The above bird, which I have identified as a Tawny Frogmouth a variety of Australian bird often regarded as a type of owl, is sitting on a low branch in a fig tree in the backyard. It has been there for hours. The cats are locked inside and very displeased that they can’t go out and torment it.
It is quite rare to see an owl anytime in the metropolitan area, let alone in the daytime, but I believe this particular frogmouth regards our place and next door as part of its territory. Our neighbour has observed an owl at night watching his compost for rats and mice. It could very well be this one.
These birds are supposed to rest during the daytime in a camouflaged position.This bird, though its colour does match the branches of the fig tree, is very conspicuous.
7 comments:
good on you for keeping the cats away from it.
so hard to be a nocturnal when there are no leaves to hide in.
I have seen a bird like yours in a churchyard off acland street st.kilda, and a barking owl asleep in a bare tree at Ballarat library, while trucks roared by on the busy road.
Birds are just wonderful, that they come out of an egg and build nests and (some) manage to survive[ oh and they can FLY too.
It has however been tormented by blackbirds who object very strongly to its presence on THEIR tree.
It has been interesting to note that the tree in question, normally full of all sorts of birds has had only the Frogmouth this afternoon and the blackbirds peeping furiously.
It's still there as I write this comment.
... and now it is dark and it has flown off for supper.
I used to cross through that churchyard off acland street, between the tram and home after work, and the owl that lived there actually strafed me one night because I stopped to look at it. SWOOSH!!
The happy song of the blackbirds is worth the trouble of enduring the wreckage they cause in the garden though.
Here's a horsey thing for you:
search images for WHISTLEJACKET a horse that George Stubbs painted LIFESIZE about 1800.
it's amazing.
2. I have a Willie post at M-Stacks
X X X
Checked out your post and have to agree about The Edge of Darkness - its totally brilliant.
For some reason I can't comment on your blog, my computer settings whatever.
Checked out Whistlejacket as well. Reminds me in his looks of a race horse going around these days whose name is Battlefield
I just adore that bird! Love the name - somehow it's so Australian!
Thank-you for the photos and accompanying descriptions about this fascinating creature!
sorry you couldn't leave a comment at Willie's post.
I checked all my Comment settings and did a test run, and I don't even have word verification turned on.
It's good to know that some settings cackup is whyI don't have 80 comments.
Battlefield is a great horse name.
My favourite of all time is Mucklejaw followed by No Shenanigans.
I think it's my computer with something to do with active X,which has been problematical for some months. I intend to reformat the computer when I have time, as I can't find where the problem originated.
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