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.

Yellow Wattlebird

Anthochaera paradoxa

Appearance:
Large honeyeater
Grey-brown plumage streaked with white
Long, yellow wattles hanging from cheeks
Dark wings
Yellow belly
Short, strong, dark bill

Although the Yellow Wattlebird is supposedly common in Tasmania, I only saw one once, on Maria Island.  And believe me, if I'd encountered another one I couldn't have mistaken it for anything else.  It was one of the oddest birds I've ever seen.

The Yellow Wattlebird 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 Yellow Wattlebird.

Grey Fantail

Rhipidura albiscapa

Appearance:
Small bird, half of which is tail
Dark grey above
Light underside
White throat
White markings over eye
White-edged tail feathers

I saw this little bird flitting from twig to twig and from tree to tree while I was visiting the Port Arthur Historic Site yesterday.  I had a heck of a time getting a shot of it though, as it never stayed still for a moment.

Learn more about the Grey Fantail.

Eastern Spinebill

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

Adult - Port Arthur, Tasmania

Appearance:
Long, fine, black,  down-curved bill
White outer tail feathers
Male:
     Black head, which extends in a line around breast
     White throat and breast, with rufous patch in centre
     Pale cinnamon to buff underparts
     Rufous-red nape
     Grey-brown back and wings
     Dark tail
     Red eye
 Female and Juvenile:
     Duller, with less distinct markings

As we were preparing to leave our rental cottage this morning, this striking bird flew past the car. Luckily there was a flowering bush next to the driveway where it decided to stop for a meal.  So, I quickly grabbed my camera and started clicking away, leaving my husband to finish packing.  Thankfully, he's used to my bird obsession and didn't get (too) annoyed with me.

Juvenile - Ripponlea Garden, Melbourne

Learn more about the Eastern Spinebill. 

Noisy Miner

Manorina melanocephala leachi

Appearance:

Grey bird

Black crown and cheeks

Orange-yellow bill and legs

Yellow panel in wings

Yellow patch behind eyes

White tips on tail feathers

This is another of the birds that I saw while at Bonorong.  It was pecking at a picture of itself on the wall, quite violently at times.  I'm not sure whether it was showing affection for the 'other bird' or trying to challenge it, as I've read that they are aggressive birds that often peck at and chase intruders.

 

Learn more about the Noisy Miner.

Eastern Rosella

Platycercus eximius

Appearance:
Medium-sized parrot
White cheeks
Red head, neck and breast
Black back, each feather broadly edged yellowish-green
Bright blue shoulders
Yellow belly
Blue-green to yellow-green lower abdomen and rump
Red undertail
Off-white bill
Female:
      Slightly duller overall
Juvenile:
     Duller overall
    Yellow-orange bill

This bird and his 'friends' were feeding on the ground yesterday at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.  Like us, they were just visiting.  However, this family of wallabies were residents at the centre.  (I know they aren't birds but I couldn't resist including them.  The little joey is so cute!)

Learn more about the Eastern Rosella.

Black Currawong

Strepera fuliginosa

Appearance:
Large black bill
Black plumage
White tipped wings and tail
Yellow eyes
Black legs

When I initially saw these birds, I automatically thought of ravens. Their large size and black plumage certainly are raven-like. However, a few things gave them away.  First was the white on their tails and wings, and second was the yellow eyes.  And finally, their call is much less grating than a raven's, whose call really is quite comical.

The Black Currawong 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 Black Currawong.

Scarlet Robin

Petroica multicolor

male

 Appearance:
Small, plump bird
Medium-sized robin
White forehead
Male:
     Black head, neck and upperparts
     Scarlet breast
     Whitish lower underparts
     White wing bars and outer tail feathers
Female:
     Brown upperparts and wings
     Orange-red wash on breast
     White lower underparts

female

We are currently staying at a delightful cottage outside of Port Arthur on the Tasman Peninsula. The property is alive with birds (and wallabies), including these little ones who seem to have taken up permanent residence in the front bushes.

Learn more about the Scarlet Robin.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Cacatua galerita

 

Appearance:
Large cockatoo
Mostly white
Yellow, forwarded-curving crest
Yellow undertail and underwing
Black bill
Grey legs
White eye-ring
Male:
    Black eyes
Female:
    Reddish-brown eyes



These birds are impossible to miss with their extremely loud screeching. They seem to be rather plentiful, often congregating in large flocks.  I have seen them everywhere in Tasmania, both feeding on the ground and in trees. Apparently they like walnuts, or at least that was what one gentleman told me as he angrily shooed a very large number of them out of his yard.  It's hard to imagine such beautiful birds being considered pest.  

Learn more about the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.

Laughing Kookaburra

Dacelo novaeguineae

Appearance:
Large kingfisher 
Large, creamy-white head
Dark brown stripe through each eye 
Brown stripe over the top of the head
Very large bill, black on top / bone coloured on bottom
Creamy-white underparts 
Brown wings and back 
Sky blue spots on shoulders
Rusty reddish-orange tail, with dark brown bars 

I don't know about gum trees but Kookaburras certainly like to sit on hydro wires.  We spotted at least one of them each day as we drove around Tasmania. I never heard any laughter though. They were all sitting quietly on their perch looking out over the world.

Learn more about the Laughing Kookaburra.

Galah

Cacatua roseicapilla

Appearance:
Pink head, neck and underparts 
Light pink crown
Grey back, wings and rump
Off-white bill
Grey legs
Male:
     Dark brown irises
Female:
     Mid-brown or red irises

I photographed these birds in the parking lot at Tasmania's Boat Harbour Beach, which might just be the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. Honestly, it was absolutely gorgeous -- secluded and quiet.  Well, except for the Galah. They were congregating there in a noisy feeding flock.

Learn more about the Galah.