Blue Knob birds enjoy the Aussie bird life!

One morning whilst Tam was away in the UK in August, I sat on the deck eating breakfast and noticed a sulphur crested cockatoo sitting in a nearby tree munching away on a big seed. It held onto the branch with one claw and held the huge seed in the other, taking big bites and chewing, as if eating an apple! I was utterly mesmerised.

We often hear these noisy fellows flying by screeching at each other and sometimes glimpse them high up in nearby trees. But this was up close and personal. We were looking each other in the eye!

He or she kindly displayed the sulphur crest for me over and over again raising it slowly and showing off (as shown in the photo to the left). I must find out if the crest is exclusive to the male or vice versa.

Tam of course had our only camera and so I was frustrated by not being able to snap the gorgeous fellow. However, it brought to mind the idea of showing the range of beautiful and fascinating birds that we see in our garden and in nearby locations. And to that end I have taken full advantage of google images!

In stark contrast to sulphur crested cockatoos, are the regal and stately yellow tailed black cockatoos. These huge fellows regularly fly by, gently whistling to each other and occasionally they land in a nearby tree and we get a good look at them.

This cute bird is the male Splendid Fairy Wren, and they really are quite splendid, with that nearly luminous blue. We regularly see these cuties hopping around on our lawn, along with a harem of plain brown females, searching out tiny bites to eat.

Recently Jake, Charlie and I , whilst chilling on the deck, enjoyed watching a family of King Parrots feeding on the seed pods in the nearby bangalow palms. This is the male king parrot.










And we regularly catch sight of Rainbow Lorikeets whistling to each other as they zoom past







Crimson Rosellas are possibly my favourite, simply because the blue is utterly stunning and what a treat to see these in my garden! All the parrots are wonderful - there are many others, but these are the most common around our way.








This extraordinary looking fellow has the most delightful chortle (almost alien) - I saw one on a nearby branch only this morning whilst weeding - introducing the unique and wonderful Noisy Friarbird:


Here's the lovely yellow robin, a regular visitor to our garden and a particular favourite of Jake's. Why yellow? Who knows?


More birds from our garden and the local area in the next blog.

As usual, I'd love to know you've read this so please either comment here or drop me a line (jenmartin@aapt.net.au).

Bye for now, Jx