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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Azzy" data-source="post: 1786906" data-attributes="member: 83206">I dunno if it's a juvie eastern, but I reckon it would at least be that or a juvie crescent. Haven't managed to get a good look yet, but I'll get there.And yes, lifers do seem to be coming quite steadily, but I am doing more birding than I have been and in areas that I haven't frequented before, so it's bound to happen until I exhaust all the birds in the area <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" />I dropped by kersbrook native forest the other day, and when I say 'dropped by', I mean I spent a good 2 1/2 hours there <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" /> I was fortunate, and patient enough that I managed one or two more lifers (not sure if I've positively ID'd a striated thornbill before, thank goodness for cameras and the video recording for calls <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />). I had a great time anyway, the path I took was fairly short and straightforward, but the habitat did change a little. Saw a fantastic dis-used white-winged chough nest high up in a tree. Wasn't sure what bird it belonged to until I looked it up at home. It was quite the engineering marvel.The bird list for the trip: 21 species <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />Crescent honeyeater (many)Superb fairy-wren (many)Red wattlebird (many)Adelaide rosella (5)Grey currawong (4)Mistletoebird (2)Little Raven (1)Musk lorikeet (4)Striated pardalote (2)Laughing kookaburra (2xh)Grey fantail (2)Golden whistler (1)Buff-rumped thornbill (5+. Lifer! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" />) ID'd ok from photos and field marks, but call certainly helped.Grey-shrike thrush (3)New holland honeyeater (2)Weebill (3)Masked lapwing (1xh)Striated thornbill (10-ish. Another lifer <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /> Originally ID'd as brown after a painstakingly long time, watching them, hoping i'd get a good look at the rump, hoping for better light and closer views to see the eye colour. The rufous on the crown confused me into thinking brown. But again, comparing the call is a life saver. I would have considered striated in the field but the eye colour with those guys is tricky.)Brown-headed honeyeater (2)White-throated treecreeper (!)Scarlet robin (pair)So yes, very productive, and hopefully it will help me to ID thornbills more easily in the future, now that I have a better idea of what to look for. They're tricky little things. Thought I heard a babbler once on the walk, but unfortunately the sound didn't repeat and I know I've mistaken a couple other calls for babblers sometimes, so I didn't want to list them.Photos:1 + 2, the Chough nest, about 12m up in the gum. I'd say it was a good foot tall, absolutely stunning. I've read they build a new one every year so it's a shame I won't get to see it in use.3. 70 % Crop of my only clear (focused and clear view) photo of a buff-rumped thornbill. They're so cute. Shame it didn't come any closer, the tiny thing <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" />I stopped at another local spot in the evening of the same day and I heard what I can only describe as a deep throaty gurgling/growling sound, slow and repeated perhaps 3 or 4 times each time the call was made. Now it came from high up in a tree. But I'll be buggered if I could find the thing. I responded to it's call but as I got closer to the tree, it stopped altogether and I couldn't get it to start again. I searched that tree from every angle, up and down every branch and whatever it was, was well hidden. My only two theories, and I don't know how likely they are, my first thought was an owl. My second, was perhaps some sort of goanna, although I don't even know if they make sounds like that! The only owl listing that I could find that would make that kind of noise is perhaps the boobook. Simpson and day list it as having a continuous croaking hoot. I've tried searching for a recording of that, but to no avail. So unless I can go back and find it, I'm at a loss. I tried recording it, but the deep sound of it was lost behind the sound of high-pitched crickets.</blockquote>

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