EARLY APRIL
The Southern Boobook is Australia's most common Owl, it is not easily found during the day as it likes to roost sheltered in thick foliage or in a hollow, this one was harassed by many birds including Noisy Miners, Gray Butcherbirds, Pied Currawongs and Blue-faced Honeyeaters, if it were not for them making so much noise, I would have never known the owl was there. The noise and attacks toward the owl went on for a while, then at some point all the birds lost interest and left.
The Southern Boobook is Australia's most common Owl, it is not easily found during the day as it likes to roost sheltered in thick foliage or in a hollow, this one was harassed by many birds including Noisy Miners, Gray Butcherbirds, Pied Currawongs and Blue-faced Honeyeaters, if it were not for them making so much noise, I would have never known the owl was there. The noise and attacks toward the owl went on for a while, then at some point all the birds lost interest and left.
The Varied Triller (an immature male above) hasn't been recorded at Banks Street reserve for a long time.
A male Golden Whistler above.
A male Rufous Whistler below.
A male Rufous Whistler below.
The Shining Bronze-Cuckoos of the lucidus subspecies (above) have turned up in the Reserve, distinguished from the plagosus Shining Bronze-cuckoo (photos from last month) mostly by the green shine on the head, they come from New Zealand, where they breed, and are now on their way to the Solomon Islands and New Britain to spend the winter. After their migration they certainly were very hungry as they could not stop eating caterpillars.
Torresian Crows are gathering in larger numbers, on 9.4 I estimated about 30, all crowing, flying around and perching on top the highest Eucalyptus trees as if they could not find any peace. Thirty is a large number for Banks Street Reserve as usually I see about five or six.
I had never seen a Welcome Swallow, chasing or following the Brown Goshawk before, the Goshawk didn't mind nor did it go after the Swallow. One of the young birds born last spring is still hanging around its parents territory, I saw all three birds circling above the Reserve on 10.4.19.
Immature Brown Goshawk
A Gray Fantail caught in one of those very rare moments when not moving.
The Black-faced Monarchs are still migrating through Banks Street Reserve, above an immature.
Pheasant Coucal in non-breeding plumage.
A very young Royal Spoonbill at dawn.
Many Eucalyptus trees are flowering and this is attracting many insects as well as birds. A female Leaden Flycatcher above and a juvenile White-throated Gerygone below.
Laughing Kookaburra
Blue-faced Honeyeater
Olive-backed Oriole
Galah
A pair of Masked Lapwings chased away the bird with a deformed bill (below on the right), was it a territorial dispute? Soon after, the pair looked rather triumphant, march-walking and calling together showing their yellow spurs on the wings.
After not hearing the Pied Butcherbirds singing much through the summer, it's very nice to have them back (not that they went anywhere I don't think) with their beautiful calls. They seem to be more social now as they sometimes gather in small, rather vocal groups.
The bee hive in the tree hollow is getting larger although the number of bees seems to be decreasing, are they retreating further in the hollow or are they going somewhere else?
With cooler temperatures and after the rains of last month, Banks Street Reserve is showing an array of colourful berries, flowers, mushrooms and mosses. The following selection shows what you can see here in early April, I have to thank the Facebook page Plant Identification Australia who helped me identifying all of the plants since my knowledge is very limited.
Russula persanguinea
Foambark - Jagera pseudorhus, a rainforest tree, its early-stage fruits have a wine-red colour, as the fruits mature they become orange-brown with irritating hair.
Chainfruit - Alyxia ruscifolia
Banana Bush - Tabernaemontana pandacaqui
Mickey Mouse Plant - Ochna serrulata, an introduced and invasive weed.
Above, a Diamond-leaf Pittosporum - Auranticarpa rhombifolia, a native rainforest tree.
Moss
MID APRIL
Below, a Long-pod Wattle or Flat-stemmed Wattle - Acacia complanata
Above, a Black Wattle - Acacia concurrens
Climbing Nightshade - Solanum seaforthianum, an exotic and invasive vine from South America.
The Great Egret is visiting less frequently now, it started feeding with the Royal Spoonbill soon after I took this photo.
An immature Fan-tailed Cuckoo above.
Little black Cormorant.
A rare visitor for Banks Street Reserve, the Australasian Darter, an adult male.
Juvenile Rufous Fantail above.
Scurvy Weed - Commelina cyanea, a native perennial herb.
Stink bugs on a Banana Bush.
LATE APRIL
Common Ringtail Possum
Exciting to see a Whistling Kite for the first time here, it flew over the west bridge heading north-west.
Figbird feeding on the fruits of a White Cedar (Melia azedarach).
Pastel Flower - Psuderanthemum variabile
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| Star Goodenia - Goodenia rotundifolia - found on the dry side of the forest. |
Black Wattles are in full bloom and they smell amazing.
A Pacific Black Duck preening.
This April I have visited the Reserve 13 times, I saw and heard a total of 70 species of birds, an average of 41 species per outing. This link has a complete list of all the birds recorded this month at Banks Street Reserve.
