..of a feather flock together

Back to the twitterer's list. The Flame robin watched us weed the vegetable garden and waited for food to be turned up. No deal as we need all the worms we can get to keep the soil rich. Started the planning for at least three more vegetable beds and we have constructed the frame for our first polytunnel out of PVC conduit pipe and plastic sheeting. Given the winter temperatures we will need the tunnels to give us an early start next spring. Next is to sort out an irrigation system for the olives and then think about putting in some grape vines.

White faced heron (Ardea novaehollandiae), Banded lapwing (Vanellus tricolor), Welcome swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Koel (Eudynamys solopacea, the rain announcer bird), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Grey Shrike Thrush (Colluricincla harmonica), Superb Fairy Wren (Malurus cyanaeus), Whistling Kite (Milvus sphenurus), Grey Teal (Anas gracilis), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa, a l'orange anyone??!), Little Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax melanoleucos), Galah (Cacatua roseicapellus), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus), Eastern Rosella (Platycerus eximius) and Crimson Rosella (Platycerus elegans).

Not sure how many more species we will see but will incorporate into future entries.

Back soon!

The Birds

Had a long gap between entries while my job and I parted company...and not all that amicably either. So Daramalan will become my primary source of income from 2010. Could be a bumpy ride but going to enjoy the journey.
"Going on means going far, Going far means returning".

When last we visited the farm we had out first self reared lamb roast (delicious!), an earth oven calzone pizza (yum!!) and had this year's stock delivered (470 four month old ewes) - more on that later. We also seem to have a Hitchcockian plague of cockatoos which had already stripped the oats of seeds and most of the olive flowers. Next season we will have to net the olives and fruit trees to make sure we get a harvest.

Never thought this blog would have a list of our favourite things but a list of birds seen seems appropriate.
Too many for one entry so will be in two parts.

Wedge tailed eagle (Aquila audax, always around the property), Australian grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae, nested on one of the dams and three chicks), Hoary-headed grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus), Raven (Corvus coronoides), Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), Australian Wood Duck ( Chenonetta jubata, on the western dams mainly and a potential food source?), Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita, in flocks of 250+!!! must get a bird scarer or a falcon), Flame Robin (Petroica phoeicea), Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Australian Pipit (Anthus australis), White winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos), Magpie Lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Pied Currawong (Stepera graculina), Crested Pigeon (Geohaps lophotes), Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen).

Nothing too unusual so far and apart from the cockatoos and the nesting grebes not too much excitement either.

Ciao!