Spotted Pardalote

SPOTTED PARDALOTE Pardalotus punctatus

  A pair of Spotted Pardalotes were among the low shrubs along the Dry Creek, Broadford. They were flying around each other, the male taking time to flutter  his wings and show off his brighter colours to his mate.

 

 

 

 

 

This the male, it is just possible to see the his yellow throat and his white spotted head. The female has yellow spots in the crown and does not have the yellow throat colouring.

 

 

 

White-browed Scrubwren

WHITE-BROWED SCRUBWREN Sericornis frontalis

These scrub wrens are plentiful, yet remain almost unknown to many people.













They have a secretive nature, spending much of their time hidden away in dark places, under logs, amongst fallen branches and amongst the dense branches of small shrubs. They are usually heard before they are seen, as they search for food in heavy undergrowth.










I seem to go a long time without seeing these birds then they reappear and are seen over a wide area.

Australian Swamphen

AUSTRALIAN SWAMPHEN Porphyrio melanotus

 

It is too easy when out walking, to ignore the most common of our birds. It requires an open mind to continue to remain in awe of the beauty and uniqueness of the everyday.

 
These Purple Swamphens or Australasian Swamphens are very common in and around the reservoir in the centre of the Kilmore Golf Course.

 
The wander out on to the fairways and will venture across roads to nearby gardens to feed on grass and other greenery, quite able to also pull out whole reeds from our lake.

It is quite common  to see them climbing through and amongst the low branches of fallen trees as they make their way back to the water.





The male and the female are alike with beautiful regal porphyry   feathers contrasting with  deep red legs and feet.


 
They are timid birds and will fly off if one gets too close, looking very awkward in the air with the long legs trailing behind as they move to safety.





The Swamphens are very vocal with a number of distinctive cries. The voices can be a harsh 'kak,kak,kak' as they call a warning to each other. They will make a sound like like a small dog with an higher pitched squeal at the end, Ka,ka kiiak. They are vocal at night also. I sometimes wonder if these night calls might be warning others of  hunting foxes.

 

Brown Thornbills

BROWN THORNBILLS Acanthiza pusilla

 

 


When there is little movement in the bush, there are always, at least, Thornbills to be seen.












There is a mass of Cassinia shrub growing on the lower parts of the Monumnent Hill in Kilmore. The area has been cleared of pines recently and the area, now opened up to light is covered in young Black Wattles, Blackwood wattles and Cassinia-acuarta.









The Thornbills are very happy playing and feeding in amongst this low lying shrubbery.

I usually only have to sit still for a short while, before a group of eight to a dozen of these little birds, comes by. They pick away at leaves, looking for insects and bugs.







Often there are other birds with them. It is common to see Buff-rumped and Yellow-rumped in the same area, as well as a Grey Fantail, flitting in and around the group.