BRONZEWING PIGEONS

There are two Bronzewings regularly sighted in''My Backyard'',

although the Crested Pigeon makes a rare visit.These birds will

often visit local gardens where they are vulnerable to cats.

BRUSH BRONZEWING  Phaps elegans

This smaller Bronzewing prefers more dense scrubland where it 

searches for seeds dropped by various bushes.Size;30Cms

COMMON BRONZEWING  Phaps chalcoptera

The largest of the two Bronzewings in this area,it prefers open scrubland.

Identified by the loud clapping noise of the wings on take off.Size;35Cms

SHORE LINE WADERS

These include Plovers,oystercatchers and stilts,all of which

nest on the ground or beach,making them vulnerable to

pedestrians,dogs,foxes and feral cats.

BLACK-FRONTED PLOVER Charadius melanops

Not common in this area but sighted occasionally on local

beaches in small groups resting and bathing.Size;17Cm

RED-CAPPED PLOVER Charadrius ruficapillus

The smallest of the plovers,prefers the water line of beaches

and swamps moving with short bursts of speed.Size;15Cm

MASKED LAPWING Vanellus miles

Also known as Spur-wing plover,prefers open spaces including

parks & ovals,an agressive bird when breeding.Size;35Cm

BLACK-WINGED STILT Himantopus himantopus

Also called Pied stilt and often confused with the Banded stilt,

it is a common wader,feeding on aquatic insects.Size;32Cm

SOOTY OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus fuliginosus

Often seen with Pied oystercatcher,but prefers rocky areas where it

overturns rocks feeding on small crustaceans.Size;50Cm

PIED OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus longirostris

Also named Redbill for obvious reasons,prefers intertidal zone of

beaches and mud flats where it searches for shellfish.Size;50Cm.

RUFOUS NIGHT HERON Nycticorax caledonicus

As the name implies,a night hunter,peering out from a

favourite day time roost in a Aleppo pine tree.Size; 60cm

WHITE FACED HERON Ardea novaehollandiae

Also known as Blue crane,a common shoreline wader.

Size; 60-70cm

GREAT EGRET Ardea alba

The largest wader to visit the area,hunting small

fish at Billy Light's Pt. Size; 1M

RAISING A FAMILY

Sping is a busy time of the year for most of the

birds that frequent My backyard

Young Western silvereyes help each other

with mutual preening

A Willy wagtail sits on eggs in a nest constructed

of cobwebs and fibres

A group of young Dusky wood-swallows enjoying

a preening session in the early morning sunshine

A male Yellow-rumped pardalote checks the vicinity is clear

before entering the nesting burrow to relieve the female

A Grey currawong keeps a beady eye on the camera

from the nest as she sits on the eggs

A Crested tern with a juvenile bird which has

been banded by N.P.W.S on a nearby island