast and only extending into coastal bays and lakes where these have marine water environments – that is it is not found in freshwater habitats.

The Gippsland Lakes has a sedentary population of Black-faced Cormorants with small flocks of up to 70 birds often found resting on sand islands in the Ocean Grange area, especially on Albifrons Island, and on rock groins on Rigby Island near Lakes Entrance. 

In early October 2022 I photographed a Black-faced Cormorant near Crescent Island which had fine white striations on its hindneck – a clear sign of breeding condition. 

Please click on photos to enlarge.

At this time there was a noticeable drop in numbers in the area which prompted me to check their breeding time which is September to February. So I concluded that most of our Black-faced Cormorants are away breeding at present. As they generally breed on rocky islands with cliff ledges and rocky platforms it is assumed they are breeding on rocky islands in Bass Strait to our west between Wilsons Promontory and Flinders Island. 

It is intriguing to ponder how the Black-faced Cormorant’s evolutionary history has confined it to marine habitats while our other four Cormorant species are much more versatile?

White-throated Treecreeper using next box

White-throated Treecreepers (WtT) build a cup shaped nest from bark, fur and grass in tree hollows. The Pizzey and Knight guide states they sometimes nest in building cavities and mine shafts. That said I was surprised to find on our rural property a pair of White-throated Treecreepers nesting in a 2019-20 Black Summer fire recovery artificial wooden nest box (box number 8605).

Please click on photos to enlarge.

Ten boxes were installed in box woodland on our property in April 2022 under the East Gippsland Nest Box Project (EGNBP) – you can find more information about this project here:

https://birdlife.org.au/projects/woodland-birds-for-biodiversity/egnbp

The project was managed by Sam Monks, BirdLife Australia Woodland Birds Project Officer – East Gippsland Nest Box Project. The size of the project was significant with over 500 boxes installed on 50 properties across East Gippsland by Tom Dawson of TD Tree Services. The project was funded from the Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Grants Program.

I first noticed a WtT at the box several weeks ago. This morning (2 October 2022) I found that the pair have young they are feeding and still brooding, judging by the time the adults are spending in the box.

Before the box was occupied by the WtT’s it had clearly been visited by a bird that seriously chewed the face of the box around the hole and the roof/lid above the hole – see photos. 

I suspect a Rosella did this or perhaps a Galah – several other boxes have the same damage. Hollow nesting cockatoos and rosellas will do this to enlarge holes and to obtain chewed wood to form a nest base on which to lay their eggs. In hindsight it looks like the nest boxes would have benefited from a sacrificial piece of timber fitted to the roof above the nest box hole for the birds to chew to avoid damage to the roof. The boxes were installed with a layer of wood shavings for the birds to use however it looks like the urge to chew is ingrained in the bird’s nesting behaviour.

The following photos of the WtT pair at the nest box were taken this morning from the cover of a tree at a distance using a 600mm focal length lens to avoid disturbing the birds at their nest.

The male arrived with a small food item which he passed to the female seen inside the entrance of the box.

The male at the hole with more food for the female inside.

The female – note orange spots on the side of her neck – is about to leave the nest box. 

The male made several food deliveries to the young inside the box before he entered the box and did not come out again before I left so he was clearly brooding the young as it was early morning and the box was in the shade and it was cool. The female did not return before I Ieft.

So far this spring the nesting WtT’s are the only confirmed birds using the EGNBP nest boxes, however other boxes have been chewed and I have seen a pair of Crimson Rosellas inspecting one of the boxes.

In addition to the ten EGNBP boxes we also have six Gang-gang boxes installed in May 2022 under another post fire program. The boxes are 18 to 19 metres high in Manna Gums along about a 500 metre section of our river frontage. So far I have only seen one pair of Galahs using the Gang-gang boxes. 

The sixteen nest boxes are a valuable addition to our area which is tree rich but hollow poor, especially after the fire swept across our property.

Immature White-bellied Sea-Eagle

While monitoring small terns (Fairy and Little), beach nesting birds and breeding Australian Pelicans by boat on the Gippsland Lakes near Crescent Island in late September we came upon an immature White-bellied Sea-Eagle perched in a dead tree near the Pelican rookery. 

Please click on photos to enlarge.

This bird had been observed in the area in recent weeks feeding on cygnets – there are a significant number of Black Swans nesting in the area with many parents with cygnets on the water and some still at their nests.

A young Sea-Eagle (1) such as this one still learning to hunt, would find the cygnets an easy target. Ravens – possibly Little and if not Forest – are also feasting on the cygnets in this area.

As we approached the young Sea-Eagle I knew it was going to fly, so I took the opportunity to capture some photos of this beautiful raptor as we motored slowly by.

NOTE (1) This bird’s feather colours indicate it is likely to be from last year’s breeding season – May-August 2021.

