Pied Currawong – Russell Jenkins Stoop Files

Prince Henry with Mick

May 24, 2019August 17, 2023 by Russell Jenkins, posted in Australia, Australian Birds

Prince Henry Drive is always a special place for a wander. Best enjoyed with good company. I always remember the highlights of each walk and who I was with. I remember I was with Kevin, Kay and Plaxy when I got one of my favourite Grey Goshawks pics there. This time Michael Atzeni and I shared views of a passing Regent Bowerbird, as well as many other treats. Maybe my favourite picture of the day is of a Red-browed Finch which was channeling the forces of all the known universes through a single, freshly acquired branch of grass seeds. The little bird seemed so calm and confident with such a responsibility. Makes all our election fears, global and social anxieties on this small planet seem meaningless in their brief passing. It was such a wonderful thing to witness with Mick.

A Saturday Morning

December 11, 2016 by Russell Jenkins, posted in Uncategorized

Spangled Drongo

Michael Hare’s place, Queensland, Australia

December 11, 2016

Had a great outing with Mick and Rod to Michael Hare’s place again. It was a duller day and cooler than the visit on the previous Friday, but I think that’s good for smaller birds. Fewer dragonflies but there were plenty of honeyeaters, treecreepers and friends along the creek. It was dull and challenged my ISO settings and I used a flash in some cases. I used the D7100 body this time compared to my D800 the week before. The subjects are closer but a little more noisy.

I also saw the most drongos I think I have ever seen and at least some were gathering nesting material. There were plenty of small nests about the place.

I also got some pics of a female Collared Sparrowhawk and a Grey Goshawk but the files are plagued by dust spots on the sensor. Will have to get the vacuum cleaner out.

Sincere thanks to Michael Hare, Mick and Rod for a very fruitful outing again. It’s a very special place and it was an excellent day out to enjoy the cooler weather.

White-naped Honeyeater

Black-faced Monarch

Large Orange Assassin Bug
(Gminatus wallengreni)

-Thanks to Rob Hobson

Varied Sittella

Daphoenositta chrysoptera leucocephala

Rufous Whistler

Eastern Sedge Frog

Litoria Fallax

White-throated Treecreeper

Rufous Fantail

Pied Currawong

Scarlet Honeyeater

Let me see your homework.

July 14, 2013 by Russell Jenkins, posted in Uncategorized

Pied Currawong

Bunya Mountains National Park, Queensland, Australia

Pentax camera, 2006

(Click on the pictures for a closer look!)

This post is to celebrate the 4th anniversary/birthday of this blog.

A big thank you to you for visiting and for your comments.

I can’t believe that after four years that this is my first post to include Pied Currawong. It is a bird that I grew up with. I was in their presence for much of my youth and I always have close encounters with them every time I go home. It seems that birders often ignore the things that are watching them.

I think my most amazing story about a Pied Currawong is actually from over a dozen years ago when I was living and working in Tokyo. I was having a typically busy day when I grabbed a moment to call Australia at a public phone (6000 yen >$100au then..for 20 minutes!) ….Anyway, I don’t recall what was being said but the receiver in oz must have been near an open window and a bellowing “Bargarp-bargeaowe” penetrated deeply from the phone right into my brain. I stepped bewildered back into the streets of Tokyo with the sound slowly trickling through my wrists and shins.

I don’t have any of my own recordings of their call but I recommend you check out some of these videos at YouTube!

…………..

Also, just to let you know. I have set the Blurb digital previews for my books to 100% so if you have time, please check them out! Just click on “preview” on the Blurb book banners in the side columns of this blog.

Thanks for visiting again!

Happy days!

Russell

Currawongs at Bunya Mountains National Park in 2009

Nikon D300

Bunya Pines at Bunya Mountains National Park

Tokyo in 2000

Pentax Z-1

Currawong at Girraween National Park in 2006

Pentax