Lockdown Birding Update

When I last posted back in July we were heading into another six weeks of lockdown. Later in September we went into Stage 4 with a new restriction of staying within 5km of your home, as well as only 1 hour for exercise outside each day. Initially you couldn't drive somewhere to exercise either. Oh and there was a curfew. Obviously this greatly restricted birding opportunities!

an Australian Magpie out the kitchen window

and having a drink

At the start of the first lockdown in March I was stood down from my job for 3 weeks so I had plenty of time for backyard birding. But being back at work, and having less birdy visitors over winter, means I have less to report from the yard this time. The only real update is that Red Wattlebirds successfully nested in my front yard, and in the last week or so the baby fledged and is constantly cheep-cheeping for food.

one of the parents after a food drop to the nest

the bub out and about last week

Slightly further afield, there have been some exciting developments on my exercise walk - not one, but TWO Tawny Frogmouth nests. One in my street, which is a pair that returns each year, and another in a street very nearby where I found a regular roosting pair in June.

Just a few days after the nests appeared in late August, we had some crazy wind. The nest in the nearby street didn't survive. Frogmouths aren't overly ambitious nest-builders, and luckily the pair in my street had chosen a much sturdier branch - they have also lost a nest to wind in the past.

I found the nest-less pair though snuggled together in the afternoon sun the next day.

a quick phone pic on my walk

I wondered if they'd try again - and they did! A new nest appeared a few days later, in a more sturdy but also more unconventional spot:

yep

So having two frogmouth nests to keep track of has been a nice addition to my exercise walks. The first little white fluff balls appeared in the nest in my street last week.

unrelated: a phone pic of a local Little Raven

During this lockdown I started doing bird walks on the phone with my mum, and a few with my friend Charlotte too. We worked out the birdiest routes we could each take for an hour-long exercise walk from home, also considering what birds we were likely to see that the other wasn't. 

Welcome Swallow

We walk and talk, no binoculars and without stopping too much, collecting birds for a combined list. It's kinda like birding in two places at once, and it's a kinda fun challenge. Or maybe I'm just going crazy in isolation. Either way it was great exercise for me cos I have to keep the pace up to get to my birdy spot and home again (uphill!) in the time limit.  I did manage a couple of quick phone pics when birds were close and cooperative, which you are now being subjected to.

the Rainbow Lorikeets love these homemade feeders

perches are also provided

A few weeks ago restrictions were eased a little and I have been back out birding. Like proper birding. Back soon with further updates. Until then, take care and happy birding!

also seen on a local walk