Brown Treecreeper

On our recent visit to six National Parks in south west outback Queensland we had Brown Treecreepers for company at all of our camp sites on rivers and billabongs. Often the camp sites were surrounded by near treeless plains so being tree dependent foragers it was natural that Brown Treecreepers would be found along the riparian strips where redgum, coolabah and Yapunyah (E ochrophloia) grow. 

Brown Treecreepers spend about half their time foraging on tree trunks and half on the ground. They are very active birds and can be quite confiding, coming into camps to forage and coming very close at times, so they are easy to observe and are endearing birds due to their apparent trusting nature. They are often found in small groups of up to six birds which are the breeding male/female pair and retained male young from previous breeding seasons. They were breeding at the time of our visit so activity was particularly busy with independent young from previous years helping to feed the incubating females and chicks.

It was relatively easy to obtain some photos while sitting in my camp chair at happy-hour when the light was good and the birds were still actively foraging ahead of the approaching sunset. 

Please click on photos to enlarge.

Emu portraits

The Emu, Australia’s largest bird, needs no introduction as it is widespread across the Australian mainland (the sub species once found in Tasmania is now extinct) and is very familiar to most Australians and even features prominently, along with the Kangaroo, on the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. They can be found in a large variety of habitats from our coasts to alpine country and are very well adapted to arid Australian habitats but are largely absent from intensive farming areas. 

While travelling in central west outback Queensland to visit six national parks (1) we saw Emus in many locations including some groups containing up to 40 birds on Mitchell Grass plains. 

In Currawinya National Park we had a close encounter with four immature birds as we slowed on approach to a road intersection. The young Emus were probably as surprised by us as we were by them. Instead of running away into moderately dense vegetation they milled about for a minute or so as I stopped the car, wound down the driver’s window and got my camera ready for some photos. With a 600mm focal length lens they were already too close for full body shots and as I tried to decide on which bird to focus on, they became curious and slowly approached our vehicle. 

Within seconds they were so close I was dealing with head shots of moving birds. I managed about a dozen photos and then put the camera down and watched the birds as they moved about showing clear curiosity. Unexpected close encounters with birds like this are a real joy. Eventually I started the car and at the sound of the engine the group bolted into the bush.  

Looking at the photos later I could see they were all immature and at slightly different ages based on the amount blue skin developing on the side of the head and neck.

Please click on photos to enlarge.

Note (1) The National Parks in order of our visits were, Mariala, Hell Hole Gorge, Idalia, Lochern, Welford and Currawinya.

Spinifex Pigeon

We encountered Spinifex Pigeons at the eastern extremity of their range in Hell Hole, Lochern and Welford National Parks in outback Queensland. They were found in pairs or small flocks of up to 20 birds and often the males were performing courtship displays with bowing motions, fanning their tails and issuing soft cooing calls. Given the generally good conditions with many bird species in breeding mode it was likely the Spinifex Pigeons were also going to breed.

I find Spinifex Pigeons rather comical in both looks and behaviour. They are quite confiding allowing a close approach both in a vehicle or on foot.

The following photos show a male courtship display.

Please click on photos to enlarge.

In the first photo the male at left was about to display to the female at right.

The male mostly faced the female but not always.

The male takes a break from performing.

Bourke’s Parrot

Our first encounter with Bourke’s Parrots on this trip was at Oma Waterhole on the Barcoo River south of Isisford.  Here, when logging the Bourke’s on a Birdata survey for our camp area I found the sighting was deemed to be outside of the species estimated core range and I was therefore requested to “please provide notes to support the sighting”. There were two birds, a male and female pair which were seen in the late afternoon and again in the morning at our camp site on the waterhole. Some photos were taken including the following of the male.

Please click on photos to enlarge.

The males are only slightly more coloured than the females however the faint blue on the forehead above the bill shows this is a male.

Travelling west from Isisford to Lochern National Park we saw several pairs and some single birds by the roadside and again more birds in the park and more later in Welford National Park giving us the impression Bourke’s are moderately numerous in this area of outback Queensland at present.

In Welford we saw pairs in a number of locations and one small flock of eight birds. The two photos below show a female (no blue on the forehead) which was with a male and seen on a number of days near our camp at Little Boomerang Waterhole Campground in Welford NP. 

Most birds seen were in pairs and given it was mid-August and they breed from August to December, and conditions were good following drought breaking rain - there were many seeding forbs and grasses – the Bourke’s were no doubt in breeding mode, as were many other species including Budgerigars, White-browed and Masked Woodswallows, Cockatiels, Spinifex Pigeons, Crimson Chats and Rufous Songlarks.

