Weekends That Were - November 2017

Moggil

30.11.17

So, I arrived on site at 6 and installed the hearing aids…….

Got out of the car and was deluged with calls – Eastern Whipbirds, Channel-billed Cuckoos, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Rainbow Lorikeets, Cicadabirds, an Eastern Yellow Robin and other sounds-  my breakfast digesting in my stomach, my wheezy breathing (got to give up the smokes), a car on a distant road, I swear I even heard a Cook’s Petrel calling off Pt Lookout........

Now, I know you’ll say “but all those birds are easy to hear!” and, yes, I agree, most of them are, but I was hearing them like they were perched on my head.

I wandered the track and spent the next two hours trying to identify species by call – most of it was easy stuff and, admittedly, I didn’t hear or even see much small ‘stuff’ – like Thornbills (2 x Brown), Large-billed Scrub Wrens (x 4), Variegated Wren (1) and so on, but overhead large flocks of Rainbow Lorikeets fed on the canopy blossom and overlaid most of the other calls. Bird of the morning was a Varied Sitella which I don’t think called – and, even if it did, I probably wouldn’t have recognised it.

At the turnaround point, just after I turned the volume up as an experiment, an unexpectedly close Whipbird whipcracked and I thought my head would explode, while Fan-tailed Cuckoos went from ear to ear like the old stereo effect bands used to use.

It was incredible and encouraged me to whip out my recorder and record some calls. Maybe it was just a good day for calls, after the rain of yesterday, but it was still very impressive.

The true test will be, of course, when I go out with Mr D and I’m able to say – ‘Did you hear that?’ and have him say ‘What?”……

Hearing Aid update

So I took the $7,000 hearing aids back and explained to the guy that I really couldn't justify to myself that kind of money when I intended to use the aids for birding only.

He was very understanding and fully appreciated my explanation.

But, he said, we have another option - wait, there's more!

We have these AMPs, he said, which are like hearing aids, but aren't. They, basically, just amplify the sounds.

Now. like me, you probably thought that's what hearing aids do, right?

Wrong, bing bong.

Apparently the difference is that hearing aids suppress some sounds - depending on the settings - and aid with tinnitus relief etc etc. The AMPs don't. They have a limited range of settings - which I can't change, once they're set - and no sound suppression or tinnitus management.

I still think they're hearing aids. After all they are AIDING my HEARING aren't they? Uuuuhhh duhhh? or is it just me?

However, they come with a magic wand - a magnetic 'stick' with which you can change the volume from '1' to '5' and turn the things on and off while they're in your head. They come with silicon sleeves that encase the aid and do fit right inside my ears so you can't see them. 

So, I tried them in, so to speak, and they were very comfortable. More so, in fact, than the $7,000 jobbies that had been 'made' for my ears specifically!

Go figure.

The best bit of all? Only $1000 for the pair. 

For that I get a 1 year warranty and 10 free batteries. I have to buy my own batteries after that at about $7 for 6, however, judging by the amount of time I'll actually be using the things I expect I won't need to be rushing off to buy more anytime soon.

So I plunked down my credit card, negotiated a 14 day return if I don't like them and took my Personal Audio Amplifiers home. (Yeah, I know that doesn't explain the AMP thing, but what can I tell you? Why don't they just call them PAAs??)

Wait! There's more!

Since then I have contacted my health provider and, apparently, I can claim up to $1600 once every 5 years. Which is even better news! They're free!

I thought about where I could take them for a run and decided that Moggil State Forest would be a good place. I have spent every visit there going 'What?' when Mr D asks me did I hear that - so if anywhere would be a test this sounded like the place........

28.11.17

Norman Creek, Holland Park West

Added a new butterfly (Common Crow) and a ladybird - Common Spotted Ladybird Harmonia conformis to

The site list and there were a heap of Common Bluetail (Damselflies) mating in the long grass beside the creek.

Bird-wise it was much as usual, highlight being a White-browed Scrub Wren which was only my 5^th record for site.

(Note: update on the stick insect of 11.11.17 @ Minnippi - see below)

25.11.17

Minnippi

I had limited time before a scheduled pest inspection at home so went alone – on site at 5.45.

Overall a fairly average spring morning for Minnippi, highlights included:

4 Whiskered Terns still over lake.

4 Oriental Dollarbirds in total – 2 on the M1 track and 2 at start of the Airfield track.

Approx 20 White-throated Needletails, my first for 12 months, mostly high over the lake, invisible to the naked eye.

A Pacific Baza perched up along the Airfield Track.

Butterflies: 2 Common Crow and 2 Evening Brown.

Spiders: Several Garden Orb Weavers and 1 Coastal Orb Weaver.

I left the carpark at 7.45.

22.11.17

Oxley

On site at 5.45 – with a puncture. The back right tyre was completely flat by the time I stopped in the car park. I jacked the car up and removed the wheel nuts, then went to get the spare tyre off the back of the car. I couldn’t figure out how to get the dam thing off – I mean I’ve only had the car 10 years, but I’ve never had to change a tyre before……there was no option but to call RACQ. How embarrassing?

