Leaving The Croft

It is ironic as I write this final post sharing the birdlife we encountered at The Croft that it is once again raining steadily. It has been such a prolonged wet period. We had one short break at Wooli during which it rained each day. So we count our good fortune to have had the three days at The Croft without significant rain, blessed with much sunshine ... amid the continuing wet weather. At least it is not overly cold as well.

So what is offered in this final post of our visit to The Croft ... generally more of the same, but each treat is also different in some way. It might be the pose of the bird, the setting the bird is in, the background, the weather, the light ... or some combination of any or all of these. So, enjoy this final selection from our wonderful relaxing stay ... to begin I offer this study of an olive-backed oriole searching for and savouring the seeds. The relative size of the seed in the bill highlights how tiny the silvereyes are to be enjoying the same feast in the previous post.

Next is the view down the paddock from the back verandah where I captured a couple of the small peaceful doves on the chook yard fence (the second one taking a particular interest in what I was doing) and cattle egrets doing what they do when the cattle are around 😏.

Next I share two clear shots of a little wattlebird perched in the himalayan magnolia each pose showing an alternate profile for me. The second one attracted me for the yellow pollen between the eye and the bill ... many ways for them to play their part for mother nature.

What would a farewell be without a couple more glimpses of the spangled drongo looking very at home in two more settings on the grounds.

I mentioned in the previous post the restless flycatcher was an aggressive character. I heard its agressivce chatter and watched it chase a grey butcherbird along the powerlines. I managed to capture it in full wingspan just after one swoop backlit by the morning sun. The second photo below is the young butcherbird on a far less exposed perch!

One final glimpse of the magnificent palette of an eastern rosella, and the olive-backed oriole (with a gob full, of course)!

Yet another wonderful location reminding us why we must preserve and manage to live WITH our environment and not forsake all these wonders for "progress" ... appreciate and glad to have offered some small support for Karen at The Croft.