Back again

Back from South Australia (very pleasant trip).
Healthy again.
Which means I want to do karaoke tomorrow.
Anyone else doing the same?

You Have a Phlegmatic Temperament

Mild mannered and laid back, you take life at a slow pace. You are very consistent - both in emotions and actions. You tend to absorb set backs easily. You are cool and collected. It is difficult to offend you. You can remain composed and unemotional. You are a great friend and lover. You don't demand much of others. While you are quiet, you have a subtle wit that your friends know well. At your worst, you are lazy and unwilling to work at anything. You often get stuck in a rut, without aspirations or dreams. You can get too dependent on others, setting yourself up for abandonment.

What Temperment Are You?

Back again

Back from South Australia (very pleasant trip).
Healthy again.
Which means I want to do karaoke tomorrow.
Anyone else doing the same?

You Have a Phlegmatic Temperament

Mild mannered and laid back, you take life at a slow pace. You are very consistent - both in emotions and actions. You tend to absorb set backs easily. You are cool and collected. It is difficult to offend you. You can remain composed and unemotional. You are a great friend and lover. You don't demand much of others. While you are quiet, you have a subtle wit that your friends know well. At your worst, you are lazy and unwilling to work at anything. You often get stuck in a rut, without aspirations or dreams. You can get too dependent on others, setting yourself up for abandonment.

What Temperment Are You?

Weebills are tiny and loud

Another meme.

1. My username is ____ because ____.
2. My journal is titled ____ because ____.
3. My subtitle is ____ because ____.
4. My friends page is called ____ because ____.
5. My default userpic is ____ because ____.

1. My username is Gemfyre because it's the name of a character I created for some American Gothic fanfic I wrote, I started using the name not long after getting on the net (in late 1997) and have had it ever since.
2. My journal is titled Irrepressible Nature Geek because I am. These days I have to go outdoors at least once a day or I go a little nuts. Being out among nature or even thinking about its wonders calm me down and put me in a state of awe.
3. My subtitle is Understand we'll go hand in hand - But we'll walk alone in fear because I watched the Buffy musical too many times up in Broome, and this lyric means quite a bit to me.
4. My friends page is called Places to go, people to do because I think it's funny.
5. My default userpic is a bottle of Red Eye Platinum because I am addicted to it. It tastes sooo good and it makes feel all good and bouncy.

Weebills are tiny and loud

Another meme.

1. My username is ____ because ____.
2. My journal is titled ____ because ____.
3. My subtitle is ____ because ____.
4. My friends page is called ____ because ____.
5. My default userpic is ____ because ____.

1. My username is Gemfyre because it's the name of a character I created for some American Gothic fanfic I wrote, I started using the name not long after getting on the net (in late 1997) and have had it ever since.
2. My journal is titled Irrepressible Nature Geek because I am. These days I have to go outdoors at least once a day or I go a little nuts. Being out among nature or even thinking about its wonders calm me down and put me in a state of awe.
3. My subtitle is Understand we'll go hand in hand - But we'll walk alone in fear because I watched the Buffy musical too many times up in Broome, and this lyric means quite a bit to me.
4. My friends page is called Places to go, people to do because I think it's funny.
5. My default userpic is a bottle of Red Eye Platinum because I am addicted to it. It tastes sooo good and it makes feel all good and bouncy.

Sunbaking

Despite it being a week into Summer here the weather is still cold enough to warrant me wearing a jumper, jeans and ugg boots. I just had a bask outside in the sun on our balcony, binoculars in hand of course.

Earlier this year mum and dad deemed the large branches of the 3 Marri trees in our yard to be hazardous, so they were lopped off, leaving trunks and a few small branches. These have since grown a lot of leaves, but alas, the lack of flowers and nuts means they don't attract parrots (among them my beloved red-capped parrot) anymore.

However, I just discovered that the leaves (and accompanying lerps) seem to be a haven for small birds. As I watched through my binoculars (keep in mind this tree was about 5 metres from me) I saw a silvereye putter about for a moment. Then it flew off only to be replaced by a gorgeous little striated pardalote - a very vocal, but very tiny bird that haunts the tops of tall trees, making it almost impossible to see most of the time. The pardalote departed and was immediately replaced by a brown honeyeater - one of the most common birds in this area. Across the road I also spotted a white-cheeked honeyeater.

As I sat there a couple more pardalotes flew in and I think I got my best ever looks at them, right outside my back door.

Sunbaking

Despite it being a week into Summer here the weather is still cold enough to warrant me wearing a jumper, jeans and ugg boots. I just had a bask outside in the sun on our balcony, binoculars in hand of course.

