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The fan-tailed cuckoo left me hanging in suspense this winter when it failed to show as it always does, towards the end of August. Migrants arriving late, and sometimes not at all, always gives cause for concern at a time of declining bird numbers but I had no need to worry about this species of cuckoo which is generally common in the Hobart area. I had received reports that the familiar descending, trill of the cuckoo had been heard in other places, birds apparently … [Read more...] about ‘Sociopaths’ leave it late

The pink robins of the Waterworks Reserve have been able to take a breather during the Covid-19 pandemic from the groups of international and mainland birders who give them a hard time in the spring. The beautiful robin is either absent from most of Australia or hard to find so it is high on the checklist of birds to be spotted in a reserve so close to Hobart, where it is common. The problem is the use of mobile phone apps of bird songs which can lead target species to … [Read more...] about pink robins sing song of their own

My spring ritual of lying in wait at the Waterworks Reserve for the first welcome swallows to arrive has been thrown into disarray this year. During the winter I had already seen swallows at the Queens Domain and at Howrah on the Eastern Shore. I am not alone in my winter swallow spotting. BirdlLife Tasmania reports there have been many swallow sightings in the months when the swallows should have been in their wintering grounds on the mainland. The swallows leave in late … [Read more...] about Swallows brave the winter

New Holland honeyeaters form the Neighbourhood Watch for the community of birds on my street. With rapid tweets they are quick to warn of the menace of the sparrowhawk and it is not only the other honeyeaters who know their call. The fairy-wrens and scarlet robins also seek shelter in the thickly-packed grevilleas out of harm’s way when they hear the alarm call. My citizen science observations tell me there are two distinct honeyeater alarm calls – soft, short tweets that … [Read more...] about Honeyeaters on neighbourhood watch

The frosts came late to my home valley this year, but they prompted the same response when I saw the white coating on the lawn and an icy sparkle on the street beyond our drive: “What am I doing here?” As I warmed my hands by the log fire, I lamented not joining the Tasmanian migration to Queensland to enjoy some warm weather there. The mournful, melancholy winter song of the resident silvereyes coming from the frozen, rigid bottlebrushes seemed to be saying the same … [Read more...] about Silvereyes leave winter behind them