I was out at the crack of dawn
walking the Mount Mangana rainforest trail in search of Scrubtit. There was one
onther person on the trail and the habitat looked good for this species and
some uphill exercise!
The morning was perfect slightly
chilly by Oz standards but good for rainforest birding. It had slipped my mind
that Pink Robin could occur here and whilst on the Scrubtit trail a male
appeared in background. I was also on double quick form putting the camera
straight to work. This was a good move as the bird that was a very safe
distance away had a brief look at me and flew off! Wow what an amazing bird as
I looked at the pictures in the back screen! The male was high on my list of
birds to see on this part of the trip and without and effort (apart from being
in prime habitat for them) one appeared!
The morning just got better
after that as a Scrubtit appeared in a mixed flock as I made my way up to the
top of the track. That was the last TAS endemic to make my list (discounting
the Morepork whose near relative can also be seen in New Zealand!).
I had what could be a Thrush but
I do not know the identity of this bird. Is it a juvenile or have I become
stuck on the family which is preventing identification of this bird?! It is an Olive Whistler thanks John Tongue
Could the morning get any better
well it seemed the birds were throwing themselves in front of me now a Black
Currawong swooped and landed in the tree ahead of me. I have been debating my
own sightings of this species and the similar sub species of Grey Currawong but
there was no doubt in my mind this time!
A Bassian Thrush even posed on
the path on my descent but I guessed it knew that it was stood in darkness with
bright sunlight behind it. When it moved a blade of grass became the spoiler to
a reasonable shot.
En-route to the trail a group of Green Rosella performed where I had pulled in to observe a hive of passerine
activity!
That was not a bad few hours by
any standard. The walk should take 90minutes return but I took four hours well
worth it with Yellow Throated and Black Headed Honeyeater and Thornbills low in
the scrub!
Woo Hoo!
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