WBW 667 - Bullers Albatross

The Buller's Albatross (Thalassarche bulleri) is a medium size, but clearly very attractive albatross breeds on islands around New Zealand, and feeds in the seas off Australia and the South Pacific.

As with almost all of my seabird /pelagic posts this bird was photographed off the coast of Tasmania, on a pelagic trip that departed from nr. Eaglehawk Neck.

It is described in my field guide as a 'small to medium sized black and white albatross with pearl-grey hood and contrasting white cap' - which is a pretty good description as far as I can tell!

While being far from abundant around the boat we use for pelagic trips I think we have always seen at least one of these birds on the Tasmanian trips I have been involved in.  I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again- but if you get a chance to go on a pelagic trip,  take it!

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Wild Bird Wednesday 666 - Little Corella

The arrival of flocks of Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea) in our suburb is a clear sign that we have left summer and entered autumn.

They are noisy, comical and apparently very hungry.  Many of our local street trees bear large seed rich fruits - and these are ripped to shreds by flock of these birds.  When a flock lands in such a tree - or a group of such trees - the ground below is soon littered with 'green snow' created by the destruction of the seed pods.  The whole process is very messy!

The birds are mostly white, with an erectile crest and a pale yellow wash on the underwings. 

These birds were part of a large flock, so of which were feeding in the trees, while others were feeding on the ground. There was also a good deal of shouting and wrestling going on!

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Wild Bird Wednesday 665 - Black Currawong

The Black Currawong (Strepera fuliginosa) is a large passerine endemic to Tasmania and the islands within the Bass Strait. One of three Currawong species in the genus Strepera, it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australian magpie rather than to crows or other corvids.

The small hook on the end of the beak is a clear indication that this bird is more closely related to butcherbirds rather than crows.

It is a large crow-like bird, around 50 cm long on average, with yellow irises, a heavy beak, and black plumage with white wing patches.  The beak is very heavy looking and is made even more impressive by its domed upper section.  This beak shape is one of the features that helps split this species from the Grey Currawong that also occurs in Tasmania.

These birds were photographed in the grounds of the Port Arthur historic site in Tasmania.  Both the birds and the history of this site make it a place worth a visit.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 664 - Australian Pelican

The Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) is a huge - and often conspicuous- bird of Australian wetlands.

However, its scientific name does not actually mean a conspicuous pelican!  It actually means a 'spectacled pelican' - with the reference to spectacles coming from the rings of bare skin around the eyes.

With a weight of around 4 to 7 kg and a beak of over 50 cm this is a big bird.  They often gather in groups, and sometimes cooperate in fishing.

While I was photographing these birds I was struck by just how difficult it must be to preen with such a huge beak.  As you can see, a degree of gymnastic flexibility is needed to clean your feathers if you are a pelican!

I have to say that they are wonderful birds to watch.

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Wild Bird Wednesday 663 - Cape Barren Goose

The Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) is a species of goose endemic to southern Australia. It is a distinctive large, grey bird that is mostly terrestrial and is not closely related to other living members of the subfamily that contains Geese and Swans.

Its another example of an Australian bird that has gone its own way from an evolutionary point of view - and there is still some work to be done before we fully understand how this bird is related to other geese and swans.  In fact some authorities consider it more closely related to shellducks.  A PhD awaits I suspect.

This species has a bright greenish-yellow patch called a cere on its beak, pinkish legs and black feet -although the feet are hidden by the grass in these images. They weigh anything between 3.7 and 5.2 kg, and it will come as no surprise that they were a popular food bird in the past.  

These birds may be part of the 'small number' that have recently shifted from breeding on small islands off the south coast of Australia to breeding on mainland Victoria. 

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Wild Bird Wednesday 662 - Yellow Billed Spoonbill

The Yellow Billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes) is one of the two species of Sponbills that are found in Australia.

Measuring around 90 cm (35.5 in), the yellow-billed spoonbill has all white plumage, although at times it can look creamy white rather than pure white. The long spoon-shaped bill is about 200mm long and the bare face, legs and feet are all yellow.  Adults have red marking on the beak near the face and darker marking across the lower end of the beak.  Adults also have a black band around the area where the beak joins the face.

Unfortunately, none of these adult features can be seen on this bird as it is a juvenile!

This species is found in a range of wetland habitat and it will come as no surprise that this bird was photographed at the Werribee Sewage Works. 

I like this series of pictures as they show the shape and structure of the beak.

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