Greg's Wildlife Ramblings

Thursday, 1 January 2015

Bird banding at South Grafton Water Reserve 19-20.09.2014

Bander: Greg Clancy.

Trainee Banders: Wendy & Alan Pilkington, Lindsey Nietmann.

Fourteen birds of 4 species were caught in mist nets over the two day period, 11 being first time captures and 3 being retraps. An adult female Australian Magpie had an old injury to its right eye, which was virtually missing, so it was released unbanded.

Adult female Australian Magpie

The results of the birds banded and retrapped are shown in the table below.

SPECIES	19/09/14	20/09/14	TOTALS
	Banded Retrap	Banded Retrap	Banded Retrap
Sacred Kingfisher	0 0	1 0	1 0
Red-backed Fairy-wren	2 0	0 0	2 0
Fuscous Honeyeater	5 2	2 1	7 3
TOTALS	7 2	3 1	10 3

Adult Fuscous Honeyeater

The three retraps were all Fuscous Honeyeaters and their banding details are shown below:

026-09200 – banded by me on 10 July 2010 and retrapped on 20 Sep 2014, 4 years 2 months and 10 days after banding.

026-42547 and 026-94941 – both banded on 26 May 2013, the first by Bill Greenlees and the second by me, and retrapped on Sep 19, 1 year 3 months and 24 days after banding.

Adult male Red-backed Fairy-wren

Adult female Sacred Kingfisher

Interesting observations at the site were of a pair of Black-faced Monarchs, 2+ Black-chinned Honeyeaters heard calling with one observed, a Channel-billed Cuckoo and a Little Bronze-Cuckoo heard calling. 4+ Varied Sittellas, a Restless Flycatcher and a Leaden Flycatcher were also observed. An adult Pacific Baza displayed high over the site with its undulating display being quite a sight.

Adult Pacific Baza performing undulating display

A roosting Tawny Frogmouth was flushed by Alan as he walked past. The usual mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos was present and keeping them away fro the nest is an ongoing job.

Tawny Frogmouth pretending to be a branch

An indignant Frogmouth asking "What's the meaning of disturbing my sleep?'

Adult female Eastern Grey Kangaroo with pouch young

More 2014 photos

The following are photographs that I considered for inclusion in my last post "a year of wildlife photographs 2014" but didn't have space. I hope that you like them. Let me know in the comments section if you have a favourite?

Juvenile Southern Boobooks in care, Kangaroo Creek

Little Red Flying-foxes, Tucabia

Coastal Carpet Python, Coutts Crossing

Juvenile Pacific Baza in care at Kangaroo Creek

Huntsman spider Holconia immanis, Coutts Crossing

Dubious Gecko, Dthinna Dthinnawan National Park

Jacky Dragon, Mt Yarrowyck Nature Reserve

Adult male Rufous Whistler, Coutts Crossing

Adult Brolga, Brothersons Swamp, Coutts Crossing

Whiptail Wallaby, Mann River

Adult Grey Butcherbird, Noosa National Park

Adult White-necked Heron eating eel, Cowans Pond

Glossy Black-Cockatoo family allopreening, Coutts Crossing

Tiger Snake, Marengo

Nestling White-faced Heron, South Grafton

Southern Forest Bat, Chambigne Nature Reserve

Adult Brahminy Kite in care at Kangaroo Creek

Adult Buff-banded Rail, Brooms Head

Juvenile Buff-banded Rail, Brooms Head

Stick(leaf) insect, Levenstrath

Stick (leaf) insect, Levenstrath

Juvenile Spangled Drongo, Coutts Crossing

Blue Triangle, Coutts Crossing

Wednesday, 31 December 2014

A year of wildlife photographs - 2014

I have had a great year full of wildlife observations and have been able to snap quite a few photos of the wonderful birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and flora. I would like to share a selection of them with you. I have included three photos from each month of 2014. I would be keen to know which photos people like the most. If you want to nominate a photo just go to the comments section at the end of the post and type in your choice.

JANUARY