ML36168501

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Spotted this bird on the nature strip of my neighbour's house. I first noted the shape and very long tail and wondered what it was as it didn't immediately match the birds I am used to seeing at home. With a closer look I identified it as an Apostlebird - having seen these previously in Dubbo. It was scratching in the grass and a pile of garden mulch, then hopped across the road and continued. Unusual Bird Report: Description of bird (include as relevant size; shape; colour of plumage, legs, eyes, bill; call; sex; age) - About the length of a Red Wattlebird but slightly stockier and the tail is longer and a bit flared towards the end. Mostly darkish grey in colour with lighter and darker mottled appearance. Some mid brown on the wings. Tail dark. Narrow black mask across eyes. Black eye. Short thick down curved dark bill. Description of the bird's behaviour (alone? feeding? in flight? on ground?) - The bird was alone and feeding on the ground, seeming to prefer walking and hopping over flying (like a Chough). It seemed quite comfortable with people being close by. Habitat - on an around a pile of mulch on a grass nature strip, then hopped across the road to a paved area surrounded by shortish grass. Have since seen the bird in various trees around the area, including a couple of trees in blossom. Weather conditions - temp in mid teens, generally sunny, little wind. Optical aids used? - Seen first by naked eye from about 12 metres. Then by binoculars and naked eye from as close as 2 metres. For how long did you watch the bird? - approximately ten or fifteen minutes. What experience have you had with this species? - I saw Apostlebirds at the Dubbo Zoo in late 2012, there were parties of birds feeding on the ground in various places around the zoo and I had the opportunity to watch them closely. That is the only time I have seen them. Other comments (other observers present; what made you eliminate ‘look-alike’ or 'sound-alike' species) - My partner, Deb, also saw the bird from about two metres and said it was unlike any bird she is used to in Canberra. She agreed the bird matched the picture in my Slaters field guide. My first thought on seeing the bird was that it had a long, bulky tail. At first I wondered if it might be a Red Wattlebird (common in gardens in this area) in an odd perspective but that didn't seem right. I also considered whether it may be a Cuckoo-Shrike but the tail, mottled colour and short down-curved bill weren't right. I then concluded it was an Apostlebird from my memory of having seen that species previously and familiarity with my field guides. My partner later spoke to a neighbour who said the bird had been in the area for a couple of weeks.

Technical information

Model

DMC-LF1

ISO

800

Focal length

42.8 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.9

Shutter speed

1/320 sec

Dimensions

4000 pixels x 2672 pixels

Original file size

3.01 MB