"birding" fun

[whulsey]

Ashrunner, they do seem to be increasing and adapting. The photo was from a couple of years ago and was just lucky to get it. Was back there last week and almost had to "shoo'em" away there were so many around...and those didn't seemed as jumpy as they used to be.

[Kevin WS]

Very attractive little bird. Nice colouring too.

No jays in Africa!

What do they eat?

[whulsey]

About anything that won't eat them first...plus they make stash sites also.

[whulsey]

Here's another one from that trip. This a few miles north in the Estro Bay area: a curved billed curlew.

[Kevin WS]

Lovely shot again - I like the colouring and contrasts........

[birder]

A couple shots from a trip to the river, swallowtail drinking from the sand by the river in the heat, and a Eurasian collared dove that has expanded its range like a fire in the last few years, now at the river appears to be nesting

[whulsey]

The swallowtail is beautiful. You must be much more stealthy then me...can never get a butterfly to sit still for me.

[birder]

Thanks whulsey, this butterfly kept returning to the same spot, and was thirsty, luck is all, I'm apparently not stealthy the doves were all over the park while I was there, but never in the open and constantly chasisng each other, so the only pic is on a lightpole! Your Curlew is very pretty reminds me of the paintings in Shorebirds of the world some years back the artist I forget his name....

[Ashrunner]

Nice swallowtail image. It looks like it might be a yellow form Desert Black Swallowtail. However, the body of the bug don't look right.

Those worthless Eurasian Collared Doves (released by stupid idiots during weddings and like) have taken over my area. I can't even find a Mourning Dove anymore. Just like House Sparrow and Starlings, they have no natural enemies and have become a huge problem.

[SCEtoAUX]

I have lots of mourning doves hanging around. Provides food for the accipiters that frequent the area.

That Mississippi Kite spotted earlier seems to be nesting in the area. It can be seen patrolling the area with another Mississippi Kite and is seen frequently landing in a very large oak tree nearby.