What a treat for me this week, a new species and a little tricky one it was - oh so very cute though and worth the wait for them to come out!
Captured a pair of these earlier in the week and have been scouring the internet and swatting through a few Field Guides to see just how common and/or misplaced they are.
Averaging out the different opinions, they're reasonably uncommon in Tas, and generally found in the West half of the State, more prominent in the South. I could be wrong about that though so happy to be corrected
. Found these practically in the middle of Burnie (North-West/Central Coast) singing happily on a horribly dreary day in the rushes near the edge of a smallish man-made lake. If it wasn't for their very distinguishable loud three note whistle I would never have even known they were there. Sure hope they're still around later this week when I get to visit that area again.
Little Grassbird (possibly male)
Little Grassbird (Possibly Female)
Lovely, delicate looking birds Annie J.
Love number four, what a great find.
Thanks Rick. A friend of mine commented that she didn't know if she had ever seen one, but if so she probably had mistaken it for a Sparrow. Yes, the colouration is similar, but the mannerisms and habitat very opposite. Was fascinating to watch how the pair moved amongst the bullrushes and other aquatic plants. They moved through them at water level mainly, even hopping along floating foliage as though it was hard ground. Only occassionally did they venture up a little higher and into view, and then only for a few seconds, they almost always stayed behind something. Very nimble and almost acrobatic little birds at times too doing the splits between tiny plant stalks. Wonderful to watch.
West Coast Tasmania
Great photos. I love the second one it looks so cute!
Congratulations on a new species ... and the great pictures too!
Very cute little bird - Looks quite similar in shape and colours to the golden headed cisticola which I have also seen doing the "splits" grasping different grass stalks in each claw.
Beautiful little fluff balls!
I'm hopeless at recognition so I never would have picked what they are. Well done!
Roly
Healesville
https://www.flickr.com/photos/36062443@N04/sets/72157632450588204/
Happy you posted this Annie. I had some birds that I thought were Australian Reed Warblers but something didn't seem right.
They looked more like your birds so will go back and have a search.
Glad you enjoyed, thanks for your kind comments everyone. Roly, me too, even with the relatively small number of different species in Tas, I bumble about with ID's.
WD, funny you say that, and Rick, could well be, glad if these have helped you - these guys are in the same family group (and same habitats) as both GHC's & ARW's, Sylviida (True Warblers or Old World Warblers).
Back past the same spot today and stopped in to say a quick hello. Not as obliging today, although I didn't have the time to sit and be invisible, but did get a couple of shots. This one is interesting to me - check out his/her feet. Spread out like this, they look very Wader-like to me, which would make sense given their environment, and explain a lot about them walking on floating foliage.
West Coast Tasmania
Great photo again Annie.
Don't usually post photos to others threads but thought in this case you wouldn't mind.
Went back and dug out the photo and it looks a pretty good match.
Was a very secretive bird as you describe only showing for a very short time.
Apparently there are three races as well.
New species for me as well
Beautiful, crystal clear quality photographs again AnnieJ.
That last shot has a very coot or wader-like quality about it. Such a tiny bird with huge sprawling feet. It's always good to discover and photograph new species.
Samford Valley Qld.
You and me both Rick, I think we probably think along the same lines there perhaps - but when it's a post in someone elses post for a specific reason & following on/expanding from a specific chat/point, like this, I have no problems whatsoever, all good.
I think you're right, it is a LG, and that is just a bit of an adorable pose you have captured there by the way! Super shot & congrats on your newie! I think it was my first new one in well over six months, I was starting to think I'd never see something new, haha.
For sure, whoever researched and described these birds is pretty much spot on, super shy, elusive, staying low in the undergrowth. I did notice my pair seemed to get a little bolder the longer I stayed there. Mind you, the shadow of a Welcome Swallow flying overhead was enough to make them bolt back into safety all over again
.
Hmmm, I've often thought a thread or two with different sub species of particular birds would be really nice to see sometimes - even with fledgling or juveniles included. Striated Pardalotes for example - it just interests me to see the subtle differences that make them their own subspecies, can't always tell that from drawings in Field Guides I don't think.
So mine would be the gramineus, yours (I assume) is the goulburni? Now anyone have the W.A. one, thomasi?
West Coast Tasmania
Thanks Reflex. Yes, there almost seems to be an extra knuckle or joint on that middle toe, compared to a perching bird, but that might just be the angle I'm looking at it. Oh yes, I almost needed to take shares out in Teena or Depend after I first glimpsed it
- very exciting to see a new species. I certainly hope I don't have such a big gap until the next one for me, let me tell you 
.
West Coast Tasmania
Hi Annie,
Yes, going by the P&K PC Guide the races would be as you describe.
It's funny that the distinctive call was what alerted me to them as well.
Will be going back for another look now.
They're such darling little birds. Lovely photos as always Annie!
Thanks windshear, they are real sweeties for sure.
Good luck with your hunt Rick! When I revisited them yesterday, I realised that their 'three note whistle" was actually a five note one. Think I might have just parroted the three note quote from my Field Guide, lol, but yes, that whistle is a definite standout to know that they are there!
West Coast Tasmania