Frogmouth families

This month, on three separate occasions, at three different locations we have sighted Tawny Frogmouth with chicks. A truly marvellous sight, as the nest is only a flimsy platform of sticks and it is amazing how the chicks and the mother remain on such a lightweight nest. When observed during daylight hours they simply sit motionless, and it is easy to miss them, as they look like part of the branch.

There has been a number of interesting bird sightings. The sound of the bird call is often what alerts the observer to look for the bird. We have heard the mournful calling of the Bronzewing pigeon and the distinctive call of the peaceful dove. Thought we were hearing things on our walk one morning, but further across some open country we confirmed the call was that of a small group of cockatiel.

The warmer weather has seen goannas active again. We are wondering what has happened to a goanna that often resides in our tank overflow pipe (now full of water). In the days before the big rains we noticed large numbers of dragon flies, and also heard a lot of cicadas. Many insects (other than mosquitos) are now proliferating.Investigating what looked like a mouse or a rat disappearing into the top of an old piece of farm machinery revealed a family group of antechinus, happily living inside.

The intense excitement of this year’s flush of spring flowering is fading, but never the less a number of colourful native plants are in full flower right now. For example, Magenta Storks bill is in unusually large numbers,

Still plenty to see in the bush, mozzie repellent is a requirement at present, but our natural environment is certainly well worth a look. The response to the rains has been spectacular.

Wedderburn Conservation Management Network “Observers”