2.9.25
Minnippi
On site at 6.15 and, despite the forecast of rain, it was a sunny, bright, warming morning – very pleasant.
I walked the usual tracks and saw a total of 53 species. Nothing remarkable, apart, possibly, from a Forest Kingfisher – not a common species here, despite some ‘records’ on EBird which are more likely to have been Sacred. This one I actually scoped, having brought my scope along to test out my new carbon-fiber tripod.
My ‘usual’ tripod, a Manfrotto, weighs 2.7kgs and I have long debated purchasing a carbon fiber tripod for travelling. Biting the bullet a few days ago I looked into types/prices/styles and to my surprise found a Surui Traveller 5C tripod (on Amazon) for $168. It was 0.85Kg and folded down remarkably to a very small package. I decided to take the chance, abused the credit card and it arrived within 48 hours.
So, I took it with me to try it in the field.
Fully extended with my 60mm Swarovski spotting scope (1.9Kgs) it was a little ‘delicate’. I need the tripod to be 110mm high to fit my 5ft 8in height. With this tripod I need to have the central column extended by about 10mm – any extension of the central column, I find, increases vibration and shake. It was manageable but obviously, no way as steady as my 2.7kg Manfrotto. I found that by keeping my hands off it, it settled down, but one does need to move and focus the scope so it will take a little work to achieve the best result.
Sitting down and with the tripod much less extended – as one would do on a seawatch – it was rock steady. The ‘ball head’ will take some getting use to, but its certainly doable and I was quite satisfied with my purchase. I knew I would have to sacrifice some aspects if I was going to use such a light framed tripod, but to make it more compatible with overseas travelling I was happy to do so.
On a very positive note - I carried the scope and tripod over my shoulder, using the scope's strap. for 3 hours and was not inconvenienced by it nor did I find it tiring - that was a real bonus!
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| Carbon-fiber tripod & scope (sunglasses for size comparison!) |
A light mist shrouded the fields at 6.15. The track was quite birdy for the first half and not many non-combatants around. The morning warmed up quickly to a very pleasant, sunny, bright, still condition.
Nothing unusual or surprising, except possibly the absence of Little Black Cormorants and Australian Darter from the ponds – they were, in fact, almost deserted – most of the ‘water’ birds seem to favour the ‘flooded field’ area. I climbed the gate and picked up a few more species there.
I took a couple of photos as birds presented themselves, still getting used to the new camera.
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| Golden-headed Cisticola |
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| Sacred Kingfisher |
A total list of 55 bird species and Monarchs had increased in number – I counted approx 5. I did have two raptors – a briefly seen in flight Brown Falcon and a perched up Black-shouldered Kite.
5.9.25
Lamington NP (& Toohey Forest Park)
Joan (BP South Africa) and Tess (10y/o) were at my place as arranged at 6.00. We arrived at O’Reilly’s at 7.30, picking up along the way a trio of Whiptail Wallabys beside the road.
I had chosen to walk the Python Rock Track – a couple of hundred meters before O’Reilly’s itself – as I believed it would be quiet and the most likely place to pick up the Lyrebird.
It was quiet all right – both people and bird-wise.
Apart from Australian Logrunners, which seemed to be everywhere, we didn’t see much. We did hear a Noisy Pitta and tried for some time to call it in, but it refused to show. We also had a Russet-tailed Thrush in front of us along the track, as they do, but apart from a few Brown Gerygones, Large-billed Scrubwrens and an Eastern Yellow Robin or two it was mostly unseen birds identified only by call (where I could).
We drove on up to the carpark and [proceeded to feed the voracious Australian King Parrots and saw Crimson Rosellas and a single Red-browed Finch.
On then onto the boardwalk and out to the Tree Top Walk. Tess fed a Yellow-throated Scrubwren and Eastern Yellow Robin by hand along the boardwalk and we saw more Logrunners there and 2 Rufous Fantails. She and I climbed the ladder to the top (30 meters above ground level) and then walked back via the Mountain Garden and the main track. Along the Mountain Garden fence Tess found a Satin Bowerbirdmale standing beside its bower! It looked like a new bower and was very easy to see from the track.
Satin Bowerbird & Bower
Satin Bowerbird (male)
Joan & Tess & Bowerbird
We had another Russet-tailed Thrush along the main track on the way back, along with Brown Gerygones and various Scrubwrens and I showed them a second Satin Bowerbird bower close to the picnic grounds.
We had coffee and home brought sandwiches, then headed home.
Before we got to my place I diverted to Isabella St in Tarragindi and we walked in to see the Australian Boobook back at his favourite roost. We also had a couple of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and a flock of Noisy Friarbirds along the way.
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