Sunday, September 10, 2017

Monday, September 11

Spring is certainly upon us and we've become more aware of little birds hanging around the garden.  A couple of blackbirds have established their territory here and have been going through a courting ritual.  They run around each other with heads down and then fly up into the air for about ten feet.  No doubt, we'll see them nesting soon and eventually will feel the crunch of the discarded bluey-green eggshell underfoot.  Blackbirds are a mixed blessing as they scratch around in the bark of the gardens looking for grubs and making a terrible mess on the concrete.  They have a very unfortunate Latin name: turdus.

We also have a Superb Fairy Wren most days, accompanied by two or three drab brown females.  Generally, one sits on the fence or a twig, watching, while the others scavenge for seeds.  They say the Superb Fairy Wren is the prettiest bird in the Tasmanian bush.

The latest little collection is a group of goldfinches.  The European goldfinch was introduced to Tasmania in the 1880s and has adapted very well. The little flock which came down this afternoon had nine individuals, all pecking for grass seeds outside our lounge room window.






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