Earlier this year mum and dad deemed the large branches of the 3 Marri trees in our yard to be hazardous, so they were lopped off, leaving trunks and a few small branches. These have since grown a lot of leaves, but alas, the lack of flowers and nuts means they don't attract parrots (among them my beloved red-capped parrot) anymore.

However, I just discovered that the leaves (and accompanying lerps) seem to be a haven for small birds. As I watched through my binoculars (keep in mind this tree was about 5 metres from me) I saw a silvereye putter about for a moment. Then it flew off only to be replaced by a gorgeous little striated pardalote - a very vocal, but very tiny bird that haunts the tops of tall trees, making it almost impossible to see most of the time. The pardalote departed and was immediately replaced by a brown honeyeater - one of the most common birds in this area. Across the road I also spotted a white-cheeked honeyeater.

As I sat there a couple more pardalotes flew in and I think I got my best ever looks at them, right outside my back door.

Mmmm, one boot on

That feels good.

Oh, there goes the next one.

I think I shall invest in an annual National Parks pass.

Seeya a bit later, I'm going for a drive.

Mmmm, one boot on

That feels good.

Oh, there goes the next one.

I think I shall invest in an annual National Parks pass.

Seeya a bit later, I'm going for a drive.

This afternoon

After having a lovely stint on the balcony this morning, this afternoon I decided to head up to John Forrest National Park again. Seeing as it's hardly 10 minutes up the road it's ideal, and a lovely spot, consisting of many granite outcrops and a lot of Jarrah dominated dry sclerophyl and banksia heathland. I decided I'd go right into the park and pay for an annual parks pass, which was $17 (it costs $9 for a mere day trip so it's well worth it for me, who wants to be able to drop in for maybe an hour frequently). There was no-one around to take my money however and seeing as I only had $20 notes on me they didn't get ANY money from me today (there is an honour box). I will have to get the pass some other time.

I first stopped at the lookout to see how things were. No Elegant Parrots at the nest hollow and the whole forest was surprisingly quiet. I continued on to the picnic area and was immediately greeted by many New Holland Honeyeaters frolicking in the grevillia garden in the centre of the carpark. The sprinkler was on which I'm sure created more of an attraction to them, a Red Wattlebird also lurked in a nearby tree.

I made my way along the creek and saw a few Red-Capped Parrots, I could hear a Sacred Kingfisher calling and found him quickly. A couple of Australian Ringnecks (the local sub-species, the '28 parrot') foraged on the ground very near to me and I could hear White-Tailed Black Cockatoos and Western Gerygones, but failed to locate them. I soon reached a picnic ground with a large gum tree. I put my binoculars on the commotion in the treetop and saw to my surprise a Brown-Headed Honeyeater - a new bird for me. In the same tree were New Holland Honeyeaters, one White-Naped Honeyeater and a few of the ubiquitous Grey Fantails.

Not far further I came across some low scrub consisting of a lot of grevilia. There was quite a commotion in here also and I discovered many New Holland Honeyeaters hassling more Brown-Headed Honeyeaters and a female Western Spinebill. I stuck around in the hopes that I'd finally see a male spinebill (a gorgeously patterned bird), but no such luck. I did however also see in the area a Jacky Winter and a few Brown Honeyeaters.

A little further along I heard an insectlike call and stalked around some fallen logs searching for the source. Eventually I found my quarry, a White-Browed Scrubwren, these are very vocal birds but extremely hard to find due to their habit of hiding in thick undergrowth. Around this time I discovered that this was going to be the day of the "little brown bird" (I put that in quotes because birds like the pardalote or fairy-wrens are hardly dull brown). In the drooping branches barely a metre from me a Striated Pardalote foraged closely followed by a Weebill. Investigating a rustling in the leaves I got awesome views of a Common Bronzewing (okay, so this is a large pigeon, not a little brown bird). I then discovered the male of the pair was showing off on top of a small rock! I saw plenty more bronzewings on my walk, they are relatively bold in this area. I was now beside the road into the parking area and thought to myself, "I haven't seen a fairy-wren yet. Weird, I haven't even HEARD one." I then looked across the road and, speak of the devil, there was a bright blue male Splendid Fairy-Wren probably wondering if I'd gone blind. I crossed the road for a closer look and discovered a Western Thornbill in the scrub over there.

I made my way back across the carpark and to the pool caused by the damming of Jane Brook. There were plenty of Australian Wood Ducks here as well as a few token Pacific Black Ducks. A couple of Magpie Larks also dabbled around while Australian Magpies and Australian Ravens flew about in the trees overhead.

As I walked beside the lake there was suddenly a huge commotion in the trees above me. Galahs and Wood Ducks burst from the canopy and Laughing Kookaburras began to call. This could only mean one thing. I scanned the sky and found the cause of the alarm - a Little Eagle patrolling the skies.

