Nice shots of the wrens, female has a little tinge of blue I see.Thanks for giving the location as I have not seen a variegated FW so I will try Cowan over the holidays. I'd like to get shots like yours.
Also Mt Kuringai, Berowra, Hornsby. Try any of the Great North Walk tracks up there. (Berowra is good for lots of bird types) I have also encountered plenty around Waterfall (west of the Railway) in the South and along the Victory Trail and Sassafrass Valley walks near Springwood in the Blue Mountains.
Like WhistlingDuck, I haven't seen one either.The girl's tail looks more blue than that of the Superb female's tail.In my book it tells me they have a slightly different song, much faster and more metalic? Nice photo in their natural habitat
You go on lots of wonderful walks Richard. Must have been a nice Christmas then?
That is right, they don't have the same call or songs (not entirely dissimilar you still know what they are). I wouldn't describe it as metallic at all but with all high pitched bird sounds they are very hard to describe with words. They are very chatty when in a group. This particular group contained about 4 males and at least the same amount of females (probably more, there seemed to be a lot) They were very vocal. I was making little whistling noises back at them which made them very curious and kept them popping into view and looking at me then popping back down again. I saw many similar sized groups. I also saw some lesser seen (by me) honeyeaters. Brown Headed and White Eared, I saw one bird I haven't managed to ID. I'm pretty sure it was a Chestnut Rumped Heathwren but was about the size of a small mynah, but obviously a different shape. (didn't get a pic of him, he stopped for a second and had a look at me then was off as fast as he came)
So Many Cicadas it made it hard to hear anything else and was quite deafening at times.
It has been wet up here so I haven't been out in the bush as much as I would like.
Nice views though and it smelt divine after the early morning rain (I was in the bush by approx 6.30am) I have included phone shots of the Cowan views for your interest.
I prefer the western side at Berowra (for small birds), starting at the small entrance next to the community centre. Once you get down over the edge there are lots of small birds (pardalotes, eastern spinebills, robins, thornbills, scrubwrens etc) watch out for swamp wallabies and goanna further down the track too. If you feel like a decent walk go down along the creek and find Lyrebirds (and flycatchers if you are lucky.) You are more likely to see the varigated wrens on the way down there or over the creek.
It is a great walk from Mt Kuringai station to Berowra via Lyrebird Gully and Calna Creek, (you don't cross the Calna Creek bridge so don't worry about the signs) Plenty to see there, beautiful bushland nice track, always a fairly hefty hill out of the valley though. On the Eastern side you can walk down to Appletree Bay and up to Mt Kuringai or just go down th track a few Kms and back up again. Either way it is beautiful scenery.
The track from Cowan to Jerusalem Bay is a lovely little walk, Golden Whistlers, Varigated and Superb Wrens, I have seen Rock Warblers, various Honeyeaters and Lyrebirds and a chance of kingfishers. Always some white faced heron and a few cormorants.
Nice shots of the wrens, female has a little tinge of blue I see.Thanks for giving the location as I have not seen a variegated FW so I will try Cowan over the holidays. I'd like to get shots like yours.
Also Mt Kuringai, Berowra, Hornsby. Try any of the Great North Walk tracks up there. (Berowra is good for lots of bird types) I have also encountered plenty around Waterfall (west of the Railway) in the South and along the Victory Trail and Sassafrass Valley walks near Springwood in the Blue Mountains.
Great shots richman, I absolutely love the eye contact in both photos and the colour of the male in the first shot!
Like WhistlingDuck, I haven't seen one either.The girl's tail looks more blue than that of the Superb female's tail.In my book it tells me they have a slightly different song, much faster and more metalic? Nice photo in their natural habitat
You go on lots of wonderful walks Richard. Must have been a nice Christmas then?
M-L
Hi richman .... Thanks for the tips I might try around berowa and see what I can find...WD
That is right, they don't have the same call or songs (not entirely dissimilar you still know what they are). I wouldn't describe it as metallic at all but with all high pitched bird sounds they are very hard to describe with words. They are very chatty when in a group. This particular group contained about 4 males and at least the same amount of females (probably more, there seemed to be a lot) They were very vocal. I was making little whistling noises back at them which made them very curious and kept them popping into view and looking at me then popping back down again. I saw many similar sized groups. I also saw some lesser seen (by me) honeyeaters. Brown Headed and White Eared, I saw one bird I haven't managed to ID. I'm pretty sure it was a Chestnut Rumped Heathwren but was about the size of a small mynah, but obviously a different shape. (didn't get a pic of him, he stopped for a second and had a look at me then was off as fast as he came)
So Many Cicadas it made it hard to hear anything else and was quite deafening at times.
It has been wet up here so I haven't been out in the bush as much as I would like.
Nice views though and it smelt divine after the early morning rain (I was in the bush by approx 6.30am) I have included phone shots of the Cowan views for your interest.
I prefer the western side at Berowra (for small birds), starting at the small entrance next to the community centre. Once you get down over the edge there are lots of small birds (pardalotes, eastern spinebills, robins, thornbills, scrubwrens etc) watch out for swamp wallabies and goanna further down the track too. If you feel like a decent walk go down along the creek and find Lyrebirds (and flycatchers if you are lucky.) You are more likely to see the varigated wrens on the way down there or over the creek.
It is a great walk from Mt Kuringai station to Berowra via Lyrebird Gully and Calna Creek, (you don't cross the Calna Creek bridge so don't worry about the signs) Plenty to see there, beautiful bushland nice track, always a fairly hefty hill out of the valley though. On the Eastern side you can walk down to Appletree Bay and up to Mt Kuringai or just go down th track a few Kms and back up again. Either way it is beautiful scenery.
The track from Cowan to Jerusalem Bay is a lovely little walk, Golden Whistlers, Varigated and Superb Wrens, I have seen Rock Warblers, various Honeyeaters and Lyrebirds and a chance of kingfishers. Always some white faced heron and a few cormorants.
Isn't nature beautiful!!!!! Why can't we just leave it as it is , admire and respect?
M-L