They turned up within 30 minutes and 30 seconds after that the guy showed me how to lift the number plate and undo the bolts…… between us we had the tyre changed within 10 minutes and I started my walk at 7.15.

Pretty average morning apart from the Variegated Fairy Wren nest I had found last time now had been completed and had 4 eggs. Didn’t see either of the adults, but the eggs were pretty cute and interestingly the nest was almost at ground level.

Spot the nest!

Apart from that not much to write home about, although I did meet a camera toting dude, whom I’ve seen before, who pointed out a Whistling Kite nest tree across the paddock and we discussed the damage Carp are doing to the main lake – hence the muddy water. I was back at the car after 90 minutes and headed off to get the tyre repaired…….

20.11.17

North Stradbroke Island

Strong south-easterlies and reports of a very exiting Southport pelagic on Saturday suggested a worthwhile visit to Pt Lookout, although Mr P had been on Sunday (19^th) and seen nothing exceptional.

On site as usual at 8 and immediately, even without bins, shearwaters could be seen passing south.

Over the next two and a half hours Wedge-tailed and Short-tailed Shearwaters passed in huge numbers. I didn’t do any specific counts but estimate at least 1,000 Wedgies and 2,000 Short-tailed during that time. The glare was horrendous, broken only occasionally by cloud shadows moving across the ocean’s surface. I did see two Hutton’s Shearwaters hammering south as well and one Cockarilla sp very far out, heading north, but it was way too far and the glare too intense to come to any conclusion - even at 50X.

There was little else of interest, apart from some of the usual land birds from the bus – no Bush Stone Curlews in any of the usual places, but that’s normal during school holidays when there are a lot more people on the island than normal.

18.11.17

Tamborine Mtn

Mr D thought a trip to the Palm Grove Conservation Reserve on Tamborine Mountain would make a change and offered to collect me at 5.30. When I woke at 5, it was raining – heavily - and I anticipated a cancellation text, however, just to be safe I got up and had breakfast and presented myself at the end of the driveway at the agreed pick up time. Sure enough he turned up and we headed south.

An hour later it was raining in the carpark so we sat in the car and reviewed our recent European trips with the help of my Collins Field Guide which I had brought along to show off the personalised inscription and drawing Killian Mullarney had been gracious enough to sign & draw for me when I was in Ireland a few weeks ago.

The rain eventually eased and we walked the track in dripping trees hearing Rose-crowned and Wompoo Fruit Doves and saw Australian Logrunners, Large-billed Scrub Wrens, Pale Yellow Robins, Little Shrike Thrushes and Green Catbirds.

After about 45 minutes the rain returned in strength and we slogged our way back to the car, picking off leeches, two of which made it home with me…..

Breakfast was had at Café Bravo then it was the hour long stop/start drive home on the notorious M1 in the rain.

16.11.17

Sandy Camp & Lindum

On site at 6, usual species overall. A calling Peaceful Dove was only my fourth site record, a pair of Double-barred Finches with a well advanced nest and the usual Australian White Ibis, Little Pied Cormorants and Darters also nesting. About 20 Wandering Whistle Ducks scattered across the two main ponds and a total of about 25 Magpie Geese on the water and in the surrounding trees.

The pond at the back of Fowler reserve was inaccessible due to a number of trucks and a security guard and I thought it better not to try.

I wandered around for an hour then headed for Lindum. A Pectoral Sandpiper had been reported a couple of weeks ago but there were no ‘brown’ waders when I got there. There were 16 Red-necked Avocets, 250 White-headed Stilts, 4 Royal Spoonbills and 4 Little Egrets just hanging out or feeding. I checked down the side road and found more Magpie Geese and 7 Red-kneed Dotterels on the distant muddy waterhole.

11.11.17

Minnippi

Picked Mr D up at 5.30, on site at 5.45. I wanted an early strike because I had an interest in being at an Aldi store before 8.00 opening time to acquire a travel adaptor pack, so……

The Whiskered Terns were still soaring and dipping over the lake, otherwise it was pretty quiet on the water. The M1 track was also pretty dead – the Brush Cuckoo calling unseen, and a medium sized Stick Insect which I think is potentially a Spiny Pachymorpha Stick-insect Pachymorpha spinosa, but may have to have it identified via the museum.
Update (28.11.17) It is not a Pachymorpha - apparently it is a nymph and not fully developed - it is most likely a Giant Stick Insect, but at an early stage. 

The Alley was quiet and back at the lake 20 Hardheads didn’t really rate a mention.

We did the Airfield track but saw little – apart from an Evening Brown and my first Blue Triangle of the season.

Back at the car by 7.30 and a successful foray to Aldi saw us heading to Belesis for breakfast clutching our purchases.

Hearing aids

So, we all know my hearing is 'not the best' - to put it lightly. I put it down to age and too many rock concerts - others may have suggested its a result of too much personal attention....however I have been thinking about doing something about it.

