Sunday, February 27, 2011

CHASING MASKED OWLS WITH J&J

I was just out with locals, Jenny and John Shepherd, chasing Masked Owls in Morton NP.

J&J are convinced they saw a pair of the birds not far from Gambells Rest in early February, right on dusk. The three of us didn't see or hear any nocturnal birds whatsoever (even with my solid call imitations). Maybe the overcast conditions were to blame. Or perhaps the owls were hunting on the other side of our world.

I would dearly love to see a Masked Owl. I've dipped on them over the years (saying that, I haven't put a lot of hard work into finding them). Perhaps Morton will offer me a gift one day.

To be continued.

LJ, February 27 2011.

TG@SHN

A big shout out to Tahnae Goldsworthy, journalist with Southern Highland News, who kindly interviewed me a little while ago about the 110 species of birds in Bundy, then put together a piece for the paper's 'Lifestyle' section, published online and in print, last Wednesday.

LJ, February 27 2011.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

110

You beauty! I've now recorded 110 species of bird in Bundanoon - that's about 13% of the species found on Australia's mainland and Tasmania (based on numbers from Birds Australia, our premier body for bird conservation/information; a publicist told me there are some 799 species on the mainland and Tassie combined). Here are the additional 10 birds...

Buff-banded Rail
Collared Sparrowhawk
Little Lorikeet
Brown Gerygone
Fairy Martin
Australian Reed-warbler
Golden-headed Cisticola
Black Swan
Dusky Woodswallow
Indian Mynah

When I get to 15% of Australia's birds for our town I'll be truly stoked. Onward and upward...


LJ, February 12 2011

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

BOILING SKIES BEFORE 'THAT' STORM




REVIVAL

Whilst sweeping out the laundry the other day, I came across a seemingly lifeless Macleay's Swallowtail. I picked it up and was knocked out by the brilliant jade/emerald geometry on its wings. The creature's eyelash-thin legs flickered. I placed it upon a rock and sprinkled some water on it... the butterfly took to the air.

LJ, February 8 2011.

Friday, February 4, 2011

WILD BUNDANOON ALRIGHT!

A sudden storm late Wednesday absolutely brought the wild to our quiet town... A streak of electricity struck a telegraph pole out the front of my house (about thirty feet from where I was standing at the time) and consequently blew fuses various, so my family and I were left without fridge power, a set top box and an oven (not a huge deal in the face of what our poor brothers and sisters up in Queensland have faced of late; it's miraculous more folks weren't annihilated in the core of Cyclone Yasi). The lightning's crack was staggeringly loud. There was no space between lightning and thunder. Smoke drifted down the road just after the snap. I could smell burning, even the soul of God. My son wept. I've never been so close to lightning, so much in awe of lightning. Thankfully, the house didn't burn.

LJ, February 4 2011.