I found this abandoned nest and wondered what bird made it. I have seen thornbills, scrub-wrens and fairy-wrens in the same spot. The nest was about 100mm across and the eggs were only about 14mm long. It seemed to be lined with parrot feathers, but I'm sure its not a parrot nest. It was only about 1 metre off the ground.
Without more information, my best & probably wildest guess is that it's a rufous songlark's nest, Roger. Can you describe the habitat & general location in which you found it? Scrub, grassland, lake shore?
Also, are you sure the nest was abandoned? Is it possible it was being watched by a parent or parents while it was being photographed?
Hi Roger, I would say , the nest would not have been abandoned,just lke Woko said, she would most likely come back to lay more eggs. I have noticed, that observing the Swallows, they took some days to finish laying, before sitting on them. Early on they didn't sit on the eggs all day either. It also depends on the temperature, as they have to keep it constant, they get off the eggs to cool them down in hot conditions. Sometimes you see birds sit on the edge of the nest when they do that. Did you find more eggs? How are they doing? Tell us about the outcome.
M-L
Hi Roger. Going by your information I would say that it is possibly a Superb Fairy-Wren nest and eggs. Their nests are built from soft grasses and they do use feathers as lining. It looks like the Superb Fairy-Wren nest I used to have in my Jasmine and their eggs are approx. 16mm. But, I guess you'll find out soon enough! ^_^
That's a much more intelligent notion than mine was ever going to be, Elle. Much more careful observation of Roger's photo shows that the nest entrance is at the side. Superb fairy-wrens line their nests with feathers. What do you think, Roger?
I don't think there has been a bird in this nest for two weeks or more. I didn't take a photo for some time in case I disturbed them, but I have watched from a distance for a fair while but nothing. Lots of wrens, thorbills and silvereyes still hanging around, but none in the nest.
The nest may have slipped during some heavy rain. It appeared to have a top entry but was on a bit of a slope. The nest was built in a very small but dead wattle, some wire-grass and black-berrys also around it. It's next door to me on a half cleared house block. (The clearing of the scrub on the block probably scared off the parents). I'm in Marysville and all the houses here were burnt down three years ago and some of the now empty blocks have grown quite a dense mix of wattles, blackwoods etc. Marysville is around 450m altitude about 100km north-east of Melbourne.
(I didn't think any one had commented on my post, I am usually notified by email but hadn't received one - Is the email system working OK? Thanks for all your comments).