Major Mitchell or Pink Cockatoos in the Backyard

I have had a few regular visitors this week to the back yard. Major Mitchell or Pink Cockatoos. They are quite gregarious and have seemingly become used to me sitting out on the back verandah while they are there. this has presented me with a few really enjoyable photo sessions. Hope you enjoy.

Major Mitchell Cockatoo

Brown Goshawk

Normally a bird of prey will stay away from me if I am camped by a water source. Rarely will they come and have a drink. This female Brown Goshawk was unusual because it flew around the small waterhole, saw me, perched across the other side, flew down then flew off, but returned not long after. And she gave me some lovely photos. How do I know it was a female? Because the male is a lot smaller and he came by about an hour later, but he did do the normal bird of prey behaviour and flew in then flew off.

Brown Goshawk

Gouldian Finches

There are many colourful birds in the world, and one of the most colourful is the Gouldian Finch. 

The Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae), also known as the Lady Gouldian finch, Gould's finch or the rainbow finch, is a colourful oasserine bird endemic to Australia (Wikipedia).

I love finding them. Who wouldn't. I am yet to see and Orange-headed male or female in the wild, but have come across many Black-head and quite a few Red-headed adults, both male and female.

Their calls are quite different to the other birds they hang out with, so once you know the call, finding them is quite easy. As with most birds, sitting quietly and unobtrusively like under the shade of a tree, will give them confidence you aren't a threat and they can become quite confiding. Below are a few of the many photos I have taken this year in the wild of the Gouldian Finches. I hope you enjoy.

Gouldian Finch

Big flock of Flock Bronzewings

Sometimes on a whim I head off the beaten track a bit. The Barkly Stock Route isn't really off the beaten track, but it isn't my usual roads. I thought I'd check out "two big lakes" I had been told about 5 years ago. Turns out, I didn't find them. But I did find a couple of dams, the first one had over 500 Little Corellas. probably wouldn't have noticed them except a couple of Wedge-tailed Eagles were flying overhead and put the wind up them, literally, and there was a huge "swarm" of Little Corellas flying over the dam.

The second dam looked relatively quiet compared to the first. Had a few cattle nearby, but not much happening, some Cockatiels flying around the dam, as well as a lot of "rocks". That moved. Not rocks. Bloody Crested Pigeons. No. That was one Crested Pigeon. The rest are .... FLOCK BRONZEWINGS! (inner monologue folks).

So, here are some photos of at least 2000 Flock Bronzewings. I think there were probably at least double that number, but I am trying to be conservative in my counts these days.

Flock Bronzewings