Birds

It is great to see so many native birds on our property. Some are common, others a bit less likely to be seen in a suburban block. We have planted so many trees over the years that we are seeing some of these birds more and more often now.

Red-capped parrot

Red-capped parrot

Redcapped parrot

Redcapped parrot

Male Splendid Fairy wren

Female splendid wren

Female splendid wren

Male splendid wren in the veggie garden

Male splendid wren in the veggie garden

Splendid wren

Male Splendid fairy-wren (photo by Lucky Mac Photography)

Splendid wren

Female Splendid fairy-wren (photo by Lucky Mac Photography)

Splendid Fairy Wren-Female

Some of the visiting birds have wreaked havoc, like the Heron and Little Bittern, who on separate occasions killed or ate every koi and goldfish from the outdoor ponds as well as piercing the plastic liner! While we are pleased to see native birds, we would actually prefer the heron to leave our fish alone!

White-faced heron

How many fish can I spear?

Equally as wonderful, but also destructive,  are the Wedge-tailed Eagles which have caused concern now and then as they look for an easy dinner. This one killed and ate a duck and the rooster before we realised what was causing the deaths and kept the poultry in their pens for a while!

Watching from a safe distance

Eagle in flight

Eagle in flight

A pair of eagles watching the poultry

We hear the very elusive Fan-tailed cuckoo, but very rarely see it!

Fantailed cuckoo

Fantailed cuckoo

Fantailed cuckoo

Fantailed cuckoo

Crested pigeons

A pair of galahs nested in a hole in this tree for the last two years.

Galah pair getting the nest ready

Galah protecting its nest from the rainbow lorikeets (one in the fork of the tree, one to the right)

Galah family

Galah family

It is always exciting when the cockatoos come to visit, whether those with white tails or these, the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. They make a lot of noise, eat the honky-nuts (and make a big mess in the process), and often stay over night.

Red-tailed black cockatoo

Carnaby's cockatoo

Carnaby’s cockatoo

Carnaby's cockatoos

Carnaby’s cockatoos

Scarlet Robin

Grey Butcherbird catching insects in the orchard

Rufous whistler

Rufous whistler

Rufous Whistler

Red-eared wattle bird

yellow rumped thornbill

Photo by Lucky Mac Photography

yellow rumped thornbill open wings

Photo by Lucky Mac Photography

Yellow-rumped thornbill

Yellow-rumped thornbill (photo by Lucky Mac Photography)

Kookaburra

Kookaburra (photo by Lucky Mac Photography)

New-Holland honeyeaters having a bath

New Holland Honeyeater

New Holland Honeyeater (photo by Lucky Mac Photography)

Australian Wood duck pair high in a tree with a kookaburra!

Pacific Black duck on the ‘snake lake’

You looking' at me?

You looking’ at me? Australian Wood duck

Rainbow beeeater

Rainbow beeeater

Bronzewing

Bronzewing

Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike

‘Twenty-eight’ parrots in the birdbath

Even the lovely little Silver-eyes soon destroy a nice bunch of grapes if they aren’t netted!

Silver-eye, sharing the grapes

Magpie

Kookaburra calmly watching the fish in the ‘billabong’ while being harassed by two willy wagtails!

Pacific Black duck in the swimming pool!

Pacific Black duck in the swimming pool!

best duck in pool

Wagtail nest

Wagtail nest

Grey fantail

Grey fantail

Noisy baby silvereye

Noisy baby silvereye

Western Gerygone

Western Gerygone

White browed scrubwren?

White browed scrubwren?

Male splendid wren

Male splendid wren

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Red capped parrot

Red capped parrot

Nest- perhaps a thornbill?

Nest- perhaps a thornbill?

Birds in Backyards is a great site to get more information on many birds found in Australia.