Ticks for everyone

Things are pretty hot and sticky down here at the moment so I don't like to be out for too long! This weekend I've managed to do nothing at all which is great. Last weekend was the Australia Day weekend and so that meant it was time to lay very low while the flag-waving idiots swarm all over the place drinking beer and going on about how Australians are better than anyone else. It really is a very unpleasant thing. I escaped up into the mountains which is very nice because Emily's folks are Kiwis.

Pitt Town Lagoon

The weekend before, I headed out around Windsor for a bit of bird-watching as a few unusual species had been reported in the area. Unfortunately I dipped on the Black-chinned Honeyeaters, the Ruff, the Grey Plover and the Bitterns but everyone else added loads to their lists (although, as we all know, Allan isn't keeping one!) with some top Cuckoo, Finch and Brown-headed Honeyeater action.

Pelicans and two species of Spoonbill

I didn't notice the Yellow-billed variety until I got home - there he is on the left

Hopefully I'll be able to add some new birds of my own next weekend as I'm heading north to Brisbane for a couple of days...

Parrots in Orange

Orange from Mount Canobolas

After a few wet weekends, the rain relented this week and so we were able to get out on a bit of a road trip. And what better thing to do but go twitching parrots in Orange? Orange is 250 km west of Sydney and in the limited range of the Superb Parrot which was reported to be nesting in a park on the south side of the town.

All the parrots - Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella, Galahs

On arriving at the park we were able to spot loads of parrots - Eastern and Crimson Rosellas, Galahs and Red-rumped Parrots but no sign of what I was after. After a decent search we arrived at the furthest corner of the park and a flash of the brightest green caught the eye and a pair of Superb Parrots #407 landed up in a tree. They were joined by 6 more and although they were unfortunately too distant to get a picture, they weren't too distant to get the tick. Certainly a situation for Allan and his Bigma!

A young Dollarbird emerging from its nest hole

With the twitch out of the way, the rest of the weekend could be spent relaxing and catching too much sun.

Musk Duck at Lake Canobolas

Chooks

Happy New Year everyone. It was a nice relaxing holiday period for me and I didn't really get out and do anything. This may have had something to do with all the rain we've been having down here recently. Its all a bit miserable on the weather front. Just as well we got out in the New Year sales and bought a new telly!

I spent a very pleasant Christmas up in the Blue Mountains again and that means one of my favourite things - hanging out with the chooks! It was also nice to see my favourite pigeon turn up in the garden too. None other than the fabulous Wonga.