Yesterday the LWs moved their babies 25 metres across the corridor of shrubs and tree branches. Still, the babies are required to flutter across gaps and I was happy not to have witnessed it. Last year I saw the babies being moved and my heart was in my mouth the whole time lest one end up on the ground. This morning they were back in the sheoak.
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Last month I saw the female LW taking nesting materials to the sheoak and yesterday the new babies emerged from the nest for the first time. Needless to say, both parents very busy keeping these little mouths fed. The older sibling is still around and chirping to be fed, but I haven't seen/heard that happen.
The bottlebrushes are filling up with flowers and the LWs make frequent nectar stops during the day.
It's the month of returns. The eucalypts have another lerp infestation - The lone cuckoo is back - the wattle shrubs have come back from the dead again and are in bloom - not a caterpillar in sight, so far... But here's something new - this is the first year this Rose Cone Flower, Isopogon formosus, has flowered. This is another WA native and I think I'll try propagating this one - see if I can collect some seed.
The LW fledgling is being weaned. The time between each bill-full of food from the parents has been extended and the result is one noisy bird who is loudly and almost constantly begging for food. Today it became too much for its aunt/female relative who kept flying over to feed the fledgling only to be driven away by the LWs. The fledgling is well able to feed itself on the nectar around and does - but I think it will still need some help catching insects for its protein requirements, something its mother (below) has perfected.
Well this fellow has just a few feathers left from his eclipse plumage - while this one is fully suited up in breeding plumage. The female's song is not for them, though. It's how she communicates with other females in the group.
I was pleased to see (and later identify) a female Golden Whistler - another first for me. As is often the case, the female's plumage is quite a contrast to the smartly-feathered male. Hopefully this means a breeding pair. LW was straight on to the first callistemon of the year - last year the babies were born when it was in full bloom and had a very handy supply of nectar in their nursery.
Many small and some medium-sized birds sounding out alarm calls and darting about usually means only one thing - Currawong. So, as I grabbed my camera and approached the tree that seemed to be the epicentre of the commotion, I fully expected a Currawong to fly away, pursued by small birds. In truth I couldn't see much at all to begin with then, when I located a largish bird silhouette, it was hard to tell what it was - even through the zoom lens. I took some snaps, walked forward a few paces and took some more. Here is the happy result, photos of what I believe is either a Brown Goshawk or a Collared Sparrowhawk, tending toward the latter due to the yellowish patch behind bill and (apparent) lack of dominant 'eyebrow'.
In spring various tiny flowers that look like lilies or orchids appear, most often on one slender stalk with no or scant leaves. Less than 10cm above the ground this floral display features miniature artworks, beautifully constructed centrepieces on a canvas less than 2cm wide. They're plentiful and are in areas that have laid untouched. I've had no luck identifying them so far - if you know please get in touch.
The Eastern Yellow Robin was minding its own business in the sheoak, chirping its rather repetitive two syllables when a certain baby LW sidled up rather cautiously...
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December 2020
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