I spent a pleasant morning in my local area looking for birds. Early on I joined the Tempe Birdos for their monthly bird survey. I was in the group that surveyed Tempe Wetlands.
Juvenile Figbird
Here are some of the birds we spotted –
Australian Figbird
Willie Wagtail
Eastern Koel
Dusky Moorhen with chick
Superb Fairy-wren
Purple Swamphen
Superb Fairy-wren
Silvereye
Australian Grebe
Royal Spoonbill
Royal Spoonbill
White-faced Heron
Willie Wagtail in nest
Juvenile Figbird
We then joined the other group from the Birdos that had been surveying in Tempe Reserve. It was time for morning tea – and it was excellent!
I then left Tempe and cycled up the Cooks River. Near Younger Avenue, I checked the status of the Tawny Frogmouths. One of them was still sitting on the nest. They have been doing this since early September. So I assume eggs have failed to hatch. Perhaps they have been sitting on dud eggs or perhaps new eggs have been laid?
The second tawny Frogmouth was perched in a tree nearby.
I then continued to the Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands. In the lower pool were a lot of very new Dusky Moorhen chicks.
There were also some Purple Swamphen chicks –
On the 25th (Christmas) they were sitting on the nest and it was empty on the 26th. So either they fledged or gave up.
The Tawnt frogmouths that is.
Yes – have been hearing other reports too about them abandoning the nest. Either dud eggs or perhaps wrecked by the recent hail storm. I never saw any chicks so I don’t think there was any hatching. Will have a look in the nearby trees.