Hooded Plover

Thinornis rubricollis

Adult

Appearance:

Juvenile

Medium-sized, stocky plover

Sandy-brown above

White nape

White underparts

Dark brown iris with red eye ring

Red bill with black tip

Pinkish-orange legs

Adult:

    Black head

    Black hindneck

Juvenile:

      Sandy-brown head and hindneck

On Maria Island in Tasmania, we saw a small groups of these birds while walking on the beach. They were bobbing and pecking along the shore, keeping just in front of us.  Then, as a group, they all flew out to sea and circled around to land on the beach behind us.  They must have felt threatened by us, after all they are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Learn more about the Hooded Plover.

Powerful Owl

Ninox strenua

Appearance:
Large owl
Rounded tail
Grey-brown plumage with white barring
Off-white underside with dark, v-shaped markings
Dark grey facial disc 
Large yellow eyes
Dull yellow feet with large, sharp talons




 




Having been told of a Powerful Owl perched in a tree in Williamstown, we stopped by to have a look.  Sure enough, there he was, halfway up a plane tree right next to a row of parked cars.  As I was looking for the best position for a photograph, a number of locals stopped to fill me in; apparently,  this is a regular hangout for the bird.  One young man even showed me his photos of the owl .... with a possum in his huge claws.  That really wasn't something I wanted to see.   Thanks anyway.

Learn more about the Powerful Owl.

Crested Pigeon

Phaps chalcoptera

Appearance:
Grey-brown plumage
Grey head with slender, black crest on top
Red-orange eyes with pink-red ring around them 
Black striped wings with bronze visible
Colourful areas of brown, purple, blue and green on primaries

Learn more about the Crested Pigeon.

Red-rumped Parrot

Psephotus haematonotus

Appearance:
Moderate sized parrot
Male:
      Bright emerald-green plumage
      Yellow underparts
      Red rump
      Blue highlights on wings and upper back
Female:
     Olive-green plumage
     Pale yellow underparts
     Green rump
     Blue-black wingtips

This was another of my sightings at the Water Treatment Plant in Werribee. This colorful bird struck some very nice poses for me while I was photographing him.  And they say that cooperative behaviors are rare in the animal kingdom!

Learn more about the Red-rumped Parrot.

Striated Fieldwren

Calamanthus fuliginosus

Appearance:
Small, stocky bird
Sandy-brown upperparts with dark streaks
Creamy-yellow underparts with dark streaks
Tail usually cocked upwards
White eyebrow

When we saw this bird at the Water Treatment Plant in Werribee, the Melbournian with me got quite excited.  I assume that means that these birds are little seen. What I have since discovered though is that they are also little studied.  I had a heck of a time finding anything about them on-line.

Learn more about the Striated Fieldwren.
 

Chestnut Teal

Anas castanea

male

female

Appearance:
Small dabbling duck 
Red eyes
Slate grey bill
Green speculum bordered by white stripes
Dark underwing   
Male:
     Green head
     Dark brown upper body and wings
     Chestnut flanks, breast and belly
     Black undertail with white patch
Female:
     Mottled brown and grey plumage
     Pale throat, streaked with brown 
     Dark brown eye stripe


These pictures were taken at Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.  If you're wondering whether all that algae is harmful to the ducks, you're not alone.  Looking around on the internet, I discovered that although some algae is a must for a healthy pond, other types are not so good.  Hopefully, this is one of the good ones.

Learn more about the Chestnut Teal.

Australian Pelican

Pelecanus conspicillatus

Water Treatment Plant

Appearance:
Medium-sized pelican
Very large bill 
Mainly white plumage
Black primaries
White panel on upper wing 
White V on rump
Non-breeding:
     Pale pink bill and pouch
     Pale yellow eyering
Breeding:
    Orange orbital skin and bill
    Color of pouch varies 
          -- dark blue, pink, scarlet





 I love the Latin name of this bird. It reminds me of the old Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons, where they were given fictitious Latin names like Disappearialis quickius and Apetitius giganticus. Pelecanus conspicillatus indeed!

 Learn more about the Australian Pelican.

Australian White Ibis

Threskiornis moluccus

 

Appearance:

Large ibis

White plumage 

Bald, black head and neck

Black tail feathers

Long, black, down-curved bill

Black legs 

Immature:

     Similar to adult 

     Neck covered with black feathers 

During my time in Melbourne, I was lucky enough to make contact with a fellow from BirdLife Melbourne. On my last day there, he took me to the Water Treatment Plant in Werribe. The many lagoons and wetlands there make it a haven for waders and waterbirds. 

These odd looking birds were some of the first birds we encountered upon entering the limited access area.  I snapped pictures of them while leaning out the window of our vehicle as they nonchalantly strolled along the dirt road in front of us.

Learn more about the Australian White Ibis.

Welcome Swallow

Hirundo hahitica neoxena

Appearance:
Metallic blue-black upperparts
Light grey breast and belly
Rusty forehead, throat and upper breast
Long forked tail with white spots on the individual feathers

Learn more about the Welcome Sparrow.

Tasmania Native-hen

Tribonyx mortierii

Appearance:
Stocky, flightless bird between 17 and 20 inches in length
Brown head, back and wings
Slate grey underparts
White patch on the flank
Short, black tail mostly held erect
Thick, powerful legs, with a grey scaly appearance
Sharp claw
Bright red eyes
Large yellow bill

The Tasmanian Native-hen is one of  twelve species of birds that are endemic to Tasmania. This means they are found nowhere else on earth.

Learn more about the Tasmanian Native-hen.