Bourke’s Parrots are mostly ground feeders and they have developed plumage that makes them blend in to their surrounds. They are shy and only come to water after sunset and before dawn so photo opportunities are hard to come by. In addition their plumage colours and patterns give the birds a slightly out-of-focus look in the images, so obtaining sharp photos of the Bourke’s is a challenge.

Spotted Harrier

Driving north on the Thompson Development Road towards Longreach across a Mitchell Grass plain we came upon a Spotted Harrier. The bird was hunting low along the boundary between the green roadside grassy vegetation and the straw coloured pure Mitchell Grass plain beyond. Using a moderately strong NE wind, the bird did not need to use any flapping flight at all. We followed the bird for about a kilometre when it took a break giving me time to get out of the car with the camera and take some photos including a couple of flight shots as it took off to continue hunting along the roadside.  

Please click on photos to enlarge.

Watching such a beautiful raptor hunt as we followed in the car and then having the opportunity for some photos was a great privilege, and one of the joys of outback travel.

Australian Pratincole

Australian Pratincoles are shorebirds/waders that can often be found beside remote roads on inland plains where some water is present. They seem to like roadsides where they will flush ahead of an approaching vehicle displaying their slender form, long wings and tern-like flight. They usually do not fly far and often alight close to the flush point once you have pulled up - however more often than not they fly to the sun side of the road leaving a photographer with an unsuitable light angle. Driving south from Lochern National Park towards the small hamlet of Stonehenge we had passed several groups of Pratincoles plus numerous single birds. Finally one bird alighted on a rare rock beside the road with the sun behind us giving an opportunity for reasonably close photos from the car window with good light. Here are two of the shots taken before the bird flew.

Please click on photos to enlarge.

The black flight feathers extend well beyond the tail which is just visible.

Spotted Bowerbird

While camped in Idalia National Park in outback Queensland at Monks Tank – an earthen water storage dam – we found a Spotted Bowerbird bower. The bower location was well concealed however with the temporary use of a rope, one end of the bower was exposed enough to enable some photos.

Like other species of Bowerbird, male Spotted Bowerbirds live a hyperactive life building and maintaining a bower, protecting it from other males and using it to attract females during the breeding season in addition to simply finding food each day to survive. Bowers may last for years and are maintained throughout the year, though activity at the bower varies across the seasons.

There were three adult Spotted Bowerbirds at or around the bower, however given males and females look the same – except the females have a smaller crest which is not much help to separate the sexes – it was not clear if any of the three birds were female or if they were all males. From observations over about one and a half hours at the Monks Tank bower it seemed likely that one male was the owner of the bower and the other two birds were males as they were vigorously chased away from the bower on numerous occasions whenever they put in an appearance.

The owner of the bower came and went and when in attendance I observed him perform a range of activities including placing a stem of grass in the bower wall, moving green fruits in and out of the bower, picking up and moving objects at the bower entrance, and bringing a large bill full of a green plant to the bower entrance which was consumed in five portions. 

The photos below show some of this action.

Please click on photos to enlarge.

The first photo was taken looking through the bower which is made of grass stems with collections of generally white objects at either end.  The second photo shows the collection of green fruits within the bower plus a few prized green glass objects, a few polished rounded grey stones and a few other miscellaneous pieces of plastic.  

The assumed bower owner at one entrance to the bower.

A back view of the bird showing a partly exposed pink erectile crest, which can be completely covered or exposed by degree and erected when the bird is excited, and the ash grey patch on the lower nape – the Western Bowerbird does not have a grey nape.

The next photo shows the owner chasing another bird away with much loud churring, grating, hissing and throat-clearing noises (voice description taken from Graham Pizzey’s field guide). 

This photo shows the bird with a green fruit – there was a lot of moving of the green fruits into and out of the bower and also on two occasions the bird flew in with a fruit. In all our walks in different locations within the park we did not see the shrub with this fruit. Given the timing of the arrival of fruit there must have been at least one plant with fruit close to the bower.

The bird picked up and dropped pieces of clear glass and a rare red plastic item.

The bird brought in a bill full of a green plant which it ate at the bower entrance – perhaps the bower owner could not afford to be away from the bower too long as competitors would soon move in or steal objects – so eating at the bower minimised time away. 

Male Bowerbirds perform displays at the bower entrances often using objects accumulated there as part of their dances and they accompany these with varied vocalisations. None of this behaviour was observed at Monks Tank however this is not surprising given breeding is generally from September to December. Females are attracted to the bowers to mate and are solely responsible for nest building, incubation and raising of young – the males take no part at all.

The Western Bowerbird is very similar to the Spotted. The Avithera post “Olive Pink Botanic Gardens, Alice Springs” shows a Western Bowerbird at a bower: 

https://avithera.blogspot.com/2015/07/olive-pink-botanic-gardens-alice-springs.html