103) The Tweed

Red-browed Finch

Given our current middle-of-the-semester schedules we are taking shorter trips down in NSW to some 'suburban' birding sites in the Tweed Shire. Along the Terranora Broadwater (an estuary), there are some short trails and an interesting mix of water birds and bush-birds (it seems really out of place to hear a Whip-bird (which is ubiquitous up in the jungle) while looking at flowers next to someones fence!






Blue-faced Honeyeater










A Brown headed honey eater. Maddening quick flyers, this one finally sat down in one spot for a moment.












By necessity, Nancy is getting really good at the "silhouette ID" - there are pages in the bird guide showing relative shapes and sizes for the wide variety of "black birds".

This Spangled Drongo is a complete giveaway with the split tail and the jet black body.












But with a little light the Spangled Drongo shows off its true colors. They have a remarkable iridescence including little 'spangles' of color on the breast and a lovely red eye!














An unexpected Darter building a nest with his lovely. These were not on the area bird list but there were quite a few nesting in the trees.
















Father darter and chick
















Azure Kingfisher

















Fun little Yellow Robins are quite willing to sit still. They are also less skittish and are 'kind' birds to try and photograph.

















Some lovely pockets of ferns along the trail. Nice spot to sit and listen for the birds.



































The estuary has a lot of oyster beds (and some oyster restaurants)

That little brown smudge in the lower left is a Striped Night Heron. I didn't take a real photo of him as he was just too far to resolve much.






Another "life" bird for Nancy --a Striped Honeyeater.

These short trips are amazing - in the last two trips down there, we have seen 9 new (to us) species and 80+ species total.

Spring will be coming - more flowers blooming and I suspect as the birds vocalize, we will spot even more!









Of course, at our house, birdo- watching is a family affair - everyone gets into the act!

Note the lorries out on the rail and the twitching tail in the foreground!

Two very clean lorries - then emptied the birdbath in an orgy of thrashing, snorkeling and flailing wings!