birds – Page 13 – hashiworks

corvid comparison

Published on November 3, 2022November 19, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

Toxostoma redivivum

Published on October 31, 2022November 19, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

I don’t often see a California thrasher around here, so I’m always happy when I do. One has been hanging about the bird bath and bushes close to the house the past few days. Sweet!

Bubo virginianus

Published on October 18, 2022October 18, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

We’ve been hearing owls at night lately. I think they’re Great Horned Owls (Bubo virginianus), but I haven’t seen one to confirm. (Sketched from a reference photo on birdpixel.com.)

lagopus lagopus

Published on October 10, 2022November 19, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

Willow ptarmigans (Lagopus lagopus) in the Arctic change colour throughout the year, from completely brown in mid-summer to completely white in mid-winter. The transition (which starts from the head and moves down) is triggered by changing day length, not by temperature.

With a warming Arctic, we are now seeing snow-white birds in a snow-less landscape. Where once they were perfectly camouflaged as the seasons changed, now they are sitting ‘ducks’ for predators. The climate change is happening too quickly for them to evolve to meet the new conditions.

The willow ptarmigan’s scientific name, Lagopus lagopus is derived from Ancient Greek lagos (λαγως) ‘hare’ + pous (πους) ‘foot’, in reference to the bird’s feathered feet which allow it to negotiate frozen ground.

Thanks, Max Romey, for introducing me to this bird and its story.

ardea herodias

Published on October 2, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

iconic wildlife

Published on September 24, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

Enjoying the rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus) in the palm trees at dawn.

This guy was on the kitchen floor this morning, barely alive. I thought it was a leaf and picked it up, then noticed a leg waving weakly. I put it outside and it must have recovered somewhat because when I came back with my sketchbook, it was gone.

Only a few more days in Aus, so it may be my last honking big spider for a while.

malarus cyaneus

Published on September 11, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

A pair of curious superb fairywrens kept me company at Bingi Bingi Point.

The superb fairywren was named ‘Australian Bird of the Year’ for 2021, after a survey conducted by Birdlife Australia saw the species narrowly defeat the tawny frogmouth.

rhipidura albiscapa

Published on September 6, 2022September 7, 2022 by HashiLeave a comment

Australia is famed for its colourful birds, but the little monochrome ones can be just as fascinating. Grey Fantails live across most of Australia. Hyperactive, agile and graceful, they perform rapid aerial acrobatics, constantly splaying out their tail feathers into a fan. They feed on flying insects which they chase out from the edge of shrubs and bushes and snap up mid-air. Cute!