Being a vain bastard I didn't want big pink things hanging off my ears - they would make me feel at least 10 years older and, as I consider myself at least 10 years younger than I am, they wouldn't do at all, at all.

So I went to a crowd who advertised internal hearing aids and, cutting a long story a little shorter, acquired a pair of very discreet hearing aids designed specifically for my ears on loan for two weeks. I have been trying these out and have come to a couple of conclusions....

Firstly - yes, they do make a difference birding. No doubt about it, I can hear things I haven't heard in a long time, including breathing, my shirt sleeve rubbing against my side, Mr D farting and multiple other sounds as well as bird calls.

Secondly - I don't feel I need them in social situations. I can have one on ones, small group discussions, family meetings, watch TV, go to the movies and generally live a life minus hearing aids.

So, I thought, why don't I get some and use them just for birding?

After all, I don't walk around with my bins and scope all day everyday - I only use those for birding so why not hearing aids? Brilliant, huh? I thought so.

However, (there's always a but isn't there?) the cost....

$7,000.

Yep - for that I would get 3 years battery replacement, free repair and replacement, if one broke or failed, and other sundry things like free hearing tests etc.

Well, sorry to say, I can't justify $7,000 for that. So they'll be going back unless I can come to some other negotiated deal.

But, (here we go again) it has made me think - Oh God, the pain.....and I think I will now look into a cheaper pair and get them just for birding.

Just a thought at the moment.......

It might relieve some of you from the pain of asking 'Did you hear that?' and me going 'Hear what....?'

9.11.17

Oxley

On site at 6.15 and almost no one else there. I heard an Asian House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus calling in the shed structure.

The track was quiet apart from the Brown Honeyeaters flirting and chasing. Just before the second culvert a female Variegated Fairy Wren was collecting spider web for nest building and, after a few quiet minutes, I located the basic nest structure almost at ground level. Walking out towards the ponds a nice Black Kite drifted across my front, but the water was very quiet – 4 Grey Teal, 2 Hardhead and a handful of Black Ducks, a Black Swan with 5 well developed cygnets and a few Intermediate Egrets and Dusky Moorhens, 1 Purple Swamphen and 3 Australian Pelicans were about the total. As I started to walk back a Glossy Ibis appeared from nowhere and kept going to somewhere else.

I reached the car without seeing anything else of note.

Butterflies: 1 Monarch and a couple of Dainty Grass-blues.

7.11.17

North Stradbroke Island

Despite the lack of good wind (predicted north easterly) I felt like a morning at Pt Lookout.

I worked through the car/boat/bus trip and found the ocean almost dead flat, no wind anywhere to speak of and absolutely nothing, nada, zilch out to sea.

There were plenty of turtles around the headland, a Manta Ray from the boardwalk and several pods of Bottle-nosed Dolphins, but off shore birds were virtually non-existent.

I sat for an hour and a half on the grass keeping an eye out to sea, taking photos of the turtles and dolphins, but the only things of interest bird-wise were one juvenile Gull-billed Tern, a pair of Brahminy Kites, an Eastern Osprey and an adult White-bellied Sea Eagle making passes around the headland – and a nice Wandering Tattler on the rocks below.

Brahminy Kites

Eastern Osprey

https://youtu.be/YfPMZ9YGXMI

At 9.30 I gave it away and headed home as the south easterly picked up showing some potential for the coming days, unfortunately, for a number of reasons, I would be unable to take advantage again this week.

Green Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

Green Turtles

Note: there seemed to be three species of turtle present and I got photos I hope will be good enough to confirm ID. They may all be Green Turtles of varying ages but appeared to be different enough. Hopefully the museum will be able to confirm…..if I can only get the photos to them via my lousy internet connection.

4.11.17

Samsonvale Cemetery

Mr D picked me up at 5 and, after picking up an average Macker’s coffee, we arrived on site at 6.30. Lots of birds calling around the car park – most of the usual suspects. We walked down to the lake’s edge and checked out the activity – there wasn’t a lot. A couple of Whiskered Terns flew past, a few Great Crested Grebes, the usual Cormorants and Pelicans but very few duck and no waders. A number of distant sunbathing turtles I put down as most likely Macquarie Turtle Emydura macquarii.

Up the track to the Hoop Pine plantation and, again, the usual stuff, plus a male White-winged Triller that took a while to find.

Following the usual route down and around a few butterflies showed – a Clearwing Swallowtail, Orchard Swallowtail and three Caper Whites. 2 other species were briefly seen, but could not be re-located and were not positively identified encourage me to re-visit in the near future.

We finished off at 8.30 – 28 degrees and the humidity starting to rise - and retired to The Flying Nun in Samford for a pancake breakfast and the usual extended discussion.

3.11.17

Norman Creek, Holland Park West

Pretty average visit. Nothing unexpected apart from a large Water Rat Hydromys chrysogaster in the creek showing its long, white-tipped black tail.