More birds from Downunder #3

Margaret, as always, you have taken some impressive photos. I really enjoyed them. I always like the Rainbow Bee-eaters. Congratulation on the Mistletoe. It's interesting how it got its name. I agree with Mrs. Ed on the Silvereyes photo. You should include some of these photos in the Birdfiles.

I know snakes are rarely seen in the Perth area but are they a risk to the Rainbow Bee Eaters ?

Marg, your photos are so clear.
I only have a small camera so this is the best I can do.
Regent Bowerbird (male)

Glad you enjoyed that, Burd. DH wanted me to put a talk bubble with "burp" in it but I haven't figured out to do so, yet.

Hel, how fortunate you are to have such a beautiful bird.

Thanks Juney, linthicum and duc.

Linth, according to my books, the Mistletoebird can be found wherever there is mistletoe. I'm not exactly sure which of our local plants are mistletoes, but I think (and I'll stand corrected) that our West Australian Christmas Tree (Nuytsia floribunda) is a mistletoe and the odd one can be seen in the local area. These little birds are summer migrants to the coastal plain and spend winter in the Darling Range, a long line of hills to the east of Perth. One of my bird books shows a sketch of a nest with a side opening hanging from a small branch.

Re the snakes: believe you me, there are plenty of snakes around Perth, the most common being Dugites and Tiger Snakes, both highly venomous. Tiger snakes thrive in wetland areas, such as Herdsmans Lake and the Bee-eaters nest in the embankments there. I've seen Tiger snakes basking on the limestone paths within a few metres of Bee-eater nest hollows, so I'd imagine that the birds would be at risk. Both of these snakes can be sighted anywhere there's a bit of scrub and you certainly need to be cautious, but of course the metropolitan area has less frequent backyard visitors than in the bush.

What I have become aware of over the 18 months that I've been bird watching around the river is the proliferation of Fairy Wrens. Almost everywhere I go I hear them. Occasionally I see a bit of movement in the scrub, but rarely see them out in the open long enough to positively ID them, let alone get any photographs. Apparently they respond to humans imitating their sounds. I've tried that trick with limited success. I did manage to lure one out of a shrub at the osprey nest a couple of weeks ago. It emerged from deep within the bush, looked at me for a few seconds and then vanished back into the bush. One day....

All those venomous snakes are a downside for me.....but beautiful pics!

Marg,

I pix are breathtaking!

Fantastic shots Margaret. Always a pleasure to see your birds.

Marg ,your pics never stop astonishing me.
These 2 Galah's and Eastern Rosella turned up on my feeder the other day.
I was delighted.

I absolutely love the Galah's!

Thank's Pell, here's another wild one.

Cute! They are so curious and intelligent!

I would just love to look out and see that at my feeder...beautiful!