I took these photos this morning at Mount Annan Botanical gardens NSW. 1st one of have no idea sorry I didn't get the tail. 2nd I was wondering if it was a olive-backed oriole & the 3rd a juvenile little lorikeet or swift parrot, sorry I didn't get the tail again for this one.
Thanks Donna
Hey Donna did you notice the first bird has an "id" ring? Cheers Beef!
No I didn't notice, does that mean it is an escapee ............. Someone's pet?
First, maybe a Jacky Winter? But I'm not sure about it, so you had better wait for someone who knows more than me for it. The ring means that it is part of some tracking project, but I would have no idea what and where. Maybe you should ask the staff at the gardens, they might know?
Second, I think you're right, its an immature Olive Backed Oriole, there have been a few of them sighted in the Greater Sydney area lately. Apparently they are supposed to migrate north, but decided to stay after the (previously) milder winter. Sucks for them, as winter has just taken a colder turn.
Third; its a Swift Parrot, and a lovely photo. My guidebook says that it can be differentiated (from this angle) by the horn coloured beak (apparently all the other lorikeets have red or black bills) and by the yellow and blue outlining the red areas. I think this one is an immature bird, and apparently they don't have as noticeable markings. Where in Mt Annan did you see the Swift Parrot? I'd been thinking about heading over to Mulgoa Nature Reserve to try and see one, but if they are lurking in Mt Annan (which is a lot closer)...
Thanks for that Lachlan. The swift Parrott was along the memorial walk, when walking down the track you come to a walk way where the track turns right. And there is a bench you can sit on, I saw it sitting on a log near where the little creek is. I also saw the Olive-backed oriole there as well. The bell miners also hang out there. I also saw a grey goshawk down this track last week but haven't seen it this week. If you continue on the track and walk to where the memorial is I had some fun with some spotted pardoltes today and there always seems to be some white-napped Honeyeaters.
If you are interested in some red-rumped parrots you will find a bunch of them when you just enter the gardens just after you turn left at the round about a little way along on the right is some trees and a small billabong, they hang out there. Today for the first time I also saw pair of musk lorikeets there. There is also a black-shouldered kite that hangs around there generally on the top of the dead tree if it is not out hunting.
Hope this helps.
Donna
Thanks for the details, if I can find the time, I'll try and check it out. They are truly spectacular birds!
First one is a Golden Whistler.
I second the Golden Whistler (female)
M-L
Thank you Steve & ML.
Donna
Just curious, but wouldn't a female Golden Whistler be browner? The bird in the photo is really grey.
They are predominately grey, there is some brown on the wings. Also depending on the light, they might appear more brown.
As you can see, the first bird looks more grey , the second bird more brown.
M-L
Ah, ok, thanks for the photos Araminta. I guess there would be variation between individual birds.