20190630-MMPI0053 - Hardings Paddock
On Sunday 30th June 2019 I visited Hardings Paddock, near the town of Peak Crossing in Queensland, Australia. The morning stated out foggy, but this lifted about 20 minutes after arrival. A slow start with the birds who seemed to have enjoyed a sleep in. Both Rufous and Golden Whistlers were busily hunting for caterpillars on Wattle and Eucalpyt trees, Jacky Winters perched on fences and dropped to the ground to catch insects then return to the fences. Australia's smallest bird, the Weebill, were around again and I was happy to get a couple of shots of these little charmers with a big voice. The family of five Grey-crowned Babblers coughed, wheezed and cackled their way around, and put on a calling display when a Magpie swooped on of the group. Those Babblers are very enjoyable to watch, such amusing sounds as they keep in contact and when they start calling and dancing it is quite amusing. But the star of today was a male Rose Robin - although I only got a couple of usable shots (not through lack of trying), he bounced around his little patch picking up insects and that beautiful pink breast just glowed in the sunlight - they don't come much cuter than these little fellows. A beautiful day out, cool and foggy at first but turned into a perfect Brisbane Winters' day. Happy to get out with a regular birding friend and bump into a couple of lovely ladies I see from time to time on my travels.
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