Blog Archives
Australian Brushturkey kicking up leaves
The Australian Brushturkey, also called a Bush Turkey or a Scrub Turkey, is a truly weird bird. This male is a lovely specimen: large, with a bright red head and long yellow dewlaps, officially called a wattle, hanging from its neck. I followed it round a corner, where it started doing what these birds are known and loved (or hated) for: kicking up the leaves and dirt with its big strong feet. They can make a real mess of your garden.
Brushturkeys do fly, though they’re a little ungainly in the air.
Common name: Australian Brushturkey
Scientific name: Alectura lathami
Approximate length: 75 cm
Date spotted: 6 November 2011
Season: Summer
Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia
Latitude/longitude: -33.782572,151.255698
Australian Raven cawing in a gum tree
Australian Ravens are big birds, a gorgeous blue-black in colour, with feathery beards and blue-circled eyes. This one was perched high in a gum tree, calling its haunting cry: “Ah ah ah aaaaaoooow”.
Common name: Australian Raven
Scientific name: Corvus coronoides
Approximate length: 50 cm
Date spotted: Sunday 27 October 2013
Season: Spring
Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia
Latitude/longitude: -33.782572,151.255698
Rainbow Lorikeets sheltering from the rain
Three Rainbow Lorikeets primp and preen while taking shelter from a rainstorm.
Common name: Rainbow Lorikeet
Scientific name: Trichoglossus haematodus
Approximate length: 30 cm
Date spotted: 20 January 2012
Season: Summer
Location: Allambie Heights, New South Wales, Australia
Approximate latitude/longitude: -33.772218,151.26089
New Holland Honeyeater at Manly Dam
This pretty little bird is a New Holland Honeyeater, chirping happily amongst the spring flowers at Manly Dam Reserve.
Common name: New Holland Honeyeater
Scientific name: Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
Approximate length: 17-19 cm
Date spotted: Sunday 6 October 2013
Season: Spring
Location: Manly Dam Reserve, New South Wales, Australia
Approximate latitude/longitude: -33.77294,151.249416
Sydney Birder 