Balmy Days in Robertson

The last few days at Robertson have been truly balmy.

And they have been heavenly days for the local birds. 

The Brown Cuckoo-Doves have been around and calling.

This afternoon, one was drinking 

from the roof of the Shipping Container 

which we are using as a storage shed. 

Brown Cuckoo-Dove on powerline at George's place

Silvereyes were busy looking for Aphids 

amongst the dense shrubbery below the house.

Aphids under leaves of a Camellia

 A male Golden Whistler perched boldly in an Acacia mearnsii 

lower down the yard. 

Here is a previous photo - not great, 

but it shows the colour well enough.

Golden Whistler - male

A Shining Bronze-Cuckoo called prominently 

for about 15 minutes at mid-morning. 

We even saw the bird clearly for a few moments. 

A rare clear viewing for these normally secretive birds

(at least hard to see in a rainforest habitat).

The Black Cockies have been around for the last few weeks, 

and the youngsters keep up their incessant nagging squarks.

As Brendan says, its something only a parent could love

(and even then, its pretty hard to put up with, surely?)

2 Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flying from a Pine Tree

I mentioned that the insects have been around in masses, 

as you might have noticed from the aphid photo.

This one was a big surprise. 

Brendan found it underneath a piece of plywood, under the house.

This is a King Cricket.

I have only seen one once before, in a rotted log up on Knights Hill.

So it was a surprise to find it under my house.

They seem to like dark, moist places to hang out in.

King Cricket - note the spurred legs, and large body.

After a full day "on duty" Lena decided she needed a rest.

Lena - asleep in the afternoon sun

Who am I to tell her she hadn't been working THAT hard?