After a few months of dry and cool weather, including some nights that were actually quite cold, the air temperature is beginning to rise. Brown-backed Honeyeaters (Ramsayornis modestus) have returned to breed and some nest construction has already commenced with our stands of Paperbarks (various Melaleuca species) providing their favourite nest building material. Metallic Starlings (Aplonis metallica) are increasing in number as they also return from their northern wintering grounds with nest renovations already underway in their traditional nesting tree high on the ridge.
We frequently hear calls of Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus) as a pair usually nest in a large Paperbark in farmland opposite our driveway and they visit Wild Wings looking for a tasty meal. Today I saw a Whisting Kite chase two Egrets that were attempting to land on Rupert’s pond and then it flew in to land in the Leichardt tree (Nauclea orientalis) on Graham’s Pond and dislodged yet another Great Egret (Ardea alba). The Kite called loudly several times before flying off and circling over the ponds looking, looking ……….
In spite of this display the Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata) continued to feed in the shallows and ignored the commotion apart from an occasional glance skywards
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Allen
Barbara