The highlight of my yesterday was a west to east low flyover by a large flock of Yellowed-tailed Black Cockatoo (YBC). I counted 43, then a straggler - plus a few at the beginning that I missed, so I'd say around 50 birds. They do form flocks of up to a hundred in the non-breeding season and follow the food time line across the south-east of Australia. travelling as far north up the east coast as central Queensland and throughout South Australia. The population on the Eyre Peninsula is listed as critically endangered due to habitat loss and isolation from other groups and as 'vulnerable' throughout SA.
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Although I fear the entries will be few and far between - well at least until July when breeding season starts. This morning a LW returned to trees (that used to be its trees) in front of verandah. New Holland Honeyeaters - 30 or more - came from all directions and mobbed, snapped and swooped the LW, driving it from tree to tree until it flew down onto the ground and walked away. The New Hollands aren't breeding but there are multiple juveniles from last year and together they form a formidable flock when it comes to protecting the food supply.
I've been enjoying collecting photos of insects - so many strange and wonderful little creatures that I've paid scant attention to until now. For example - this pose is the natural resting position of Endotricha pyrosalis. With a wingspan of just 20mm it doesn't have a common name, despite being a common moth, and lays its eggs in dead plant material.
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December 2020
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