striated pardalote

.... I have a Spotted Pardalote on the front cover of my Australia field guide. I was so wanting to see one. This isn't that one though, but a Striated Pardalote. And my first view of one (though Hans and Judy kept hearing them calling in various places). I was just pleased to get any...

Pair of striated Pardalotes prior to the lockdown and in better weather than we are having at present!

I wish I moved 1 step to the right here...

Striated Pardalotes excavate tunnels into sandy banks for their nests.This bird was inspecting a roadside cutting,but never got around to breeding in this area,in front of our place.This is the subspecies melanocephala,previously known as the Black-capped Pardalote,before it was lumped with...

Just off to Kindergym with the twin grandsons (aged 3) - will browse later.

Nest Building

Off to England tomorrow to sort out some family business, so maybe some posts of English birds next!

Caught during a research project. Banded, measured etc., and released unharmed.

Yet another Striated Pardalote. This one I saw emerge from a nest hole with parent and then start trying out its wings, for all the world as if this was its first flight!

This is taken out my study window, looking straight down. I'm really not sure how successful this nest is going to be! This is a drain coming out of the side of my house. Potentially, next rain the nest will be demolished. Or hopefully it's an old blocked drain, as I've not noticed any water...

Nov 2012, some may remember, I found a pardalote chick late one evening. No parents, only big mean black birds about. It had crashed into the window; one foot wasn't working & looked like it had a stroke. After a trip to the all-night vet, it was put into the care of wildlife rescue, with...

This is what he looked like when he pulled his head out! Goodness knows how he managed to end up looking like this - as if the hole were too small and he'd got stuck and had to wrench his head out!

These Pardalotes nest in tree-holes, and I noticed this one standing alongside the hole and periodically burying his head inside it. See next image!

This is the common Pardalote, its 'huit-huit' heard all round the Adelaide Hills, but much harder to photograph than its rarer cousin the Spotted Pardalote (posted on 19 June) as it spends most of its time higher up in the trees.