The undergrowth in this area was also teeming with little birds. A large flock of Silvereyes was doing the rounds accompanied by pardalotes, weebills, a few female fairy-wrens and two Inland Thornbills.

I was pretty chuffed as I made my way back to the car. As I got in a male Splendid Fairy-Wren showed off his stunning blueness on the path nearby. A fitting way to end a great birding day.

So, the entire list for today. Birds in brackets were seen around my house, not at the national park. A (H) indicates the bird was heard but not seen.

( The list )

This afternoon

After having a lovely stint on the balcony this morning, this afternoon I decided to head up to John Forrest National Park again. Seeing as it's hardly 10 minutes up the road it's ideal, and a lovely spot, consisting of many granite outcrops and a lot of Jarrah dominated dry sclerophyl and banksia heathland. I decided I'd go right into the park and pay for an annual parks pass, which was $17 (it costs $9 for a mere day trip so it's well worth it for me, who wants to be able to drop in for maybe an hour frequently). There was no-one around to take my money however and seeing as I only had $20 notes on me they didn't get ANY money from me today (there is an honour box). I will have to get the pass some other time.

I first stopped at the lookout to see how things were. No Elegant Parrots at the nest hollow and the whole forest was surprisingly quiet. I continued on to the picnic area and was immediately greeted by many New Holland Honeyeaters frolicking in the grevillia garden in the centre of the carpark. The sprinkler was on which I'm sure created more of an attraction to them, a Red Wattlebird also lurked in a nearby tree.

I made my way along the creek and saw a few Red-Capped Parrots, I could hear a Sacred Kingfisher calling and found him quickly. A couple of Australian Ringnecks (the local sub-species, the '28 parrot') foraged on the ground very near to me and I could hear White-Tailed Black Cockatoos and Western Gerygones, but failed to locate them. I soon reached a picnic ground with a large gum tree. I put my binoculars on the commotion in the treetop and saw to my surprise a Brown-Headed Honeyeater - a new bird for me. In the same tree were New Holland Honeyeaters, one White-Naped Honeyeater and a few of the ubiquitous Grey Fantails.

Not far further I came across some low scrub consisting of a lot of grevilia. There was quite a commotion in here also and I discovered many New Holland Honeyeaters hassling more Brown-Headed Honeyeaters and a female Western Spinebill. I stuck around in the hopes that I'd finally see a male spinebill (a gorgeously patterned bird), but no such luck. I did however also see in the area a Jacky Winter and a few Brown Honeyeaters.

A little further along I heard an insectlike call and stalked around some fallen logs searching for the source. Eventually I found my quarry, a White-Browed Scrubwren, these are very vocal birds but extremely hard to find due to their habit of hiding in thick undergrowth. Around this time I discovered that this was going to be the day of the "little brown bird" (I put that in quotes because birds like the pardalote or fairy-wrens are hardly dull brown). In the drooping branches barely a metre from me a Striated Pardalote foraged closely followed by a Weebill. Investigating a rustling in the leaves I got awesome views of a Common Bronzewing (okay, so this is a large pigeon, not a little brown bird). I then discovered the male of the pair was showing off on top of a small rock! I saw plenty more bronzewings on my walk, they are relatively bold in this area. I was now beside the road into the parking area and thought to myself, "I haven't seen a fairy-wren yet. Weird, I haven't even HEARD one." I then looked across the road and, speak of the devil, there was a bright blue male Splendid Fairy-Wren probably wondering if I'd gone blind. I crossed the road for a closer look and discovered a Western Thornbill in the scrub over there.

I made my way back across the carpark and to the pool caused by the damming of Jane Brook. There were plenty of Australian Wood Ducks here as well as a few token Pacific Black Ducks. A couple of Magpie Larks also dabbled around while Australian Magpies and Australian Ravens flew about in the trees overhead.

As I walked beside the lake there was suddenly a huge commotion in the trees above me. Galahs and Wood Ducks burst from the canopy and Laughing Kookaburras began to call. This could only mean one thing. I scanned the sky and found the cause of the alarm - a Little Eagle patrolling the skies.

The undergrowth in this area was also teeming with little birds. A large flock of Silvereyes was doing the rounds accompanied by pardalotes, weebills, a few female fairy-wrens and two Inland Thornbills.

I was pretty chuffed as I made my way back to the car. As I got in a male Splendid Fairy-Wren showed off his stunning blueness on the path nearby. A fitting way to end a great birding day.

So, the entire list for today. Birds in brackets were seen around my house, not at the national park. A (H) indicates the bird was heard but not seen.

( The list )