Avian observations

[Splitpin]

At the moment Im on a really odd shift that sees me up at 0430 , but home at 1500 latest ....the trouble is, by the time its 1800, it feels like ...well, much later to me, and I cant stay awake ....but, the birds dont know anything about shift work.
I cook rice for them , and they expect it But, when Im home early ..... which feels late for me at the moment, they get confused, as do I.
Anyway.... it must be spring, because today 95% of the sparrows were males....dozens of them. So Im picturing all the lady sparrows sitting on thier eggs, while the guys land in my garden.
Also noted a couple of unusual visitors ...a Chaffinch and a couple of Red Polls .... just saying.

[Charl]

We have a male sparrow sitting on a bough, chirping nonstop.
I had thought he was trying to attract a girl, and failing the voice test.
Maybe he already has, as you suggest, a mate on egg.

Meantime, the Kookaburras have moved on down the valley and given this little fella a gap to fish my pond.
He's very tricky to photograph, as he doesn't hang about if he spots you.
This was a 20x zoom and a deep breath.

[Naki]

Kookaburras? Or have you moved to Australia?

[Charl]

Nope they are very much here in NZ, and there is no mistaking their call!
Maybe someone brought a pet and set it free... some bright spark did just that to start the Auckland Rosella population.
Around here, people with orchards poison them. A shame as they are really beautiful.

[emfrat]

In the last couple of weeks, the dawn chorus here has been brilliant, with a distant kookaburra joining in. I have found the best way to get it to call is to stop the recording

[Charl]

I found the best way to stop my little Kingfisher from doing its dip 'n dive was to START recording!
NOTAM: abovementioned sparrow has found and inseminated (in front of witnesses!) a low-ranking last of the season female.
Now they will laboriously build a nest in the piece of end guttering that I laboriously clean out every winter.

[emfrat]

A pair of Masked Lapwings set up house in my yard last week. Only seen one egg so far, but there are probably four by now.

[Charl]

Time to mow the lawn, Mike

[emfrat]

Lawn? What lawn?
But there's a La Nina coming, so it might want mowing around Christmas.

[Splitpin]

Mike ...over here, those little things are known as "Spur-winged Plovers" I've got them nesting on my sports field at school ..... aggressive little things.

[Splitpin]

Back to the Sparrows if I may.....I will anyway
It must have been ladies night last night(in Sparrow land) because ...ALL.. the sparrows, were female.
But, just an addon to this ... this afternoon while driving home, I noticed on a lake.... a bunch...clump...whatever, of young Swans with their Parents...cold as it is down here, it is most definitely spring.

[Charl]

A Clump of Cygnets... has a ring to it don't you think?
I am still trying to get a flying clip of my little Kingfisher friend.
So far he has used up an entire memory card.

[emfrat]

Mike ...over here, those little things are known as "Spur-winged Plovers" I've got them nesting on my sports field at school ..... aggressive little things.

Cheers, Marty - that's the common name for them on this side of the ditch, too. They're mostly bluff and bluster, and they have a rounded bill. The magpie is the one you need to watch out for. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was a magpie that killed the two little fluffballs that hatched last year.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-15/ ... d/12767868

[Splitpin]

A Clump of Cygnets... has a ring to it don't you think?
I am still trying to get a flying clip of my little Kingfisher friend.
So far he has used up an entire memory card.

Charl, that's a lovely photo.