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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ON THESE PAGES HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY BILL JOLLY  UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED

January, 2010 - Pectoral Sandpiper

This Pectoral Sandpiper has been present on a local lagoon since mid-December.

The characteristics which mark it out from the many Sharp-tailed Sandpipers that are commonly here at this time of year are several, but for the most part subtle.
Congratulations and thanks to Michael Atzeni who first saw the bird, and recognised it for what it was - a once in a decade visitor to the valley. 

Three other species at the same lagoon as the sandpipers.

  - elsewhere in the valley

Galahs in a sea of sorghum

 - inland a little

You need to travel an hour or two south-west from here to find White-browed Babblers, where their range which is mostly through 
southern Australia just creeps up a little across the Queensland border 

I couldn't get a clean shot of these birds out in the open, but their wholly dark crown can be seen in these photographs.

By contrast, below is a photograph of our bigger local bird, the Grey-crowned Babbler, whose broad eyebrow extends 
up on to the sides of the crown - only the centre of which is actually grey.

Another bird which prefers the drier forests, the Brown Treecreeper is as likely to be seen feeding on the ground
or exploring a fallen log as in classic treecreeper pose on the trunk of a tree.

 - and a couple of honeyeaters at Mt Glorious

Eastern Spinebills - which are widely spread .....

and New Holland Honeyeaters - which have a much more limited distribution in Queensland  

1 January, 2010 - Lewin's Rail - again!

Lewin's Rail

The Lewin’s Rail put in another appearance this-afternoon, and this time I was able to get a few photos.

I glanced out through the french doors, across the verandah and down to the creek (as I do many times every day) and spotted a darkish shape 
on the opposite margin. I routinely reached for my binoculars to check it out - and there was a Lewin's Rail!

After a few record shots from the verandah, I set off for the creek edge by a circuitous route.

The rail stood in the open for a couple of minutes preening, then wandered along the margin, with short diversionary runs into and out 
of the thick creekside vegetation. I headed for a big Callistemon which would give me good cover on my side of the creek bank. 
Then, as I stood immobile close alongside that tree, the Lewin's Rail meandered into view on the margin directly opposite.

So, two sightings now, approximately two weeks apart. Both in the same location, and both in the lateish afternoon.

Has this bird been here for the whole of the past two weeks? I'll have to spend more time on the verandah.......

           
Lewin's Rail