I had a long weekend 8-11 March and decided that I would go to Tasmania to try to see the 12 endemics. I arrived in Hobart mid-morning on Saturday, drove to Bruny Island and Inala Nature Reserve where I stayed for 2 nights. Drove back to Hobart where i stayed 1 night and then left mid-morning on Tuesday. It was about 375 klms and 4.75 hours from Parkes-Sydney each way so it was a long 4 days.
I got 11 endemics and 8 others. Some pics follow.
I also saw an orphaned Long-nosed Potaroo and 2 Bennett's Wallabies and an albino Bennett's at Inala. Then during the evening tour i saw both colours of possum and both colours of Eastern Quoll. I think that I might have get an interest in mammals because of the dark Eastern Quoll.
but wait there is more
Peter
and more
Peter
and more
Peter
and more
Peter
I now keep a tally of the races or sub-species that I see and it was interesting to see the number of times that the Tasmanian bird is the nominate species.
I need to go back during breeding season to get better pics, particluarly of the Forty-spotted Pardalote and to get 1st pics of the Black Currawong and some others that breed on Tasmania. Further sightings of the dark Eastern Quoll will also be required.
Peter
Hi Peter, well done, you have achieved in 1 weekend what I have failed to do in 50 some odd years. I have however only been into birds for about 18 months, and really am only a "part timer" with no where near enough time. Glad you enjoyed your time here, and hope you achieve your goal.
I wonder if your "albino Bennetts Wallaby" was one of the "White Wallabies" found on Bruny, and are in fact a sub species, rather than albino. There was at one time about 120 of these, they do mix with the normal Bennett's, and so I fear their days are also numbered.
Thanks for sharing.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
WoW!! What an amazing variety of birds in such a short time. Do you think you would be able to edit with names at some stage?
Being fairly new to birds would love to know the names. Beautiful photos.
Cheers
Fantastic collection in such a short time Peter! I have a visit planned at Inala myself later in the year, for the Forty-spotted Pardy in particular. I can't remember back that far , but I think our changeable weather should have been reasonably nice to you around that time too? Hope you had a great time either way, looks as though you were very busy! Quolls are one of my absolute favourites too, incredible to see in the wild too if lucky enough.
West Coast Tasmania
Dale - I have been to Tassie on a number of previous occasions PB (pre-birding) and will certainly get back again; I've been a serious birder just since Oct '10 so I am trying to catch up on lost time & opportunities; if I find out the background to the white wallabies I will post agian
Rick N - just hover your mouse pointer over the pics
AnnieJ - thanks, say hello to Tonia if she is at Inala when you visit; weather was changeable and best on Monday; pic attached of an orphan Eastern Quoll; we saw quite a number during the evening drive, at least 2 of each colour
Peter
Wow great pictures, especially the quoll. I'd love to see one in the wild. Are they seen more frequently in Tasmania? Have you got many pictures of other mammals Peter?
All around, I'm jealous!
Amazing pictures peter they are all really sharp but my favourite definately has to be of the tawny crowned honeyeater. What an amazing variety of species in a short space of time. Now you have got me wanting to travel again .
Cheers Babybirdwatcher
Thanks Peter.
Lachlan - my sightings were on a night drive on Bruny Island; I believe that the eastern Quoll might now be restricted to BI; I have thousands, actually 10s of thousands bird pics and just the few mammal pics from Tas; I will try to post a white wallaby
BabyBirdwatcher - Tawny-crowned + Crescent HEs and Brown Quail at BI lighthouse early in the morning before any tourists; the quail got too close for my lens; I almost had to kick them away from my boots; yes travel more; I have an Easter roadtrip organised - more lifers and pics
Peter
Far too cute! Will do Peter - Tonia wouldn't know me from a bar of soap, but she has helped me a couple of times with bird ID's, a lovely lady.
The Eastern Quoll definitely isn't just restricted to Bruny Is. They're still common and fairly widespread in Tas, as too are the Spotted-tailed (although to a lesser degree I think). I'm not sure on the ratio of the ginger-brown vs black colouration with the Eastern Quoll though, perhaps the black is much less common?
West Coast Tasmania
Annie J - thanks, I answered a question that with my very limited marsupial knowledge I should not have
Peter
Actually, considering I'm just an adopted Tasmanian, and to be honest had to double check myself (in Quoll panic ), in hindsight it might have been a bit rude of me to correct you there Peter, sorry if it came across that way.
West Coast Tasmania
Annie - I was not offended by your post, heck I occasionally go birding with Shorty - you would have to have a thick skin
Peter
All good then. I'm surprised you two get such a plethora of great shots between you when you team up - would be a laugh a minute for a fly on the wall I expect .
West Coast Tasmania
I will PM you next time I am coming to Tas and you can find a Black Currawong (the 1 endemic that I missed) for me, that way you will see that the humour is all on my side
Peter
Oy, what are you saying? Good thing i can't get offended Imagine how many more birds you would have got if i was not busy that weekend and came with you Good to see i have rubbed off on you and you are getting into Marsupials
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
I have tried to teach Peter as much as i can (he is a slow learner), the fly on the wall would get photographed so he would loose his smile
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Great photos Peter I love the photo of the Tawny Crowned Honeyeater. I would love to go birding in Tas one time. That quoll is so cute.
Keep up the great photos.
I am getting interested in marsupials but can guarantee that I will never photograph flies or is that flys or maybe flyes.
Actually I went to the Hobart Botanic Gardens and photographed a bee just to quieten some other tourists who were so excited (deleted the pic that night)
Peter
When i first met you, you said you would never photograph anything but birds ( and only the feathered variety ).
Marsupials might be the stepping stone to flies
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
I don't always keep to my word
Peter
I'm a shocker for directing any birders to the South over this end of the State - no secret I need to explore more around the North end though. Central Highlands Peter, you'll definitely see a few up there!
Pair of larrikins you two Remind me of Statler & Waldorf from the old muppets show
West Coast Tasmania
Yeah, i should have twigged when you said you thought you saw a "Bronzed Shrike Tit"
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Clearly, a bird watcher's paradise.
Been offline for a week or so, this has become a very entertaining thread, love the humour and interaction between Peter and Shorty, they have obviously developed a great friendship.
Quolls - lovely and cute, bite hard with sharp teeth (been bitten twice now, in an attempt to rescue injured wildlife or remove unwanted specimens from "chook pens", in fact have been bitten by almost every species we have rescued, except snakes - working on that one!). Eastern vs Spotted Tailed, Spotted Tailed supposed to be more common in the North and North West, but have certainly seen some large specimens in the Huon Valley (South-Southeast) and the Central Highlands. Eastern are very common around here (have seen up to 12 on a single short stretch of road). There is also a wide variety of colour variations in them, from brown, almost grey through to jet black.
Link below to a White Wallaby, second link is to one of my previous posts, of White Wallabys.
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/sites/www.birdsinbackyards.net/files/styles/extra-large/public/forum/dwatsonbb/images/P9130002.JPG?itok=t8q3iVnz
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/forum/White-Wallaby-Female-brown-Joey
Dale Huonville, Tasmania